Braving the winter chill, wind, rain and holiday shopping fatigue, 45 walkers and runners, ages 7 to 70, participated in the first of weekly Sunday training sessions at the Culver City High School track.
Runners were led by local professional trainer and triathlete Kirsten Bell and New York Marathon champion Rod Dixon.
Ms. Bell and Mr. Dixon, a four-time Olympian, will lead the next free session, this Sunday, 4 o’clock.
In preparation for the Culver City Centennial Screenland 5K on Academy Awards Sunday, Feb. 26, the pair will be assisted by the Culver High cross country team.
Fielding numerous questions from the training session participants, Ms. Bell and Mr. Dixon discussed the benefits of a run and walk strategy to build up distance as a runner methodically.
“We also encouraged runners to shorten their stride to minimize the impact on joints,” said Ms. Bell.
When asked about shoes, she encouraged the runners to wear a lightweight, flexible shoe that has a low heel-to-toe drop.
Training session guests received custom training schedules to help them work toward achieving the goal of taking home a Screenland 5K finisher’s medals on race day.
Training schedule can be downloaded online at www.Screenland5k.com
Mr. Dixon soon will participate in a sports symposium with Rio Olympic Games gold medalist Allyson Felix at Turning Point School, a golden wizard presenting sponsor of the Screenland 5K.
Run or walk as your favorite screen star runs down the yellow brick road, through Sony Pictures’ and Culver Studios’ storied backlots, a wizard’s rainbow, and Centennial Trail, finishing on the red carpet in the Heart of Screenland.
Screenland 5K, sponsored by the city of Culver City, will raise funds for the Culver City Education Foundation and health, fitness and Centennial legacy charities.
Schools also will be raising funds on their own as participants in the once-in-a-century race.
Led by outdoor adventuring enthusiast Joshua Arnold, the School District superintendent and CulverPride advocate, the District administration team is challenging each of the 11 district schools for largest, best-themed, fastest and most outrageous team.
Cordially,
Mike Cohen
Culver City Centennial Screenland 5K
P.O. Box 1031, Culver City, 90232
www.Screenland5K.com
