In photo above, runners mill around in the KenGar parking lot before a race.

Registration is now open for the 2008 Experienced Marathoners Training Program conducted by the Montgomery County Road Runners Club. The program is a coached, group training program which is designed to prepare the participants for the challenge of running a fall marathon. The program has been designed for runners doing a variety of fall marathons from Chicago and Steamtown through Marine Corps, New York, and Richmond.

The program will consist of 2 group workouts per week. Tuesday night runs will be on the Rock Creek bike path in Kensington through August, then at the Walt Whitman High School track, and Saturday morning runs will be held at a variety of locations, primarily the Capital Crescent Trail in downtown Bethesda. Runners will be matched with others who run at similar paces to provide appropriate training intensities for all participants. In addition to the group runs, there will be specific educational seminars on various aspects of training, racing, nutrition and supplemental strength training for runners.

There are no requirements for speed, but participants must have completed at least one marathon to be eligible. Any questions should be addressed to the program director, Mike Broderick or by phone at 240-338-2210.

Head Coach Mike Broderick is the founder and director of the Experienced Marathoners Training Program for the Montgomery County Road Runners Club and conducts coaching certification classes nationally for the Road Runners Club of America, while offering coaching and personal training through Running Strong.

Program Orientation will be held on July 12, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Parks Department building at KenGar Palisades Park on Beach Drive in Kensington. KenGar Park is located off Beach Drive in Kensington, just north of the intersection of Beach Drive and Strathmore Lane/Knowles Avenue. The parking lot at KenGar fills up quickly. You may also go to the first street north of KenGar (Wexford Drive shown in photo) and park in the residential neighborhood, walking back down the path to our starting spot.

For more information and registration, please go to: www.mcrrc.org/programs/expmar/expmarathon.php