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.

Dr. Placido Nicdao talks to local runners about nutrition and how to take care of the body. (photo by Asha Robles)

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.

Guam Runner and Pro Triathlete Charlie Epperson talks about his running regimen to local runners. (photo by Asha Robles)

“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.

Runners from all over the island listen to Charlie Epperson and Derek Mandell about their running regimen. (Photo by Asha Robles)