Kastor tapped as new LA Roadrunners Coach
Pictured: Andrew Kastor (Photo: Geisel)/
The LA Roadrunners racing team is led by wonderful mentors, whose focus is to ensure that runners cross the Honda LA Marathon Finish Line with a smile. For the March 2013 edition of the Marathon, the Roadrunners recently added another mentor to that wonderful lineup, naming Mammoth sports guru Andrew Kastor as the organization’s Official Coach.
As the official six-month training program of the Honda LA Marathon, the LA Roadrunners serve all skill levels, from first time marathoners to veteran racers, runners, run-walkers, and walkers. The group trains Saturdays in Venice, Calif.
Kastor’s resume includes training of some of the world’s finest athletes, including numerous stars in track and field, and 2004 and 2008 Olympians, as well as professional collaboration with renowned coaches Terrence Mahon (Mammoth Track Club) and Joe I. Vigil (2008 Olympic Team, Adams State).
Currently, he is still also integral in training many of the world’s best distance runners. His wife is none other then famed distance runner Deena Kastor, who medaled in the Marathon in the 2004 Olympics in Greece and last year gave birth to young runner in training, Piper, the couple’s first child.
In his new post with the LA Marathon, Kastor said he is in a position to take the race to the next level, advancing it to a level of importance with the New York, Chicago and Boston. “I have a goal, which is to make that Big 3 the Big 4,” he said. “The LA Marathon is already that good, but I want to see it positioned with that elite group on the world stage.”
A cofounder of several now annual local races, Kastor will balance his time going back and forth to LA with his duties as President of the local High Sierra Striders running group. “That work will continue,” he said, dispelling any rumors of his moving away or relocating out of the area. “I’m not leaving, and I will continue to be fully involved with the Striders.”
Kastor recently presided over the Footloose Freedom Mile on July 4, and the 29th Annual Chart House/Footloose 5K/10K race this past weekend. Both events enjoyed a record turnout of participants.
He is also integrally involved in helping facilitate the construction of the Whitmore Track Project, which recently broke ground and is so far on track to having its asphalt base down by the winter.
According to Town Civil Engineer Peter Bernasconi, grading for the track is nearly done. Paving is expected to begin in about another 2.5 weeks, followed by another 3 weeks of ventilation and curing. Bernasconi said installation of the track surface and synthetic field turf is expected by the first of November.
What some might see as a torn up stretch of land right now, Kastor sees as a vision of the Whitmore Track and its future for Mammoth.
