Getting the spirit healthy

Christine Carrillo

Trying to avoid a huff puffin’, side achin’, muscle pullin’ Spirit

Run, a group of young runners with a wealth of childhood adrenalin on

their side prepared for the annual race Tuesday with stretches,

sprints and aerobics.

During a clinic at Harbor View School in Newport Beach, those

students not deterred by the gloomy weather gathered on the field for

a little help getting off on the right foot for the annual Spirit Run

Race on Sunday.

Through aerobics, relay races, sprints, laps and stretching,

students at Harbor View looking for an edge over the competition have

worked over the past four weeks at improving their running skills.

“The clinics have been an ongoing part of spirit run for many

years,” said Rita Goldberg, a spokeswoman for the race. They “help

these children become mentally vested in the whole race day process.”

But learning the mechanics of running isn’t the only thing these

students picked up. Thanks to former Spirit Run Race director Cyndie

Borcoman, they also learned conditioning techniques, cool down

methods, how to pace themselves and even tips on nutrition and

hydration.

“I think that it’s a good lesson in life that if you have a goal

... if you really practice and have discipline you can do it,” said

Borcoman, who also had the students follow a daily training log that

required them to do a minimum of 10 minutes of running per day.

The run includes 10K and 5K runs for adults and older children and

shorter courses for children 3 to 12.

With a balanced training behind them, the young racers can’t wait

to put everything they’ve learned into action.

“I’ve learned that you should start off slow because if you start

off fast you won’t be able to finish,” said 8-year-old Paulina

Zubatov, who has run the race for the past three years.

Now motivated by her training, Paulina expects to get nothing less

than first place, she said.

For some of her classmates, the race, now in its 20th year,

doesn’t spark as much of a competitive drive.

I like “that you can run with somebody and you can talk with them

when you’re running,” said 9-year-old Gracie Flicker, who has also

participated in the race for the past three years.

The race, the largest children’s race in Orange County, is a joint

community event that benefits local elementary education.

“Another component [of the race] is the fund-raising ... these

children are raising money for their schools,” Goldberg said.

“They’re helping their school provide a better education for

themselves and their friends and that’s a wonderful lesson for these

children -- that’s a very powerful thing.”

Last year the race raised about $120,000 for Newport-Mesa schools.

For more information about the race, call (949) 451-4848.