Brian is our Ridge Runner of the Month for July 2009.
Brian grew up in Redlands, California. He graduated from Cal State San Bernardino where he studied Business. After graduating he lived in Yuciapa, Riverside, and Lake Elsinore. Brian recently moved to Azusa to be nearer to his job in Glendale, and he says, "it’s nice to be closer to The Ridge Runners as well". He works as a Project Manager for a Construction Management company where he has worked since April of 2008. Brian has one younger sister Nicole and a 4 year old nephew Tyler who live in Highland.
When he was younger Brian played Basketball and soccer and says he was “in great shape”, but about six years ago he decided to get fit again. He realized he had put on about 80 lbs. since his high school graduation, and began running. He had never run before, and has lost about 40 lbs so far towards his weight loss goal.
Brian joined the Ridge Runners at the beginning of 2009. He was living in Lake Elsinore at the time and joined in with some of the club runs to break his long commute home. He found the club by searching the Internet.
Brian’s favorite club run is the Tuesday track night work out at Azusa Pacific University. He likes to work on his speed training and would like to break 20 minutes in the 5K soon.
The Camp Pendleton Mud run is Brian’s favorite organized event. It’s a very challenging course including running and difficult obstacles almost all while soaking wet and muddy. He especially enjoys the party and awards ceremony after the race. There is always a lot of fun with all the other runners and spectators.
Before an event Brian likes to take a few minutes to relax and visualize the course and the finish line in his mind. His perfect dinner the night before a race is a chicken burrito and a power bar.
Brian’s favorite non-running sport to play is soccer and he enjoys watching football and hockey. He is a fan of the New England Patriots and the Anaheim Ducks.
His dream vacation would be to sail to an undiscovered tropical island where he could relax and enjoy the great weather and clear warm water.
I asked Brian who he would like to have lunch with, anyone living or dead. “I would like to have lunch with Abraham Lincoln,” He said, “because he had so many road blocks in his life and he was still able to overcome them.”
Brian wanted to share his Personal Records with the club:
5K – 20:25 – Santa Anita 2009
10K – 44:29 – Coyote Challenge 2008
Half Marathon – 1:46:07 – Long Beach 2007
Marathon – 3:56:57 – San Diego Rock’n’Roll Marathon 2008
Mud Run 10K – 54:07 – Camp Pendleton 2007
June 2009 - Glendora Ridge Runners Spotlight
Dawn is our Ridge Runner of the Month for June 2009.
Dawn was born in La Mesa, California. She was raised in Glendora. Her grandparents moved to Glendora back in 1959 from Illinois.
Dawn had run short distances for years just to maintain a basic fitness level. After helping some friends train for a Half Dome hike they asked her what was next. She told them, "I guess we could train for a marathon" and before she knew it she had 14 friends relying on her to get them to the 2007 Los Angeles Marathon finish line. Feeling a bit clueless she bought a Jeff Galloway book and tried to stay one step ahead. Somehow everyone finished.
During the next year one of Dawn’s good friends set up an organization in Greece for rescuing girls who had been kidnapped by the Russian mafia and forced into prostitution. Dawn’s church, Faith Community, made a commitment to support her efforts so she formed a church wide marathon team to run on behalf of the cause - raising awareness and funds to rescue these girls. In 2008 they had over 130 people finish the marathon, and in the 2009 Surf City Marathon over 230 completed a full or half marathon. To date they have raised over $75,000. Dawn’s personal goal is to qualify for Boston and run it on behalf of this cause.
Here is a link to the charity: http://www.thea21campaign.org/
Dawn saw a Ridge Runner flier in June 2008 at Classic Coffee while she was recovering from foot surgery. She had been looking for a group to do speed-work with when she was able to start running again. She is really glad to have joined the club as she has learned so much and, thanks to all the coaching and encouragement, she has increased her speed considerably.
So far Dawn’s favorite club run is the club’s signature Glendora Ridge Run.
Dawn said she hasn’t run very many organized events, but her favorite so far is the Rose Bowl Half Marathon in December. “The last two years the weather has been perfect, the course is along streets and trails and Pasadena is just a great place to run!”
Dawn likes to eat Irish oatmeal before every race! Dinner the night before an event is whole grain spaghetti and Trader Joes spaghetti sauce.
Dawn loves Cycling! She said “I love to go fast (especially down GMR). One summer I cycled 300+ miles of the California coastline on Highway 1 with a couple friends and it was spectacular!” She also admits to being a huge Lakers, Dodgers and USC football fan.
If she could go on a dream vacation anywhere in the World Dawn would choose the Greek Islands. She would also love to go back to Ireland as well.
