Ed Arpawong Assistant Coach

I started running in 2007 and this happened: I dropped 20 pounds, knees and feet pain disappeared, hot weather didn’t bother me anymore, and my cholesterol profile greatly improved. It was one of the best things I’ve started and I think everybody should be running too!
My history with WeROCK
My older two children were both 3-year WeROCKer and my youngest is starting his third year. Thanks to WeROCK, they’ve become fast runners and have something they can be proud of. Training to run marathons is not easy and one of my favorite things to see in WeROCK is to see how kids are truly part of a team. They encourage each other while running, cheer teammates as they finish races, and sometimes the faster runners will even go back and help other teammates finish their runs. Kids from different grades and different schools all help each other. I believe WeROCKers will be able to run for the rest of their lives to be fit, learn important social skills, and be part of the healthy running community.
It’s always fun to hear a coach’s race history!
Each year, a small group of us have a tradition of running the half-marathons at Long Beach, Surf City, OC, and Laguna Hills. By the end of 2020, I have run over 50 half-marathons and one full marathon.
Favorite WeRock Race
They’re all good! The first race of the season is always exciting. Same with the first half-marathon. If I had to pick a race, my favorite is the OC. It’s the culmination of all the kids’ hard work and about a hundred kids finish a full marathon. From the early morning wake-up and meeting before the sun rises. The kids do the usual morning warm-up run and stretches, like they’ve done every Saturday, but it’s different. When they’re are all warmed up, they toe the starting line of a full 26.2-mile marathon. I run the half and meet them at the finish line. Watching them all the come in is truly wonderful and fulfilling! Pandemic has reminded us how much we miss all the large WeRock races with camaraderie and friendship.