RIDGE RUNNERS: Members of the Glendora Ridge Runners train at Azusa Pacific University on Aug. 12. (Daniel Belis / Correspondent)Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned marathoner, the Glendora Ridge Runners could very well be the club for you.
The Ridge Runners meet five times a week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
The club's weekly activities include a Monday bicycle ride up Glendora Mountain Road, a Tuesday track workout at Azusa Pacific University, a Saturday run that starts at Classic Coffee in Glendora, and a Sunday trail run at Bonelli Park in San Dimas. On Wednesdays, the Ridge Runners perform a trail run that begins at Glendora High School.
According to Ridge Runners member Leon Laub, the club consists of about 40 members who hail from cities such as Glendora, San Dimas, Azusa, Hacienda Heights, Covina, Diamond Bar and La Verne.
"We're just a group of runners," said Laub, an Azusa resident. "There is no charge to join the club. We have marathoners, elite runners and recreational runners. Everybody is welcome. We try to help with beginners.
"We keep it really simple and informal. We don't have a coach. We have a lot of experienced runners who informally coach our runners."
Sue Laub, Leon's wife, added, "Some people just want to come and run with other people."
Ridge Runners members participate in a lot of local races such as the Pride of the Foothills run in Glendora and the Pride of the Valley race in Baldwin Park.
Members also have participated in the Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Boston and New York marathons. Some Ridge Runners members are gearing up for the fall marathon season, which includes the Chicago, St. George (Utah), Long Beach and Pasadena marathons. "We have about 12 people doing the fall marathons," Leon Laub said.
The club's weekly Saturday run ranges from 12 to 18 miles. On Sundays, the club does a 10-mile run at Bonelli Park.
Ridge Runners members especially enjoy running on trails.
"We prefer trails to road," Leon Laub said. "We're a trail run-oriented group. I like nature and getting out into the hills and mountains. It's also challenging climbing the hills."
Sue Laub added, "It's softer on the legs."
Member Alexander Koops, an Azusa resident, won his age group at the Holcomb Trail Run, which was held in June at Big Bear. He posted an under two hour time in the 15-mile race.
Koops said he liked the club's diversity in ability.
"A nice thing about the group is the nice range of ability," Koops said. "It's a diverse group of runners."
Members said that another benefit of the Ridge Runners is that it gives runners an opportunity to work with others.
"Running is what brings us together," Leon Laub said. "It's also safer to run with others."
Bert Sandoval, a Covina resident, added, "If you're with someone on the track, you have the motivation to do good."
Sandoval, who's an assistant track and cross country coach at Covina High School, is training for the Nevada Senior Olympics, which starts Sept. 21 at Las Vegas.
Joan Butterfield, a 14-year member of the club, said the Ridge Runners also work on other skills in addition to running.
"We don't just run," said Butterfield, a Glendora resident, "We also practice cycling and cross-training."
Butterfield said that being involved in the club gives members a chance to travel together to faraway races.
"When you want to go to a race that's not local, you can go out together and travel," Butterfield said. "You can have a fun vacation."
Guillermo Medrano, an Azusa resident, joined the Ridge Runners six months ago.
"I get to meet a lot of fun people to work out with," Medrano said.