I asked Dawn which person, living or dead, she would like to meet for lunch, and why? She answered, “There are quite a few people I would love to have lunch with so I will quickly list three. A biblical character by the name of Joseph who faced completely unfair circumstances yet stayed positive and faithful and in the end came out on top. Secondly, Corrie ten Boom[1] who was put into a concentration camp for hiding Jews during the Nazi regime: She survived and lived to be an old lady traveling around the world speaking about the power of forgiveness.” She would also like to have lunch with her grandfather who was incredibly fun to be around and the most encouraging person she had ever met.
[1] Corrie ten Boom, (April 15 1892 – April 1983) was a Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor who helped many Jews escape from the Nazis during World War II. In 1977, ten Boom, then 95 years old, moved to Orange, California. Successive strokes in 1978 left her an invalid for the last five years of her life. She died on her birthday, April 15, 1983, at the age of 91.
Dawn was born in La Mesa, California. She was raised in Glendora. Her grandparents moved to Glendora back in 1959 from Illinois.
Dawn had run short distances for years just to maintain a basic fitness level. After helping some friends train for a Half Dome hike they asked her what was next. She told them, "I guess we could train for a marathon" and before she knew it she had 14 friends relying on her to get them to the 2007 Los Angeles Marathon finish line. Feeling a bit clueless she bought a Jeff Galloway book and tried to stay one step ahead. Somehow everyone finished.
During the next year one of Dawn’s good friends set up an organization in Greece for rescuing girls who had been kidnapped by the Russian mafia and forced into prostitution. Dawn’s church, Faith Community, made a commitment to support her efforts so she formed a church wide marathon team to run on behalf of the cause - raising awareness and funds to rescue these girls. In 2008 they had over 130 people finish the marathon, and in the 2009 Surf City Marathon over 230 completed a full or half marathon. To date they have raised over $75,000. Dawn’s personal goal is to qualify for Boston and run it on behalf of this cause.
Here is a link to the charity: http://www.thea21campaign.org/
Dawn saw a Ridge Runner flier in June 2008 at Classic Coffee while she was recovering from foot surgery. She had been looking for a group to do speed-work with when she was able to start running again. She is really glad to have joined the club as she has learned so much and, thanks to all the coaching and encouragement, she has increased her speed considerably.
So far Dawn’s favorite club run is the club’s signature Glendora Ridge Run.
Dawn said she hasn’t run very many organized events, but her favorite so far is the Rose Bowl Half Marathon in December. “The last two years the weather has been perfect, the course is along streets and trails and Pasadena is just a great place to run!”
Dawn likes to eat Irish oatmeal before every race! Dinner the night before an event is whole grain spaghetti and Trader Joes spaghetti sauce.
Dawn loves Cycling! She said “I love to go fast (especially down GMR). One summer I cycled 300+ miles of the California coastline on Highway 1 with a couple friends and it was spectacular!” She also admits to being a huge Lakers, Dodgers and USC football fan.
If she could go on a dream vacation anywhere in the World Dawn would choose the Greek Islands. She would also love to go back to Ireland as well.
I asked Dawn which person, living or dead, she would like to meet for lunch, and why? She answered, “There are quite a few people I would love to have lunch with so I will quickly list three. A biblical character by the name of Joseph who faced completely unfair circumstances yet stayed positive and faithful and in the end came out on top. Secondly, Corrie ten Boom[1] who was put into a concentration camp for hiding Jews during the Nazi regime: She survived and lived to be an old lady traveling around the world speaking about the power of forgiveness.” She would also like to have lunch with her grandfather who was incredibly fun to be around and the most encouraging person she had ever met.
[1] Corrie ten Boom, (April 15 1892 – April 1983) was a Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor who helped many Jews escape from the Nazis during World War II. In 1977, ten Boom, then 95 years old, moved to Orange, California. Successive strokes in 1978 left her an invalid for the last five years of her life. She died on her birthday, April 15, 1983, at the age of 91.
May 2009 - Glendora Ridge Runners Spotlight
Tyler is our Ridge Runner of the Month for May 2009.
Tyler was born in Los Angeles and has lived with his parents in Glendora all of his life. He has one brother, Cameron, who has two children, aged 3 and 1½. He loves being an uncle and helping to care for his niece and nephew when they visit.
Tyler began his running career on the Glendora High School track. He also ran cross country as a freshman.
After seeing the Ridge Runner advertisement in Classic Coffee in early 2009, Tyler joined the club. He began training with them at the APU track and showing up for the Saturday runs. He has been running four times a week with the club for several months now and is getting to know more and more of the members.
