CARDIO Gets to CORE

Sixteen weeks ago, knowing that the Palisades-Will Rogers 5/10K was fast approaching, fitness instructor Jennifer Levi started a training group for women interested in running Pacific Palisades’ annual Fourth of July race. Called CARDIO CORE, the group consists entirely of local residents and meets every Tuesday morning in preparation for this year’s race. “So many of my mom friends here said they wanted to run the 10K but were scared, nervous, or had never done it,” said Levi, an ACE Certified personal trainer and Spin instructor who has run either the 5K or 10K for the past 14 years (except for two years when she was pregnant). “It’s $15 a class and goes from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. We meet at various spots around town–Will Rogers State Historic Park, Will Rogers State Beach, Palisades Recreation Center–and we do interval training, up and down hills at Temescal, the Will Rogers switchbacks and the Huntington loop. I took the entire group on the 10K route last week for the first time. We also spend about 20 minutes of core work and sculpting exercises. I have anywhere between 6-10 women at a time and they’re all very excited to run on July 4.” Levi and her husband Dan moved to the Palisades in 2003. They live in the Marquez area and have two children, Adelle (5), and Braun (3), both of whom attend Methodist Preschool of Pacific Palisades. Adelle will be starting kindergarten at Palisades Elementary in the fall. “I just love the spirit of the race,” said Levi, who also teaches classes at Revolution Fitness on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica and won her age group and placed third overall among women at the Redondo Beach Triathlon last week. “I also have a big rivalry with two local men every year. David Houston (owner of Barney’s Beanery) and Scott Denham challenge me but they can never beat me,” Levi said. “David has resorted to wearing t-shirts every year saying, ‘Beat Jennifer Levi.’ You have to love local Palisades spirit!” Levi’s best 10K time in her hometown race was 41:30 in 2005. She ran the grueling 6.2-mile course in 44:03 last summer, good enough for first place in her age division. “I think it’s a great way to start building local spirit, competitive fun and human interest leading up to our big day,” Levi said. “I encourage women who want to run July 4 to meet us Tuesday morning.” For CARDIO CORE training information, e-mail levi.jennifer@gmail.com. Presented by the Palisades Will Rogers Ridge Runners and Palisades Optimist Club, the 33rd annual race will begin promptly at 8:15 on the morning of July 4 at the entrance to the Palisades Recreation Center. The 10K course, considered one of the toughest in California, weaves through the Will Rogers switchbacks, west on Sunset and back to the Rec Center. The 15th annual half-mile Kids’ Fun Run through Huntington neighborhoods will follow at 9:15 a.m. Mail-in pre-registration ($35 for 5/10K, $25 for Kids’ Run) is this Saturday, June 26. The deadline for online pre-registration ($35 for the 5/10K, $25 for Kids’ Run) is midnight Pacific Standard Time next Tuesday, June 29. Packet pick-up will be at Benton’s The Sport Shop (1038 Swarthmore) July 2-3 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The deadline for online late registration ($45 for 5/10K, $30 for Kids’ Run) is midnight next Thursday, July 1.