Welcome to SOAR's Coach / Charity Runner Info Page. Scroll to the Latest Information Release for Important Updates.
11/10/19
Good morning everyone. The following contains important updates and event discount code information for the remainder of this training season. Please feel free to contact me with questions if needed.
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10/22/19
Pasadena Half Marathon Update!! Important!!
Afternoon everyone. This morning I was set to begin the registration process and establish SOAR as a Team presence for the Pasadena Half Marathon (Sunday, January 19th) using the $10 promo code they had set up for us. After signing on, I quickly realized that the registration price had gone up from $90 to $130 per registration since I originally spoke with them in July. That's quite a jump and puts us at $3,120 for the kids' reg alone. That said, I'm OK with the unforeseen increase since I've already set this race as a 2020 SOAR event, but for those of you that are new to the game, that's a lot of coin for a half marathon. I'm concerned that the high cost will have many of our charity runners opting out so wanted to get your feedback. The Irvine Half is set for the Saturday prior on January 11th and I've negotiated a 20% off promo (puts us about $80 per reg) and could be an option, or open to other events in the half marathon range if around mid -late January if you have any suggestions. Please text your thoughts. Thanks!!
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9/29/19 Important Team Updates
Welcome to SOAR 2020!
As always, my eternal thanks to you all for your efforts and continued support! Let's rock and roll!
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Good morning everyone. The following contains important updates and event discount code information for the remainder of this training season. Please feel free to contact me with questions if needed.
- SOAR will be dropping the Pasadena Half Marathon due to it's high cost, and instead picking up two alternate events offering better discount opportunities for the team. Our two new events this season will be the Irvine Half Marathon, Saturday January 11th 2020 in Irvine, and the Hollywood Trail 12K, Sunday February 9th at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. A reminder that all Team 2020 qualifying events, with exception of the LA Marathon, are OPTIONAL for Assistant Coaches and Charity Runners.
- The following discount offers are extended to SOAR Coaches and Charity Runners only. Please note registration deadlines and contact Kevin directly if any questions.
- SOAR Team Shoe Event
Location : Road Runner Sports, Studio City
Date: Sunday, December 1st 2019
Discount Information: 20% off shoes and all in store items on the day of the event. This offer is extended to friends and family members as well.
Notes: Charity runners and coaches will be given early access for purchases, 12-2p. The kids portion of the event is from 2-4p. There is a great little cafe next door to RRS called The Counter if you want to grab some grub pre-event. Sandra and I will be there around 1pm. - Santa Monica / Venice Christmas 10K
Location : Santa Monica
Date: Saturday, December 7th 2019
Discount Code: SOAR19
Notes: Join Team SOAR during the registration process. Promo code saves $15 good through December 5th.
Registration Link : CLICK HERE
- SOAR Jingle Bell Run 10 Miler and Coaches Breakfast
Location : Lake Balboa, Encino
Date: Saturday, December 14th 2019
Discount Code: Free Participation for Charity Runners and Coaches
Notes: Post run Team breakfast at Millie's Restaurant, corner of Vanowen and Balboa after the run. Free for the kids. $20 donation for coaches and charity runners that would like to join us. Due to the size of our group, our post run breakfast is offered to the team only. Please text me if you'd like to participate in this event.
- Irvine Half Marathon
Location : City of Irvine
Date: Saturday, January 11th 2020
Discount Code: SOAR20
Notes: Join Team SOAR during the registration process. Promo code saves 20% through the close of registration.
Registration Link : CLICK HERE
- Surf City Half Marathon
Location : Huntington Beach
Date: Sunday, February 2nd 2020
Discount Code: 2020SOAR10
Notes: SOAR is participating in the Surf City Half Marathon as an Official Charity Partner for 2020. Join Team SOAR during the registration process. Promo code saves $10 through the close of registration. Our contact also states that they will provide coaches bibs to any SOAR charity runner or coach that would like to run the Surf City Half race free of charge. Please note, if you decide to pursue this option you do not need to register for the race, but will be asked to sign a waiver by the event promoters. Participants wearing coaches bibs do not receive a finish time or finishers medal. Please let me know if you intend to pursue this option.