Tyler likes to run the Glendora Ridge with the club on Saturday mornings and so far this is his favorite club run. Tyler has a gift for picking up the pace at the end of a tough track workout or a race which often surprises his fellow runners. He told me he learned that from running track at high school.
One of Tyler’s favorite organized events was the Camp Pendleton Mud Run a few years ago. He ran this with his brother, Tyler said “It was muddy and hot, but we had a great time and we finished!” He has taken part in several Glendora Spring Run events.
Tyler takes his running very seriously. The day before race day he tries to get some extra rest, and in the evening he enjoys the runners’ favorite, a pasta dinner. Before the race he makes sure to warm up well to be ready to run his best.
Tyler likes to play golf with his parents and other family members and considers this his favorite, non-running sport. He is an eager sports fan and enjoys watching car racing, basketball and baseball. He follows whichever sports are in season reading the sports section every day. At the moment he is following The Lakers and The Dodgers.
He loves to visit new places and has been traveling with his family since before he was a year old. He has also been to China, Hong Kong, Japan (twice), the Caribbean, Mexico City, Cancun and Canada. In the US, he's been to Seattle, Florida, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and of course Hawaii. He goes to Hawaii almost every year. If he could go on a dream vacation, anywhere in the world, he would like to travel through Europe with his family. He would love to see England.
I asked Tyler whom he would most like to have lunch with, any one now living or dead, he said “I would love to be able to have lunch with all of my grandparents. I was very young when they passed away and I would like to be able to talk with them and find out more about their lives. I would like to let them know how I am doing.”
Tyler says he has really enjoyed running with The Glendora Ridge Runners. “I have met so many nice and caring people since I joined. Everyone is always willing to help me whenever I need assistance with anything.”
Tyler was born in Los Angeles and has lived with his parents in Glendora all of his life. He has one brother, Cameron, who has two children, aged 3 and 1½. He loves being an uncle and helping to care for his niece and nephew when they visit.
Tyler began his running career on the Glendora High School track. He also ran cross country as a freshman.
After seeing the Ridge Runner advertisement in Classic Coffee in early 2009, Tyler joined the club. He began training with them at the APU track and showing up for the Saturday runs. He has been running four times a week with the club for several months now and is getting to know more and more of the members.
Tyler likes to run the Glendora Ridge with the club on Saturday mornings and so far this is his favorite club run. Tyler has a gift for picking up the pace at the end of a tough track workout or a race which often surprises his fellow runners. He told me he learned that from running track at high school.
One of Tyler’s favorite organized events was the Camp Pendleton Mud Run a few years ago. He ran this with his brother, Tyler said “It was muddy and hot, but we had a great time and we finished!” He has taken part in several Glendora Spring Run events.
Tyler takes his running very seriously. The day before race day he tries to get some extra rest, and in the evening he enjoys the runners’ favorite, a pasta dinner. Before the race he makes sure to warm up well to be ready to run his best.
Tyler likes to play golf with his parents and other family members and considers this his favorite, non-running sport. He is an eager sports fan and enjoys watching car racing, basketball and baseball. He follows whichever sports are in season reading the sports section every day. At the moment he is following The Lakers and The Dodgers.
He loves to visit new places and has been traveling with his family since before he was a year old. He has also been to China, Hong Kong, Japan (twice), the Caribbean, Mexico City, Cancun and Canada. In the US, he's been to Seattle, Florida, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and of course Hawaii. He goes to Hawaii almost every year. If he could go on a dream vacation, anywhere in the world, he would like to travel through Europe with his family. He would love to see England.
I asked Tyler whom he would most like to have lunch with, any one now living or dead, he said “I would love to be able to have lunch with all of my grandparents. I was very young when they passed away and I would like to be able to talk with them and find out more about their lives. I would like to let them know how I am doing.”
Tyler says he has really enjoyed running with The Glendora Ridge Runners. “I have met so many nice and caring people since I joined. Everyone is always willing to help me whenever I need assistance with anything.”
April 2009 - Glendora Ridge Runner Spotlight
Tim is our Ridge Runner of the Month for April 2009.
Tim is from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Jeni moved to the area about 25 years ago. Tim made the move to take a job with the Carnation Company, which was purchased by Nestle at about the same time. Tim still works for them now.
Tim started running at the age of 8, delivering newspapers in the evenings. He continued doing this until age 17. Instead of riding a bicycle, Tim ran to make his deliveries, 4 miles every night 6 days a week. He had 90 customers and his goal was to deliver 2 papers a minute. Although his school had one of the top teams in their area, Tim never ran Cross Country, though he always wondered what he would have been able to achieve.
