Race Series Makes Tracks for County

It has been 10 years since there was a road-racing series in Orange County, and now Race Pace Promotions of Dana Point wants to bring one back for good.

The Saturn Super Series, scheduled to begin Oct. 25 with the Monster Mash Dash in Irvine, will feature three 5K races over a period of three months. Prizes--merchandise definitely, and perhaps cash--will be awarded to winners of each race and to the top overall male and female of the series. A car will be awarded in a random drawing from among all entrants.

Ten years ago, the China Cup Series featured several races in the Newport-Irvine area, with winners receiving trips to the Far East. But the series, put on by local road race pioneer John Blair, eventually died out.

The Saturn Super Series, folks at Race Pace promise, will be different. Community support will be the key.

A portion of the race proceeds will benefit the cross-country and track and field programs at UC Irvine. How much money will UCI get? According to Irvine Coach Vince O’Boyle, it will depend on how many Anteater-supporting volunteers show up on race day.

Race Pace apparently is looking for 200 volunteers; O’Boyle thinks 100 is a more realistic figure. Either way, Race Pace says, UCI will benefit--and the series will go on.

The Monster Mash Dash--which is being moved from Santa Ana’s MainPlace Mall to the Irvine Marketplace--encourages all entrants to run in Halloween costumes. The next race, the Rudolph Run-Off 5K, will be Dec. 13 at Dana Point Harbor.

Third is the Big Game Stampede, Jan. 31 at the Crazy Horse restaurant in Santa Ana. Race Pace hopes “Big Game” provides local runners an alternative to the immensely popular Super Bowl 10K in Redondo Beach.

Labor Day might be Lazy Day for some, but faithful entrants of the Mt. Baldy Run To The Top--now in its 27th year--don’t see it that way.

The eight-mile race, which begins at 9 a.m. Sept. 7, starts at the Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts (elevation 6,000 feet), follows a paved road for the first mile, then climbs five miles along a steep, dirt path. The final two miles are along a rugged, narrow trail, and finishes above the timberline atop Mt. San Antonio (a.k.a. Mt. Baldy)--elevation 10,064.

Of course, if you’re looking for a fast time, forget it. Los Angeles road racing standout Matt Ebiner, a six-time winner, holds the course record in 1 hour 49 seconds. The women’s record? In 1988, Fullerton’s Carrie Garritson ran 1:15:32 . . . at age 11.

For information, call (714) 981-9790.

One call to the Orange County Marathon, Inc. office in Newport Beach seems to say it all. The number has been disconnected.

The marathon, which at last check was said to be scheduled for Nov. 7 and was projected to have 10,000 participants, has been declared dead and gone by a majority of local road racing insiders, thanks to OCM’s inability to pay most of its purveyors and money winners from last year’s race.

Runners who trained for the Nov. 7 date, take heart. The Chicago Marathon is Oct. 25, the New York City Marathon Nov. 7 and the Columbus (Ohio) Marathon is Nov. 11.

For something more local--or unusual--the San Juan Trail 50 is also scheduled for Nov. 7. It’s 50 kilometers (31 miles) of running on tree-lined trails and fire roads through the bucolic wilderness of southeastern Orange County.

Call (209) 683-7426 for information.

Those wishing to orbit Planet Hollywood and its galaxy of stars can do so by entering the Star Struck 5K, scheduled Sept. 19.

Planet Hollywood, the much-hyped restaurant/hot spot whose investors include Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, isn’t officially scheduled to open its South Coast Village location until Oct. 20. But Star Struck promoters are hinting that a sneak peek--along with menu samplings and celebrity autographs--is in store for those who attend.

The top male and female finisher will receive a Planet Hollywood custom leather jacket, and the top three will receive tickets to the Planet Hollywood sneak preview party.

Not impressed? Then note that the Star Struck course is being touted as the fastest in Orange County. Call (714) 661-6062 for information.

A Snail’s Pace of Fountain Valley is playing host to a six-month marathon training clinic in conjunction with distance running expert and author Jeff Galloway. The program is open to runners of all abilities, and stresses a less-is-more, walk-when-you-have-to philosophy.

A group of about 75 runners--most of whom are aiming for the Long Beach Marathon on Feb. 7--meets at 7 a.m. each Sunday at Los Caballeros Racquet Club in Fountain Valley. Registration for the six-month course is $99 and includes a personalized training program, a copy of “Jeff Galloway’s Book On Running,” a T-shirt and a tank top.

Galloway won’t be there in person but will design workouts based on information provided to him by runners.

Although the program started Aug. 9, sign-ups are still encouraged. Call (714) 842-2337.

John Loeschhorn, who brought the first running shoe store to Orange County in the mid-1970s, is for hire--as a coach.

Loeschhorn, a former nationally ranked masters runner, sold his last store, in Mission Viejo, a year ago and now works as a policeman in Anaheim. But his love is coaching.

Loeschhorn’s latest protege? David Warady, the Huntington Beach man who finished first last week in the 64-day Runner’s World Trans America Footrace.

Running Notes

The Orange County Track Club holds weekly fun runs--and occasional post-run pizza parties--at SBR sports shop in Irvine at 6 p.m. every Thursday. Call (714) 733-2727 for information. . . . Sunset in the Park 2.8- and 4.8-mile cross-country races will be held Sept. 3 at Huntington Beach Central Park. Races begin at 6 p.m. on the west side of the park. . . . The Newport Seafest Huff & Puff 5K and 10K run is scheduled for Sept. 20 at Newport Dunes, corner of Back Bay Road and Jamboree in Newport Beach. Proceeds benefit area youth programs. Call (714) 854-3266. . . . The South Coast Classic 5K and 10K enters its 14th year Sept. 13 at South Coast Plaza. Call (714) 532-8683. . . . Newport Harbor High School athletic programs will be among the benefactors of the Harbor Heritage Run, a 2K walk/run and 5K run Oct. 3 in Newport Beach. Call (714) 760-3339.