ORANGE COUNTY ON THE GO : Step by Step : Alcala Hopes Race for the Cure Will Help Her Reach Olympic Trials

Rosalinda Alcala doesn’t plan on winning the Orange County Race for the Cure on Sunday. Nor does she expect to place among the top 10. The 30-year-old Long Beach schoolteacher entered the race to prepare for a December marathon that she hopes will qualify her for the Olympic trials, but the race’s cause is endearing as well.

“I think it’s great for all women just because they’re trying to find a cure for cancer and that’s going to affect everyone, men or women,” Alcala said. “You will eventually know someone who has it, so I think it’s a great cause and a great race.”

The eighth annual race will benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Approximately 75% of the proceeds will go toward the Komen outreach, education, screening and treatment programs, and 25% will go toward the National Komen Foundation for research grants and innovative outreach programs.

The Race for the Cure has evolved into the largest series of 5K races in the nation, with events held in 98 cities this year and 700,000 participants expected. The Orange County race is the largest 5K event in California dedicated solely to raising money for breast cancer.

There will be two 5K races, one for women and another coed, which will begin and end near Fashion Island. The rolling, oceanside course is USTAF-certified and culminates with a downhill finish. Approximately 18,100 runners had registered as of Tuesday.

Alcala has participated in the Race for the Cure in Orange County and other cities, and considers it ideal for the speed training she’ll need for the California International Marathon in Sacramento later this year.

Alcala needs to run under 2 hours 50 minutes to qualify for the Olympic trials in June. Her personal best in the marathon is 2:55.

“I need to knock about five or 10 seconds off each mile, which is actually a lot,” Alcala said.

Alcala grew up in La Palma and began running cross-country and track during her junior year at Kennedy High. It was the perfect release for Alcala, who shied away from other sports because of her 4-foot-11, 95-pound frame.

“I have a large family of older cousins, all boys, who ran track and cross-country in high school,” Alcala said. “I saw their trophies and pictures of them breaking the tape and I thought that would be nice to try, even though not many girls were running at the time.”

After graduating from Kennedy in 1987, Alcala continued to run at Long Beach State, where she specialized in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

She began teaching at Grant Elementary School in Long Beach six years ago and has used her passion for running to motivate her third-grade students.

“When the school year starts out, we talk about the things we like to do and I tell them about running and I bring them medals and trophies for them to look at so they can get involved in sports,” Alcala said. “It shows there are sports out there for them to get involved in.”

After being sidelined for 1 1/2 years with a leg injury, Alcala joined the Newport Beach-based California Coast Track Club four months ago and immediately informed Coach Bill Sumner of her goal to qualify for the Olympic trials. Sumner had known Alcala for several years and was aware of her running ability.

“I’m very blunt,” Sumner said. “I said her chances were slim, but she had a shot.”

Sumner said he originally figured she had about a 40% chance of achieving her goal, but now estimates it to be about 80%.

“What happened after she started sharing her goal?” Sumner asked. “Well, all of a sudden it’s paying off.”

Alcala was the fourth female overall and the first in the 30-34 age division at the Huntington Beach Distance Derby 10-mile race on Aug. 14, then won the Sunset in the Park 4.8-mile cross-country footrace in Huntington Beach on Sept. 2. Alcala credits Sumner’s training regimen for improving her results.

“In four months I’m already back to where I was two years ago,” Alcala said.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Race for the Cure

* When: Sunday

* Where: Fashion Island, Newport Beach

* Schedule: The family one-mile run begins at 7:30 a.m., the women’s 5K at 7:50 and the co-ed 5K at 9:40.

* Benefits: The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

* Registration: Walk-in registration available Friday from 5-8 p.m. at the JC Penney in the Laguna Hills Mall, and Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Pacific Life in Fashion Island.

* Parking: Available around Fashion Island, there will also be shuttle service.

* Information: (760) 434-7706