Tim found the Ridge Runners at the track at APU. He had been doing some speed workouts on his own on Tuesday nights and met Leon and Bert. They started talking and someone mentioned the other club runs. Wednesday sounded interesting and he decided to come out to see us. He ran with Ken, Linda, Wendy and Paul. He thought they probably wouldn’t be too fast and a relaxed run would be good. The speed surprised him as he remembers running at 8:30 – 8:45, then 8:00 and suddenly found himself at around 7:30, he was impressed! He decided to run with the club whenever his schedule allowed.
At this time Tim doesn’t really have a favorite club run, though he has enjoyed running the Ridge with the club members a few times.
Tim didn’t run from age 28 to age 48. His first 5K was a first year event in Chino. He ran at a 7:38 pace and surprised himself as he had been running around 8 minute miles in training. The race got him excited about running. He has participated in the Malibu triathlon for the last two years. He particularly enjoys the four miles along the ocean. He has run the San Diego Marathon, Redlands, Disney and most recently the Pasadena Half Marathons, a couple of 10k’s and about a half dozen 5K’s in the last 3 years.
Tim tries to stay away from rituals and routines; he doesn’t want anything to play on his mind if he can’t follow a ritual on race day and it becomes a reason for not running well. His best friend was a baseball player and he would say that when some guys got on a winning streak they wouldn’t change their jock strap until the streak was broken. Yuk!! He says, “I’ve fought against rituals ever since!”
Like many runners, he enjoys a pasta dinner the night before a race.
He enjoys watching the end of the season basketball games, and finds college football exciting because every game means something. Baseball tends to send him to sleep, but he loves to play table tennis.
Tim’s dream vacation would be to somewhere “like” Hawaii, but less crowded. He wants a small hut on a beach surrounded by trees, with not many people, mostly locals. He would take a long run along the beach with Jeni, swim in the warm water and then take a nap.
If Tim could have lunch with anyone living or dead he would choose Jesus Christ. He says that whether you believe in Him or not there is no denying the huge impact He had on the world in such a short time. That would be someone worth meeting.
He remembers the club members for different reasons, some of us for our unexpected speed, and Ken for his encouragement to try to achieve a 3:30 marathon, Tim is still not sure this will be possible. He thinks of Leon because, at just a year older, he smokes up the track every week and Bert because at nine years older he gives him something to aspire to in the future.
Tim’s wife Jeni is a runner and recently ran in her first race a 5k in Pasadena where she ran about an 8:20 mile. In addition he recently got her hooked on using the Garmin. Now she’s always watching her pace and trying to improve on it. She runs about an hour a day at Bonelli, usually in the morning. She's his best friend and supports and inspires him! They have two daughters Kaitlyn and Carly: both were cross country runners with Glendora High School and he can credit them and the Glendora Cross Country team with getting him running again, what a fantastic group of kids both boys and girls. Summer trips to Mammoth with GHS to run are great! And as a final plug for running and high school sports, Glendora Cross Country with Coach Sumners is by far the best sport in high school. Having had his daughters play many sports, track and field, softball, soccer (club as well), and basketball, cross country was the only sport where everyone was welcome. Also varsity was always dictated by the seven fastest times from the previous race. If you want to run varsity, run faster! “We all naturally cheer on the fastest and the best but with running we cheer on everyone because one day any one of us could be at our best and set a personal record and,” says Tim, “that's worth cheering for.”
Tim is from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Jeni moved to the area about 25 years ago. Tim made the move to take a job with the Carnation Company, which was purchased by Nestle at about the same time. Tim still works for them now.
Tim started running at the age of 8, delivering newspapers in the evenings. He continued doing this until age 17. Instead of riding a bicycle, Tim ran to make his deliveries, 4 miles every night 6 days a week. He had 90 customers and his goal was to deliver 2 papers a minute. Although his school had one of the top teams in their area, Tim never ran Cross Country, though he always wondered what he would have been able to achieve.
Tim found the Ridge Runners at the track at APU. He had been doing some speed workouts on his own on Tuesday nights and met Leon and Bert. They started talking and someone mentioned the other club runs. Wednesday sounded interesting and he decided to come out to see us. He ran with Ken, Linda, Wendy and Paul. He thought they probably wouldn’t be too fast and a relaxed run would be good. The speed surprised him as he remembers running at 8:30 – 8:45, then 8:00 and suddenly found himself at around 7:30, he was impressed! He decided to run with the club whenever his schedule allowed.
At this time Tim doesn’t really have a favorite club run, though he has enjoyed running the Ridge with the club members a few times.