Registration Link : CLICK HERE
- Mt Hollywood Trail 12K
Location : Griffith Park, Los Angeles
Date: Sunday, February 9th 2020
Discount Code: SOAR2020
Notes: Join Team SOAR during the registration process. (Please note, I will not be creating our team for this event until the end of November). Promo code saves 12% and drops your reg fee to $41 through the close of registration. $35 Venmo'd to SOAR by 12/31 will save and additional $5 and I will register you with the team.
Registration Link : CLICK HERE - SOAR's 20 Miler and Team Taco Fiesta
Location : Santa Clarita
Date: Saturday, February 15th 2020
Discount Code: Free Participation for Charity Runners and Coaches includes custom finishers medal.
Notes: Post run Team Taco Fiesta location TBD. Free for the kids plus 2 guests. $20 donation for coaches and charity runners that would like to join us for lunch. Please text me if you'd like to participate in this event.
- SOAR's 10th Annual Mardi Gras Madness 5K/10K
Location : Valencia Town Center, Valencia
Date: Sunday, February 23rd 2020
Discount Code: CHARITY10
Notes: Promo code saves $10 off all registration entry. This code is intended for coaches, charity runners, family members and their friends in support of your $700 charity fundraising requirement. Please create your own team as Team Captain when registering and invite participants to join your team so that I can track your fundraising efforts. All registration fees and donations generated in support of your team will be credited toward your charity fundraising goal for 2020. Please contact me if you have questions.
Registration Link : CLICK HERE
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10/22/19
Pasadena Half Marathon Update!! Important!!
Afternoon everyone. This morning I was set to begin the registration process and establish SOAR as a Team presence for the Pasadena Half Marathon (Sunday, January 19th) using the $10 promo code they had set up for us. After signing on, I quickly realized that the registration price had gone up from $90 to $130 per registration since I originally spoke with them in July. That's quite a jump and puts us at $3,120 for the kids' reg alone. That said, I'm OK with the unforeseen increase since I've already set this race as a 2020 SOAR event, but for those of you that are new to the game, that's a lot of coin for a half marathon. I'm concerned that the high cost will have many of our charity runners opting out so wanted to get your feedback. The Irvine Half is set for the Saturday prior on January 11th and I've negotiated a 20% off promo (puts us about $80 per reg) and could be an option, or open to other events in the half marathon range if around mid -late January if you have any suggestions. Please text your thoughts. Thanks!!
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9/29/19 Important Team Updates
Welcome to SOAR 2020!
- WOW! What an amazing week! Great turnout at tryouts and the 27 students offered a training slot have all accepted, matched with 27 charity runners so the team is currently at 54. The largest ever in SOAR's 13 year history! Beginning this year, we'll be paring each coach / charity runner with a student participant as their personal sponsor first week of November. Your fundraising efforts will directly support your student's training experience, making for a more personal connection in your fundraising efforts. If you'd like to choose a student to support, please let me know by 10/31. SOAR's 2020 student roster can be viewed here.
- Last call for LACC participation if interested. If you'd like to run with the team, will need cash, check, or Venmo to SOAR-SC for $35 by Tuesday October 1st, 5pm. Bandit running is NEVER supported by SOAR. It is a dishonor to distance running and disrespectful to the charitable organization benefiting from the event. SOAR's Mardi Gras Madness event costs more than $15,000 to produce. We appreciate you consideration in this.
- Last call for uniform sample sizing. Final order will be submitted Tuesday evening. I will have samples Tues afternoon for those still wishing to try for sizing if needed.
- The first 3 weeks of training we'll be focusing on the fundamentals of distance running. In support of safety, communication and social interaction, music players and headphones WILL NOT BE ALLOWED until after the LACC 5K. We appreciate your cooperation on this.
