By Nate San Nicolas
“A dedicated runner is a more consistent runner.”
Whether you run the recreational 5Ks or the intimidating Ko’ko’ Road Race half marathon, running is more than just throwing on your shoes and recording miles. Community First Federal Credit Union and the Guam Running Club’s inaugural Summer Running Clinic featured elite runners Derek Mandell and Charlie Epperson as they gave advice to other dedicated runners on island.
Mandell and Epperson are both elite runners who have competed at high levels. Mandell is a two-time Guam Olympian and former collegiate runner for the University of Portland, and Epperson has his own number of credentials under his belt being a professional triathlete and formerly competed at the collegiate level for the University of Tennessee. With obvious experience and exemplified passion for running, the two-hour session consisted of knowledge filled aspects of the sport.
Not many know how much discipline is involved when training for races. From creating a plan, sticking with a plan, and nutrition, training is pretty much a constant routine, and the routine is not something clear-cut. Each week is different, but that’s what makes running fun right? From the hill runs, track workouts, and new routes, running is a sport you take anywhere you go.
With a lot of information shoved in two hours, the entire room seemed wired in on the advice these two athletes had. The audience ranged from new runners to up and coming collegiate athletes. Although the experience level varied, the one thing the crowd had in common was an interest and passion for improving their running.
The second part of the clinic consisted of a talk on nutrition. Being young and youthful, nutrition usually isn’t a big component of training, or that’s what most think anyway. The unfortunate injuries and experience by Epperson led him to realize the important value of nutrition, and with experience comes knowledge.
“Before, I never really considered nutrition as a serious component of my overall fitness,” said Epperson, “But at the age I’m at, nutrition has become an important part of training, especially with the injuries I’ve gone through.”
Dr. Placido Nicdao was the featured professional towards the end talking about micronutrients and their roles with running. With his biology talk, the wonders of running was instantly broken down to a science.
At the end of the clinic, it can be confidently said the running community on island is definitely a big one. You have the experienced like Epperson and Mandell mentoring the next generation of runners like JFK Islander John Aquino. Although it might seem like running is an individual sport, the teamwork by the community as a whole is something bigger than just race tracks and regimens.
GPS Sports Calendar
March 2024
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
1st
ISA SOFTBALL
IIAAG MS GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
Events for March
2nd
HS RUGBY
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
2nd
Events for March
4th
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
ISA SOFTBALL ALL-ISLAND COACHES MEETING
Events for March
5th
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for March
8th
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYOFFS
Events for March
9th
ISA SOFTBALL FINALS
HS RUGBY FINALS
Events for March
9th
Events for March
14th
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
Events for March
16th
Events for March
17th
Events for March
18th
Events for March
19th
Events for March
20th
Events for March
22nd
Events for March
24th
Events for March
25th
Events for March
27th
Events for March
28th
Events for March
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for March
30th
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
COMING SOON …
4th Quarter Sports
- Guam Marathon