But ask the group of Oakland school kids who trained months before running the race on March 6, and they'll tell you it was the 93-degree heat.

"It was hot. It was real hot," said 15-year-old Derrick Montalvo, a sophomore at University Preparatory Charter Academy, a charter school in Oakland. "And it was hard to do it because there was a lot of people and you didn't know any of them."

More than 25 students from Castlemont High School, Oakland Tech and the University Academy participated in Students Run Oakland, a nonprofit after-school program that trains students every year to become marathon runners.

The students trained for five months beginning last September, practicing four to five days a week. The training culminates with a trip to Los Angeles for the city's annual marathon, which brings together thousands of runners from around the country.

"It's a tough program. You have to commit to it and be dedicated," said Spencer Hooper, director of the program. "What we're really doing is preparing these kids for other things."

Students Run Oakland will have a banquet to celebrate the kids' achievements on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Highlands Country Club in Oakland.

Hooper said about 80 students began training for the free program, which provides free sneakers, clothing and accommodations to the marathon for those willing to make the commitment. Students are even expected to sign a contract to follow through.

Training started with walks, with Hooper taking into consideration the majority of the students didn't have the athletic training needed to run a marathon. The group then added miles to their walks and runs each week.

"After holiday breaks, we have a really good sense of who is probably going to be ready to go to L.A., then we progressively pick up double-digit miles on weekends," Hooper said. This year, only about a quarter of the 80 succeeded.

Isata Barrie, a 16-year-old sophomore at the University Academy, said she used to jog with her family, but never in any marathons.

"I didn't know if I could do it," Barrie said. "I used to play soccer. We used to run, but we didn't run that much long distance."

The best part for Barrie was getting to the finishing line after months of training and seeing her principal waiting there, bringing tears to her eyes.

Hooper said Students Run Oakland is important because it provides students from different schools with camaraderie and life lessons missing from their lives after they leave school. He said the time management factor is especially important.

"What it's really doing is preparing these kids for other things," Hooper said, adding he often tells his students, "Whatever it took for you to finish the marathon, take that and use it in life."

Hooper said the students' times for the marathon ranged from 41/2 to 8 hours. More than 20,000 people participated at this year's event.

To attend or contribute to the program, visit studentsrunoakland.org.

The Oakland Tribune: Cityside
Leanne McLaughlin, Managing Editor
(510) 208-6447
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lmclaughlin@angnewspapers.com Email