- Training topics weeks 1-3
- Double Goal Coaching and ELM philosophy in pursuit of long distance running mastery.
- Running posture, and turnover tactics using the Galloway approach.
- Pacing philosophy using the Hanson Marathon Method. This pacing method will tie directly to each participant's personal pacing guide and updated monthly.
- Basic physiology and threshold awareness in distance running.
- The importance of nutrition, hydration, and rest in support of safe marathon training. - Pacing takes center stage in this year's training program. SOAR participants not owning a fitness watch will be encouraged to download Under Armor's free Endomondo app in order to gain real time awareness of their personal pace. To add another fun element, I've created a team challenge in Endomondo that any SOAR student, coach, or charity runner can join to track their season progress. Download the app HERE and search 'SOAR Team 2020' under the 'challenge' menu option to join the challenge.
- Last item, we're introducing student captains this year. Offered to 3rd year SOAR students only, acceptance is optional and adds another layer of support to our coaching team. Captains role model positive training habits, lend guidance to younger students, and will lead group challenges (also a new element this year). Nadia Diaz and Alex Mendoza have both accepted as Team Captains this season.
- Lots of changes in support of three team goals this season. 1) More social interaction and team focus. 2) Zero injuries. 3) Team marathon completion in under 6 hours.
As always, my eternal thanks to you all for your efforts and continued support! Let's rock and roll!
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9/23/19 LA Cancer Challenge 5K - 9/30/19 Deadline
- Afternoon all! SOAR has been able to negotiate a $35 flat reg fee for the Team's first season qualifier the LA Cancer Challenge 5K set for Sunday, October 20th at UCLA.
- Participation is optional but a really fun start to your training season!
- If you'd like to run with the team, will need cash, check, or Venmo to SOAR-SC for $35 by Monday September 30th.
- Team Roster along with master check will be sent to LACC later that week.
- Nothing more is needed besides payment. LACC race admin will register all runners using our team roster.
9/18/19 Charity Agreements and Fundraising Page Set Up - 9/30/19 Deadline
- A reminder that all coaches and charity runners are required to submit a charity agreement and create their own charity fundraising page by Monday 9/30/19 using the Team 2020 Mightycause platform. A tablet, laptop, or PC is recommended.
- CLICK HERE for detailed instructions.
- We're ready to Rock n Roll!!
8/28/19 Surf City Labor Day Sale and Coaches Bib Participation
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- Surf City is running a 50% off registration promo beginning 8/29 and ending at 11pm Monday September 2nd. Our contact states there is no promo code. The discount is set to automatically apply during checkout. Please be sure to select SOAR for your team participation process so that your registration is routed to our team roster for packet pickup.
- Our contact also states that they will provide coaches bibs to any SOAR charity runner or coach that would like to run the Surf City Half race free of charge. Please note, if you decide to pursue this option you do not need to register for the race, but will be asked to sign a waiver by the event promoters. Participants wearing coaches bibs do not receive a finish time or finishers medal.
- Call or text Kevin with questions or concerns.
- Event registration can be accessed HERE.
- Thanks again for all you do for SOAR! You are AMAZING!
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Students Off And Running (SOAR) is a division of the Santa Clarita Track Club, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible according to Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax ID # 77-0615715 . Santa Clarita Track Club, Inc, 27900 Youngberry Dr, Santa Clarita, CA 91350-1756. Located in the Santa Clarita Valley, programs include: Youth Track and Field, Youth Cross Country, and Students Off And Running (SOAR). The organization name Students Off And Running, the acronym SOAR in affiliation with Students Off And Running , and all SOAR logos in affiliation with Students Off And Running are trademark protected, all rights reserved. Inquires - please contact SOAR Program Director / Head Coach Kevin Sarkissian 661.877.7024. Email [email protected]. Last Update 7/19.