Every year students who participate in SRLA embark on a journey of a lifetime. At the beginning of the school year, students can inquire about joining the program with the SRLA teacher leader at their school. For a listing of participating schools, please check the “Participating Groups” page under the Meet SRLA tab. Only student’s who are in 7-12 grades, are able to participate.

The program kicks-off in September and every month the students have mandatory participation in community races throughout Los Angeles. They start with a 5K kick-off event in October, and then progresses to 10K, 15K, two half marathons and an 18-mile run, which are intended to safely train and prepare them to run the Honda LA Marathon the 3rd Sunday of March each year. For most students, SRLA provides transportation to these community races.

The teacher leader is a volunteer and by agreeing to be the teacher leader, they made a commitment to mentor and train with the students. The teacher leader will set the weekly training schedule for their school which typically includes a training run three to four times per week. Most groups run after school or on weekends, but for more information we recommend you to check with the teacher leader at your school.

In order to participate, the students are required to obtain parental permission and also have a doctor’s physical clearing them to run. SRLA arranges for a limited number of free physicals which are generously provided by Kaiser Permanente. Physicals can also be obtained by a private physician or from the school nurse.

Each student is provided a training shirt at the beginning of the season. Once the student has completed some of the early mandatory community races and turned in a valid physical, they are provided a pair of running shoes. If the student stays in the program, completes all the mandatory requirements he/she will then be eligible to run the Honda LA Marathon, and will be provided a marathon day uniform.

This year, 97% of the students who started the marathon finished the full 26.2 mile course.

The SRLA program is a highly rewarding, once in a lifetime experience that will take students to communities where they have never been, they will meet new people wherever they go and also make new friends along the way.