For the first time in 25 years, Oakland will host a marathon - and you can be part of it. Click here for the Oakland Marathon website. In its role as one of the official running clubs for this event, LMJS will be offering a 16 week Marathon Training Program and a 12 week Half Marathon Training Program. Here's your chance to support a local race and train with a club that was recently selected by the "East Bay Express" as the East Bay's "Best" running club. Enrollment in this training is limited, so to reserve a spot send your name, phone number, and the distance you want to train for to:


training@lmjs.org


You will receive an e-mail confirming your interest and will be notified of the kick off meeting. The details for each training program are as follows:

Marathon Training Program

This is a 16 week training program and starts November 21 with a kick-off meeting and run hosted by the Lululemon Store in Berkeley. Runners who enroll in either training plan at the kick-off meeting will receive a special gift from LMJS (while supplies last). There will be three training groups, Beginners (first time marathoners, but have completed at least a 10K race), Intermediate (have run at least one marathon), and Advanced (have run two or more marathons, and trying to achieve a goal time that requires some tempo running or other speed work).

It is assumed for all three training groups that you have been running for at least the past 3 months on a consistent basis and have averaged at least 15 miles per week. For Intermediate and Advanced runners, at least 20 miles per week currently is preferred, since once the training starts the long run will ramp up quickly. In addition, the marathon goal times that our program can support are those runners who can finish the marathon between 3 hours and 30 minutes to 5 hours; or an average race pace per mile of approximately 8 minutes to 11 minutes and 30 seconds respectively. This means the training paces for our marathon training runs will be in the range of 9 minutes to 13 minutes.

To offer the Marathon Training Program, a minimum of 12 runners must sign up and the maximum number is 50 runners. The key features of this training program are as follows:

1. Organized group training runs every Saturday morning.

2. Training schedule for you to follow during the 16 week training period.

3. Handouts (electronic format) on training related topics.

4. Training advice from coaches and experienced runners, including being able to e-mail your questions to a coach and receive an answer.

5. At least two of the training runs and possibly more will be on the actual marathon course and will be supported with water stops.

6. Membership in LMJS for the remainder of 2009 and all of 2010.

7. Access to a special e-mail address for injury advice provided by SOL Physical Therapy in Oakland.

8. LMJS member discounts at SOL on massage, "Peak Performance Runners' Training" program, and special Alter G rates.

9. LMJS will recommend interim races for you to participate in leading up to the Oakland Marathon.

10. Pace group to run with on race day.

11. Race day hospitality tent.

Other benefits may be added as sponsors and other organizations come on-board. There are two pricing plan options for this training program, $95 or $75. With the $95 option, in addition to the above items, you get your choice of a LMJS logo'd apparel item (t-shirt, singlet, or windshirt). With the $75 option, you receive everything except for the apparel item.

Beginner Marathon Training Plan
Intermediate Marathon Training Plan
Advanced Marathon Training Plan

Half Marathon Training Program

This is a 12 week training program and participants will also be invited to attend the informational meeting and run on November 21 hosted by the Lululemon Store in Berkeley.

The Half Marathon Training Program will include most of the features outlined above under the marathon training program, except of course the training will be 4 weeks less than the marathon training. The plan is to also to have three training groups; Beginners (first time half marathoners, but have been running for a least 3 months and recently completed a 10K race). Intermediate (have completed at least one half marathon in the past 2 years and have been training on a consistent basis (3-4 days a week)). Advanced (have completed 2 or more half marathons and are motivated to have a goal time of under 2 hours and 25 minutes (11 minutes per mile pace and under)).

There are two pricing plan options for this training program, $80 or $60. With the $80 option, in addition to the above items, you get your choice of a LMJS logo'd apparel item (t-shirt, singlet, or windshirt). With the $60 option, you receive everything except for the apparel item.

Beginner Half Marathon Training Plan
Intermediate Half Marathon Training Plan
Advanced Half Marathon Training Plan

To repeat, if you are interested in either of the above training programs, just let us know by e-mailing:


training@lmjs.org