Popular student marathon program may be canceled

LA CRESCENTA — A Rosemont Middle School program that funnels students into the Los Angeles Marathon is in jeopardy of being canceled if a teacher who is willing to train and run with the kids is not found, organizers said.

For the past few years the regional Student Run L.A. program has challenged students to run the 26.2-mile marathon.

Many students begin training in September, getting up weekend mornings at dawn for training runs at the Rose Bowl or for early Student Run L.A.-sanctioned races.

The organization began in 1988 as a way to build the confidence level of at-risk students in local Los Angeles area schools. Today the program has expanded to more than 150 Los Angeles area schools and is inclusive to all students, not just at-risk. The Rosemont SRLA program has become so popular the name was changed from Rosemont Run to the Crescenta Valley Running Club to accommodate students from Crescenta Valley and Clark Magnet high schools, as well as students from La Cañada.

The program requires that teachers serve as mentors and administer the program. For years, Rosemont teacher Terry Parker took on the role, but last year he had knee surgery and was not able to run this year or next. Teachers stepped up to take Parker’s place in the 2008-09 school year, but this coming fall, no one has signed up to mentor.

There are parents willing to train with the students, but without a teacher who will run the marathon alongside the students, the program will be canceled, organizers said.

Check back for full story.