National AIDS Marathon Training Program

I went on the website and all information points to Los Angeles. I emailed and was told they’re only based out of LA right now. *sad face*

O. K…who knew that the AIDS Marathon would be on Unilocal — now I’m convinced… Unilocal has EVERYTHING!
Now, I don’t run. Never liked it in high school when they required it for P.E. Wouldn’t accept invitations from my friends when they asked if I wanted to run with them. Didn’t believe friends when they said, «I never liked running before, but now I just love it.»
Then I picked up a flyer at a coffeehouse about the National AIDS Marathon Program, where they offered to train you to complete a marathon, «even if you’ve never run before». You just had to raise money for the cause. Even though the fundraising goal was set very high, something drew me to the thought of running a marathon. I realized that if I didn’t do it now, I may never have the guts to do it again. So I made a commitment to meet with my training group every Saturday morning at 8:00am, and to make the effort to raise the money.
I timed into the slowest pace group (Yay Libby Hickmans! — the groups are named after world famous marathoners), and can testify to the fact that the Galloway Training method is a very friendly way for über beginners to train.
In the Bay Area, there are at least three places to train with this group — San Francisco at Golden Gate Park, Berkeley Marina, and Los Gatos. I primarily trained in San Francisco with Coaches Marko, Adam, and Matt. It’s a larger group, but I guess since SF is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, you also get your hard core runners. I was lucky that because my group was composed primarily of first time marathon runners; we were all pretty easygoing.
I also ran a couple of times in Berkeley (where they run on Sundays). It’s a smaller group, but the people there are also more easygoing as a whole. The slowest group they had there were the Kahlid Khannouchi’s, and they were very friendly and accomodating.
So I give 4 stars for the fact that they raise money for AIDS, they welcome beginners, they use the Galloway method, the coaches who always had energy to amp us up, and the cool people I met while training.
They lose one star because it can be very hard to raise $ 1800 after you’ve already paid $ 92 to register, $ 60 for new running shoes, $ 130 to see the sports doctor, $ 35 for a watch to help you keep pace, $ 25 for a fanny pack to hold your water bottle while you run, and $ 100 for lightweight, breathable running apparel. (But I suppose, it’s still cheaper than 24 Hour Fitness, and at least you could write off the $ 1800 donation on your taxes.)

Highly recommended for anyone considering doing a marathon, or looking to check 26.2 miles off their life to-​do list.
AIDS Marathon is fantastic for beginners as they use Jeff Galloway’s run/​walk training program. It really works for anyone from the super-​speedies to the complete non-​runners.
I trained with them for one season, and was impressed with the coach’s support, the support for my fundraising, and just in general how great it was to run my very first marathon in Hawaii!
Their destination locations vary, as does the minimum required fundraising, which increases with the distance of the race. I’ve gotta say, the destination races like Florence, Italy, seem to me like the best way to do something good, get in shape, and get a really great, and inexpensive vacation.
Go AIDS Marathon!!!

This program gets 5 stars simply because I don’t know what else could’ve inspired me to run 14 miles in the pouring rain yesterday… and still be inspired to add another 12 miles over the next couple of months.
I heart coach Marco… he is one kick ass motha f’er!!!

I trained for the SF Marathon last year. I’m not sure what gave me the better sense of pride; raising the money for the AIDS foundation or completing the marathon. Either way is was a great experience.
I give it four stars because, yes, it is a charity and they are doing very good things for people, but it seemed like once I met my fund raising goal, the enthusiasm dropped off. They don’t hide the fact that they are there to raise money for the AIDS foundation first and train you second… which I really can’t have a problem with. It felt as though I had trained myself for a marathon and they were there to just hand out water.
Also, be careful when tracking your funds. There were plenty of discrepancies that I had heard about from friends. Be sure they stay on it… otherwise they ask you for a credit card to fulfill your obligation.
Money issues aside, this was the hardest and most rewarding thing I had ever done. It took me forever to complete the marathon.(nearly 7 hours) however, at the finish line, there were still volunteers waiting and cheering.
It was a great feeling knowing that I had done something positive for the world, my neighborhood, and myself… but please, take me off your mailing list now.

This place is very organized.
I had a lot of fun raising money and training for a Marathon at the same time.
I suggest if you are a first time Marathon runner that you choose to do a half marathon. The Disneyland one is allot of fun.
Be a hero. Sign up today to learn how.

I haven’t actually done the training, but I would like to recommend this place for a JOB, if you need temporary work. Every now and then they need stand-​placers to go around to Bay Area businesses and put up boards announcing the trainings. You get a fair hourly wage plus mileage reimbursement. It’s a perfectly decent way to make a little cash, help out a good cause, explore the eclectic bidnasses in the Bay (and meet some interesting characters working in them!), and get some exercise in the process (at least, I consider it exercise ;P). Do I have a knack for glamorizing unemployment, or what?

I went here for an orientation for the SF Aids marathon training. They were so nice and ethusiastic, you really get jazzed up to do it. They have a great website
which you can find all the information you need.
I just had to give them 5 stars because they were so nice and cool.