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Team 2014
Completes LA Marathon XXIX!
Santa Monica, Sunday March 9th
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An Official
Featured Charity of the 2015 ASICS LA Marathon!
Voted LA Marathon's Most Outstanding New Charity
for 2014!
2014
Special Recognition - County Supervisor Michael
D. Antonovich!
2012 LA County Board of Supervisors Award Winner!
2012 Nominee CA Governors Award for Physical Fitness!
2011 Special Recognition - Congressman Buck McKeon!
March 9, 2014
Students SOAR to New
Heights at LA Marathon XXIX!
Nineteen William S Hart students
successfully completed the 29th
running of the Los Angeles Marathon Sunday March
9th amidst an international field of
more than 25,000 participants. Sponsored by
Students Off And Running (SOAR), a division of
the Santa Clarita Track Club, this program
dedicates itself to offering Santa Clarita
Valley youth the opportunity to participate in a
fully supported, 24 week 380 mile marathon
training program while challenging themselves to
accomplish something truly extraordinary in a
non-competitive arena.
Head Coach and program Director Kevin Sarkissian
shared his thoughts after safely bringing in his
last student runner Sunday: "We couldn't be more
proud of the level of determination our students
showed today. Just committing to the SOAR
program is tough enough considering all these
kids have going on at home and in school.
Couple that with a long, tough training season,
and you really get an understanding why today
gives collective testament to their inner
strength. It’s not often that you see the
average teenager getting out of bed at 2am to
run 26.2 miles, it just doesn't happen,"
Sarkissian commented.
Less than 1% of Americans ever complete a full
marathon. SOAR is not about recruiting seasoned
Valley high school athletes, the program looks
for any kid with heart, kids that are willing to
commit to a truly life changing experience.
“The real
power behind SOAR’s success is the consistency
and commitment demonstrated by everyone tied to
the program . Parents, coaches, and community
supporters alike pledge to be there mile for
mile with each and every student, regardless of
ability or personal conflict. This commitment
remains absolute from day one until our final
runner crosses the finish line safely on
marathon day,” said Sarkissian.
Now celebrating its seventh year of success,
the results continue to impress with the program
reporting an astounding 100% marathon completion
rate for all SOAR participants since the program
began in 2007. In addition, parents, teachers,
and students alike report better focus in
school, increased positive social interaction,
and dramatic improvement in overall physical
health.
Persons
interested in supporting or participating in the
program should visit www.soar-sc.org or contact
Kevin Sarkissian at 661-877-7024 for more
information.
The Road Less
Traveled
"Coach, I don't know if I can
make it." She said it plainly as
her eyes welled with tears.
It was Mile 22, and 16 year old
Priscilla had just "hit the
wall", a term used by long distance
runners to describe a complete and utter
meltdown of mind, body, and spirit.
As I assessed her condition, trying to
find words of encouragement, I reflected
on the day's events. Priscilla was
having a tough day. Blistered by
Mile 6 and bandaged by Mile 10,
Priscilla had become dehydrated and
listless by Mile 19, and now at 22,
more than 6 hours into the race, she
stood at the edge of the abyss,
dangerously close to heat exhaustion.
"Listen kid, I believe in you.
This is just another race, and you and I
are going to finish this one together.
We're almost home. You own this thing.
Don't let it beat you."
She hung her head for a moment,
then met my gaze and managed a smile.
And in that moment, I knew that she had
dug deep, and found the strength and
inner courage to achieve the impossible.
Priscilla finished the
LA Marathon on Sunday in 7 hours 22
minutes and 5 seconds, forever changed,
and you, my friends, were with us every
step of the way. For that, I am
eternally grateful.
Of the 25,000 or so official
registrants, just over 17,000 would
complete the full 26.2 . The winner
would cross the line in just under 2
hours 14 minutes, receive a check for
$100,000 dollars, and drive home in a
new car.
As for me, I'll keep my 7:22,
the memories of one kid's courage, and a
smile shared at 22.
Yours for
the long run,
Coach
Sarkissian
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2015
Students
Off
And
Running (SOAR)
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Mission
Santa Clarita Track Club's
Students Off And Running
(SOAR)
helps youth at risk
living in Santa Clarita
build life skills and
establish healthy
relationships with peers
and adults through
training for and
competing in a Marathon.
Vision
Santa Clarita Track
Club's Students Off And
Running (SOAR)
aspires to be an after
school program available
to all schools
throughout the Santa
Clarita Valley that uses
the vehicle of marathon
training to empower
students and provide
them with tools for a
healthy and constructive
future.
Goals
The ultimate
goal of SOAR is
for students to
participate in a
truly life
changing event:
running a
marathon. Beyond
achieving a
fitness
challenge few
can aspire to,
students walk
away from the
program with a
lifetime of
lessons. In
addition to
increasing
physical fitness
and activity,
students gain
knowledge about
health and
nutrition, see
alternatives to
risky behavior,
increase
self-esteem,
build resiliency
to current and
future
obstacles, learn
how to set and
achieve goals,
and develop
positive peer
and adult
relationships.
Students also
gain the
potential to
translate their
remarkable
accomplishment
into improved
school
performance and
academic
success. Seeing
the fruits of
their hard work
upon crossing
the finish line
will provide
SOAR
students with
the confidence
they need to
succeed both in
and outside the
classroom.
Objectives
SOAR
establishes
running groups
at participating
schools and
implements a
seven month
training
program. Each
running group
operates under
the guidance of
volunteer adult
Coaches who role
model commitment
and perseverance
by training mile
for mile with
student
participants in
preparation for
the marathon.
Coaches may be
teachers, school
staff or
community
members and need
not have prior
running
experience.
Running groups
maintain a 6:1
student-Coach
ratio allowing
for valuable
one-on-one
adult-student
interaction.
Weekly goals are
set in a
non-competitive
environment that
stresses
endurance
building as
opposed to
speed. Starting
with one mile
the first week
participants
gradually run
additional miles
each week until
they are
prepared to take
on the 26.2 mile
course. During
training,
Coaches
emphasize
messages about
nutrition,
exercise,
conditioning,
injury
prevention and
general
well-being.
Coaches also use
this time to
mentor students
and create a
supportive
environment
where students
can talk about
personal, family
and academic
challenges and
develop the
confidence to
apply themselves
and overcome
those
challenges.
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|
LA Cancer Challenge 5K, Oct 26th
Say No To Drugs 5K, Nov 15th
Santa Monica
Venice 10K, Dec 6th
So Cal
Half Marathon, Jan 10th
SRLA Friendship 18 Miler, Feb 8th
SOAR 20 and Team BBQ, Feb 28th
LA Marathon
XXX, March 15th |
2014 Waivers / Trip Slips |
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VISIT TEAM 2014's SPONSORS!
Santa Clarita Track Club, Inc, 27900 Youngberry Dr, Santa
Clarita, CA 91350-1756
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posted on this website are for information only, and are not
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are subject to change as we review them. Santa Clarita Track
Club, Inc. Program include: Youth Track and Field, Youth
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