AZTECH Runner STEVE ANGLEY

AGE: Just recently turned 60, but I feel younger than that. If there ever was a fountain of youth, it's exercise.

HOMETOWN: Born in Statesville, N.C. I also have lived in Charleston, S.C ., Mayport, Fla. and San Antonio, Texas before winding up in Phoenix.

Career:  I'm in the computer business.  I have been with Arrow Electronics as a support engineer. We build custom base computers for all sorts of medical devices, as well as other things. 

What is your favorite racing event and why: I have had the privilege to run a number of great races. I like the PF Chang because I can sleep in my own bed, have somebody drop me off at the starting line and be back home in time for an afternoon nap! But If I had to pick my favorite event, it would be the ING New York Marathon.

What do you eat the night or morning of a race? It depends on how long the race is but generally it's sliced bananas and peanut butter on toast. Sometimes I have oatmeal with  fresh fruit, but then; that's what I often eat for breakfast anyway.

Do you have a good luck charm you carry/wear for a race? My wife gives me a kiss for good luck before the race. That's all I need. 

How many races do you participate in each year: In recent years I ran two marathons each year and two half marathons. Lately, I have had to back off from that.

How many miles do you put in on average before a race? My average mileage before marathons is roughly 30-40 miles per week. Any more than that and my front end starts to shimmy a little. I might need new shocks.

What gets you through the last and most often difficult leg of a race? I talk to myself. I say whatever my body will believe to keep it going. Usually it's something along the lines of "just make it to the next water stop, that's all you have to do." I find it's easier on the psyche if you break the challenge into smaller chunks.

Favorite long-distance drink or nutrient: I like Zone bars the morning of, and about 1 GU every five miles.

Favorite running shoe brand: Asics! I'm sure the other shoes are just as good. But when you find a brand that works for you, stay with it.

How many pairs of running shoes do you own: Three pairs, ranging from newest pair to oldest. I rotate through them, but use the newer shoes (broken in) for the long races.

What other sports do you participate in? I'm kind of a gym rat. I enjoy group exercise with aerobics, kick boxing, cycling, etc.

Race goals this year and the race that you would like to perform at your
level best:  This year is going to be all about getting healthy again (tendonitis).  If/when that happens, I would like to go back to Boston and run strong!

If you weren't a runner what other sport would you participate in and why:
I enjoy almost anything that makes you sweat, but I tend to enjoy group exercise the most.  Some of the best friends I have ever met have been madethat way.

Tips for a beginning runner:  Start slow and build your base of gradually. As Frank Shorter wrote on my training schedule before my first marathon; "Be Consistent," that's good advice.  It's important to build a solid base before you worry about hills or speed.

Racewalker Diane Brandt

Age:  I’m 61.
Hometown:  I was born in Maine, moved to Southern California when I was 14, and lived and worked in  Los Angeles and Orange counties  until my husband and I moved to Sun City Grand in Surprise in 2002.
Career (Job):  I taught K-6^th grades for 18 years, went back to UCLA for a Masters in Library Science, and then worked as an adult services/reference librarian with Orange County Public Library for 12 years.  I took an early retirement, so now I get to just play and enjoy myself.
How long have you been racewalking?  I’ve been racewalking since Cliff Elkins introduced me to it and AZTECH in 2004, so that is almost 5 years now.  Thank you, Cliff and Claire.  What is your favorite race event and why?  I enjoy the PF Chang experience and the sense of accomplishment afterwards.  And now that I can finish the 15K Riverside racewalk without getting  disqualified, I enjoy the challenge of competing at a national championship level and also the fun of going to the race with other racewalking friends.  
What do you eat the night or morning of a race?  I know lots of people have a special lucky dinner they eat the night before a race, but I don’t.  For breakfast before local races, I usually eat a toasted English muffin with peanut butter and honey.  If I am at a hotel, I usually bring my own cereal/nut/protein powder mix and eat it topped with non-fat yogurt and lots of fruit.  I don’t have a lot of trouble with eating before a race, so as long as I eat at least an hour before it starts, either of these breakfasts works fine for me.
Do you have a good luck charm you carry/wear for a race?  Not so far…..
How many races to you participate in each year? I am not a person who races every weekend.  Like Coach Bill says, for every race you do, you usually lose at least one week of training before the race for your taper and one week after for recovery.  So usually, I do the Senior Olympics, the Riverside 15K, and one or two other judged races.  I also do the traditional local unjudged road races like the Phoenix 10K, the PF Chang Half Marathon, the ARR marathon relay in Surprise, and the Runner’s Den Paradise Mall 10K.  I used to do all the local spring track races, the Grand Canyon State Games, and the ARR summer series, but lately I’ve been cutting back.
How many miles do you put in on average before a race?  I’ve never really thought of race training in these terms, but of course, it depends on the race.  Training for a longer race like a 15-20K or a half or full marathon requires lots more mileage and tempo workouts with longer speed intervals than training for the shorter distances.
What gets you through the last and most often difficult leg of a race?  Lots of things---I think about my form, I repeat a mantra like PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, I try to keep up with or pass people I’m racing with, I count down laps, I try to push to see if I can get a PR, I think how good I’ll feel when it’s all over successfully--basically, anything I can do to keep going.
Favorite long distance drink or nutrient, ie. power bar or GU gel, etc.:  Until my last race, I only drank water during a race.  GU’s just don’t seem to agree with me, but at the Riverside 15K in May, I tried Vitalyte mixed with water and really liked it, so that’s what I’ll do again.
Favorite brand of racewalking shoe: Finding walking shoes is one of the hardest parts of racewalking for me.  I have very narrow feet so no matter what the brand, not many shoes fit me.  Over my almost 5 years of racewalking, my best brands have mostly been New Balance and Asics, but I’m always asking Ellie and everyone else for recommendations.  Currently, I am wearing the Nike Air Zoom Marathoner for distance and the Adidas Adizero Mana for speedwork and track races.  But I need new distance shoes again right now.  Any recommendations?
How many pairs of walking shoes do you own?  I switch off so I don’t wear the same shoes two days in a row.  And I try to stock up if I find a good deal, so sometimes I have extras.  But right now, I’m down to 4 pairs. 
What other sports do you participate in?  I like to hike.  In fact, Joann and I just did a fantastic Grand Canyon hike with 8 other women in April.  I also bicycle, but just recreationally.  I also work out hard at the gym and have done that for over 30 years now (no wonder I’m so tired!!).
If you weren't a racewalker what other sport would you participate in and why? I like individual sports and would love to still be able to run.  I was never more than a mediocre runner, but I loved running.  (I had to stop due to knee/back problems.)  For me, running was an easier sport, freer and without the focus on form and discipline required with racewalking.  Race goals for this year and the race that you would like to perform best at your level: This year I want to focus on national level competitions like the Riverside, CA 15K, the Surprise 20K, and the Huntington Beach, CA 20K.  I think my strength is having the stamina for longer distance races, so that is what I want to focus on.Any tips for a beginning racewalker?  Focus on form before speed.  Vary your workouts to include at least one tempo/speedwork day and one long distance day each week.  Be patient with yourself; it takes time to improve.  Join a group like AZTECH or find other racewalkers so that you can support each other and develop long term friendships that will keep you motivated over the long haul.  Have racing goals, but enjoy the training, not just the end result.

