Students Run LA

The mission of Students Run LA is to challenge at-risk secondary students to experience the benefits of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health by providing them with a truly life-changing experience: The training for and completion of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon.

To carry out its mission, SRLA has five key objectives:

To provide teacher mentors who assist students in their training and who reinforce the lessons of responsibility, discipline and goal-setting.
To support students in tackling a supremely difficult goal, to break down their mental barriers to this goal, and to create “can do” attitudes.
To introduce students to the pleasure of running, encourage students to develop the habit of physical fitness, and teach students aspects of healthy living.
To create an opportunity for students of all ethnic groups, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds to meet one another and experience an important sense of belonging.
To offer a program in which all students are welcome, all have the same chance to achieve the goal, and all become winners.

For many of the students, training for a marathon represents the first time that they have committed to a specific goal. By providing them an opportunity for incremental accomplishment and a supportive environment to help them on their way, SRLA gives the students the inspiration, excitement and encouragement to accomplish their goal.

In 1986, a continuation high school teacher, Harry Shabazian, in East Los Angeles finished the first LA Marathon and felt personally transformed by the experience. He then challenged his students, who were in trouble or headed for it, to train with him for the next LA Marathon and change their lives as well. These young people, labeled misfits and under-achievers, not only finished the LA Marathon the following year, but also finished high school and went to college and jobs.

Then in 1988, two other continuation high school teachers, Eric Spears and Paul Trapani, joined Harry, and the three teachers ran with their students. In 1989, Roberta Weintraub, a member of the Los Angeles Board of Education, saw what the teachers were doing as an effective and innovative dropout prevention after-school program for Los Angeles Unified School District students. She and her deputy, Marsha Charney, established the program in LAUSD.

That was a turning point for SRLA. On March 4, 1990, two dozen teachers from around the city joined the three co-founders, with students from their respective schools, and together, they all ran in the 5th LA Marathon.

In 1993, SRLA spun off from LAUSD and became an independent 501(c)(3) organization. Today, that one teacher and his handful of students have grown to more than 500 leaders and 3,200 students from 175 schools and community programs throughout the greater Los Angeles area. SRLA has successfully carried out the same teacher-led training program, to challenge at-risk secondary students to experience the benefits of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health by providing them with a truly life-changing experience: The training for and completion of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon.

SRLA Kick Off Event - Saturday, September 26, 2015
Friendship Run 15K @ Universal Backlot - Saturday, November 14, 2015
Helping SRLA on Marathon Day! - Sunday, February 14, 2016
*Only main events listed, contact SRLA for more information on additional events.

SRLA Kick-off 5K
September 26, 2015 at 7:30 a.m.
This 5K race is the annual kick-off event for the season. SRLA students and their leaders from 174 middle and high schools across the greater Los Angeles area will be coming together for the first time this season. At the finish, SRLA students earn their SRLA Training Shirt!

Friendship Run 15K at Universal Studios Backlot
November 14, 2015 at 7:00 a.m.
SRLA students and their leaders will take on the backlot of Universal Studios to complete this critical 9.3 mile training distance.

Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon
Sunday, February 14, 2016
The premiere event of the Students Run LA season! Be a part of the magic when the students cross the finish line after 26.2 miles!

Volunteer opportunities for all events include registration, water stations, finish line support, and distribution of finisher items.
To volunteer call (818) 654-3360 or e-mail nikki@srla.org