Training with the Pasadena Pacers proves to be beneficial

At first, going to run at the Rose Bowl on a Tuesday afternoon straight after school did not seem very exciting. In fact, it felt like a waste of time and quite boring, to be honest. After sitting through three exhausting and long classes, I wasn’t in the mood to go running with a group of strangers. However, after running consistently with the Pasadena Pacers for a month, running has turned into a satisfying hobby.

The Pasadena Pacers is a free, volunteer-based running club that was formed in 1996, when a group of 35 people came together to train for the Los Angeles Marathon. They meet on different days throughout the week at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. Since 1996, the Pacers have widened their club and have trained people for different running events. To meet different people’s abilities, the club offers a variety of running programs ranging from beginner programs to more vigorous programs.

My summer was filled with a lot of fun, and also a lot of junk food. Staying home for two months and watching about 10 hours of Netflix daily made me realize how out of shape I had gotten. My friend, Ani Shabanian, a senior from Clark, also felt the same way as I did. Although we both had gym memberships to the same gym, we never went to work out.

When Shabanian told me about the Pasadena Pacers and informed me about their different programs, I burst into laughter and told her that there’s no way she could convince me to join. I thought it would be ridiculous to go run for fun with complete strangers. But then I put some thought into it and decided to be a little more open-minded and to at least try the group out.

The following week, Shabanian picked me up from my house at 5:30 p.m. and we drove to the Rose Bowl. As we started stretching I began to regret my decision and proposed the idea to drive straight back home. Once again Shabanian’s persuasion skills were able to convince me to give it a try.

At about 6 p.m. we saw people wearing red shirts congregated next to the parking lot. We approached them and introduced ourselves. The group consisted of an equal number of both males and females. I was surprised when not all of the runners were as fit as I expected them to be. Although the group consisted mostly of middle-aged adults, many younger runners were present as well.

Patty Gonzales, a runner, informed me about the different training programs that the Pasadena Pacers offered. She told me about the Pre-Conditioners Program, a 12-week program for those who are beginners in preparation for a 5-mile run. She also mentioned the 10-mile Challenge Program and the 20-mile Challenge Program. Since the 10 and 20-mile Programs were designed for active and pre-conditioned runners, I decided to join the Pre-Conditioners Program.

The goal of this 12-week program is to participate in a 5-mile run. In order to train the runners properly, the Preconditioners Program uses time intervals of running followed by walking, to gradually build endurance. “Since you’re a beginner, it’s better to start with short, one minute running intervals and four minute walking intervals,” Gonzales said. “As you improve your fitness and get stronger, the length of the running interval will get longer and the walking interval will gradually get shorter. Also, you’ll definitely start running longer.”

I put a four-minute timer on my phone and started walking with the other preconditioners. I thought to myself how easy and pointless this exercise program is. Two minutes passed and I wasn’t even tired; it felt as if I wasn’t even exercising. As much as I wanted to leave, I put my earbuds into my ear, I put on my favorite song, and I continued walking with the group.

When the four-minute timer was up, I started to lift my feet faster and went from walking to jogging. I was very surprised when everyone else in my group turned out to be faster than me. As we were running around the loop, I started to get tired. I started breathing heavily and it became harder for me to keep up with my group.

After the fourth running interval, I realized how beneficial this running program was. Although it was very tiring, it was a good source of exercise, and at the same time, it felt very encouraging to run with other people. The workout ended after we finished the Rose Bowl loop, a 3.3 mile trail. At the end of the loop, the Pasadena Pacers had a table set up where they offered all the runners some juice and refreshments. The Pacers proved to be a club with very social and welcoming members.

When I got home, I was so tired that I showered and immediately went to sleep. The morning after, I woke up with sore muscles. Even though I was in a lot of pain, I was still determined to run with the Pacers again on the following Tuesday. The following Tuesday, Gonzales made sure to lengthen my running intervals and shorten my walking intervals. I began walking two minutes and running three minutes. My second time running was much easier than the first. I became more familiar with running and wasn’t as tired anymore.

I continued running with the Pasadena Pacers for four more weeks. During my fifth week, I began to see real results. Despite losing weight, I also saw an increase in my running speed. I was no longer last place in the running line. Compared to my first week, the workout I completed in my fifth week was more rigorous yet less tiring and energy-draining. The juice at the end of the loop was probably what kept me going.

Although the Preconditioning Program trains the average runner to run a 5-mile run in 12 weeks, I ran five miles in my sixth week. Although it was a big leap in only 42 days, the training I did with the Pacers truly prepared me to run that distance. By the time I finished running five miles, I felt like I accomplished something huge. I was then very thankful that Ani convinced me to join.

Brian Lavezzi, a Pasadena Pacer, enjoys running often with the group. “After being diagnosed with multiple health issues, my doctor advised me to get off the couch and start exercising,” Lavezzi said. “After, meeting with the Pacers and committing to exercise weekly, my health improved, and I became an overall happier person.”

Shabanian also was happy she joined the Pasadena Pacers. “I’ve always enjoyed running as a hobby since it helps me clear my mind,” she said. “Training with the Pasadena Pacers in a safe community with nice people made it even more fun.”