AZTECH Racewalker Sarah Griffith

Meet Racewalking Coach Ellie Kallal

Age: 66

How did you get involved with racewalking? I am not a natural athlete.  I was not active in my youth.  I had polio at 6 and was on months of complete bed rest when I was 8 and 9 (a “potential” rheumatic fever patient). I never took gym classes until I was 15.  I was an Olympic-level smoker by age 17.  Not athlete material.  I started walking in my 40s and a friend talked me into entering a race when I was 50.  I’ve been hooked ever since.

What do you eat during training? Diet becomes more important as I get older.  I’ve been a vegetarian for about 18 years, and I focus on getting enough protein and fiber.  I still love desserts and wine, but limit them severely the last two weeks before an event.

Describe your training schedule. I alternate hard and easy workouts.  If I’m training for a long race, I do longer intervals during tempo and if for a shorter one, I do shorter intervals.  I do weights and other forms of strength training a few times a week.  I also mix in yoga, hiking and biking.  I swim at the gym and enjoy spin classes, but have not been doing either for about a month.  I plan to resume them after my August races. 

Noteable accomplishments? I compete in judged events when they are available and have been participating in the Arizona Senior Olympics since 1995 and the National Senior Games (Senior Olympics) event since 1999.  I took the silver medal (at the National Senior Games in Louisville) for my age group in 2007 for both the 1500 and 5000 meter racewalks.  Medaling in that event was my goal for eight years.  Now, I can just go to the races in Palo Alto this year and have fun. 

• First, get out and do it.  If I don’t feel like getting out there, I go for a mile or two.  If I still don’t feel like working out, I stop and go home.  Usually after the first mile, I feel fine. 
• Second, don’t over train.  It seems logical that to get stronger and faster that you should train harder and more often.  However, your body needs to rest.  You need the easy day walking and the day off.  It is better to be slightly under trained than so tired from training that you can’t give your best in an event.

The Arizona Republic

Racing club's at-risk youths are able to keep pace

by Jenna Davis - Aug. 28, 2009 

The Arizona Republic

Some of the kids in Aztech Racing Club don't have enough to eat, and their families face a multitude of difficulties.

But coaches in the professional running club provide the approximately 30 kids with meals at every practice, running shoes and transportation.

Coach Mario Lopez, who is also a teacher and coach at Isaac Middle School, says kids in the club sometimes have trouble running because they don't eat every day.

Aztech also provides team uniforms and gently used running shoes donated by Runner's Den, a local running store.

Lopez said teachers often donate money for the races, so kids won't have to pay the entry fees. Participants young and old also have fundraisers such as bake sales and carwashes.

The boys and girls train at various locations around the Valley six days a week and practice early Saturday mornings at Carl Hayden High School.

Leroy Hinojosa, 12, said the coaches helped him train for the PF Chang half-marathon. He finished the race in an hour and 36 minutes.

"I looked it up on the Web site, and it said that Coach Bill trained people for the Olympics," Hinojosa said, "and I want Coach Bill and Coach Lopez to train me for the Olympics."

Lopez said he has seen countless kids join the club and gain confidence and "get out of trouble."

"The home environment was not good, their grades were not good," Lopez said, "but in two to three months of running, it totally changed these kids."

Although the club trains competitive runners of all ages, you don't have to be a serious runner to join, Strachan said.

"I would rather take a kid and help him finish his first mile," Strachan said. "Those super jocks just bore me to tears."

Alfredo Nava, 15, says he likes the racing club because he likes long-distance runnin and enjoys spending time with the coaches.

"Everyone's real friendly, and they always motivate you to do your best," Nava said.

Nava almost quit the club a couple of months ago, but says Lopez and Strachan persuaded him to stick with it. He says he wants to continue running in college and try for a scholarship.

In addition to training, Lopez said, many of the kids come to him just to talk about their problems.

"They all have my cell phone number and call me and text me," Lopez said. "Someone's going to be here to give them that extra nudge . . . and sometimes that's what they need."

Club runners and walkers, send us information and/or a picture of your recent race or event. We'd love to post it. Send to aztechclub@yahoo.com

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