Tim didn’t run from age 28 to age 48. His first 5K was a first year event in Chino. He ran at a 7:38 pace and surprised himself as he had been running around 8 minute miles in training. The race got him excited about running. He has participated in the Malibu triathlon for the last two years. He particularly enjoys the four miles along the ocean. He has run the San Diego Marathon, Redlands, Disney and most recently the Pasadena Half Marathons, a couple of 10k’s and about a half dozen 5K’s in the last 3 years.
Tim tries to stay away from rituals and routines; he doesn’t want anything to play on his mind if he can’t follow a ritual on race day and it becomes a reason for not running well. His best friend was a baseball player and he would say that when some guys got on a winning streak they wouldn’t change their jock strap until the streak was broken. Yuk!! He says, “I’ve fought against rituals ever since!”
Like many runners, he enjoys a pasta dinner the night before a race.
He enjoys watching the end of the season basketball games, and finds college football exciting because every game means something. Baseball tends to send him to sleep, but he loves to play table tennis.
Tim’s dream vacation would be to somewhere “like” Hawaii, but less crowded. He wants a small hut on a beach surrounded by trees, with not many people, mostly locals. He would take a long run along the beach with Jeni, swim in the warm water and then take a nap.
If Tim could have lunch with anyone living or dead he would choose Jesus Christ. He says that whether you believe in Him or not there is no denying the huge impact He had on the world in such a short time. That would be someone worth meeting.
He remembers the club members for different reasons, some of us for our unexpected speed, and Ken for his encouragement to try to achieve a 3:30 marathon, Tim is still not sure this will be possible. He thinks of Leon because, at just a year older, he smokes up the track every week and Bert because at nine years older he gives him something to aspire to in the future.
Tim’s wife Jeni is a runner and recently ran in her first race a 5k in Pasadena where she ran about an 8:20 mile. In addition he recently got her hooked on using the Garmin. Now she’s always watching her pace and trying to improve on it. She runs about an hour a day at Bonelli, usually in the morning. She's his best friend and supports and inspires him! They have two daughters Kaitlyn and Carly: both were cross country runners with Glendora High School and he can credit them and the Glendora Cross Country team with getting him running again, what a fantastic group of kids both boys and girls. Summer trips to Mammoth with GHS to run are great! And as a final plug for running and high school sports, Glendora Cross Country with Coach Sumners is by far the best sport in high school. Having had his daughters play many sports, track and field, softball, soccer (club as well), and basketball, cross country was the only sport where everyone was welcome. Also varsity was always dictated by the seven fastest times from the previous race. If you want to run varsity, run faster! “We all naturally cheer on the fastest and the best but with running we cheer on everyone because one day any one of us could be at our best and set a personal record and,” says Tim, “that's worth cheering for.”
March 2009 - Glendora Ridge Runner Spotlight
This month we feature Wendy as our Ridge Runner of the Month.
Wendy was born in Covina and her family moved to Glendora when she was 4. She and her husband settled in Chino and later in Lake Havasu only to return to Glendora a few years ago.
Wendy began running in February 2007, running laps around the Sandburg school track. When she began she could only run a little more than one lap, but built up gradually.
While camping in Sycamore Canyon in the summer of 2007, Wendy met Leon from the Glendora Ridge Runners. He invited her to run with the club, but she felt that a 13 mile run on a mountain trail would be too much. Wendy kept running and building her mileage and was ready to join the club in the Summer of 2008.
Wendy loves the “Special Event Runs” that the club does; she really likes to check out new trails and new places with the club members.
Wendy ran the Surf City Marathon, Sycamore Canyon 30k, the Bulldog 25k, the Santa Monica Mountain 30k and other trail events plus the San Dimas 5k in 2008. 2009 has started out well with the Calico Ghost Town 50k in January and plans are being made for the PCT 50 miler in May. Wendy has become a very adventurous runner, enjoying the beauty of the trails and the challenge of training for longer and longer distances. For the last two years she has volunteered at the Badwater Ultra marathon. She was amazed at the ultra runners pushing themselves to complete 135 miles. Even more surprising was that they seemed to be having the time of their lives! Badwater has had quite an influence on her running goals and has made her look towards endurance running as her future.
Whether it is an early club run or an organized running event, Wendy always tries to prepare by laying everything out the night before. She hates forgetting something and rushing around at the last moment. The evening before a race Wendy enjoys a satisfying pasta meal.
When Wendy and her husband have time they enjoy watching Motor-cross. Their dream vacation would be the trip of a life-time to Japan.
If Wendy could go to lunch with anyone, she would choose her dad. She lost him at the end of 2008, and she would love to spend time with him again and tell him about her running adventures.
Joining the Glendora Ridge Runners has been more fun that she ever could have anticipated and she is looking forward to many more miles and interesting trails with the club in the future.
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