Coach Bob Larsen Profiled in New Running Movie, ‘City Slickers Can’t Stay With Me’
NY Marathon Expo and the NY Road Runners present: “America’s greatest distance running coach”
Los Angeles, CA (Oct. 21, 2015) Legendary track coach Bob Larsen, who has coached Mebrahtom (Meb) Keflezighi to Olympic silver medal and Deena Drossin Kastor to an Olympic bronze medal, is the subject of a new documentary, ‘City Slickers Can’t Stay With Me.’ There is a bicoastal screening on Oct. 30– Nov. 5, 2015 at Laemmle’s Music Hall in Beverly Hills, CA (9036 Wilshire Blvd.) and the AMC Empire 25 Theater in New York City, NY (234 West 42nd Street). There will be a Q&A session with Coach Larsen at the 7pm screenings at Laemmle’s Music Hall in Beverly Hills, on November 3rd and 4th.
‘City Slickers Can’t Stay With Me’ features stunning footage of Mammoth Lakes, CA as Meb trains in the high altitude under the observant eye of Bob Larsen. This documentary provides insights into Coach Larsen’s methods for success in this most exhilarating and demanding sport. Through photos, interviews and recent footage from the 2014 Boston Marathon, ‘City Slickers Can’t Stay With Me’ illustrates what has made Coach Larsen such an influential figure in the running world.
Coach Larsen’s lifetime of success, both as a runner and later as perhaps America’s finest distance coach, is profiled in the film. He started his coaching career at Monte Vista HS in Spring Valley, CA where he led his cross country teams to four CIF titles. Coach Larsen then went on to become head coach at Grossmont Community College (El Cajon, CA/1967-79) where he led his team to seven State titles and nine consecutive conference crowns. While at Grossmont, he co-founded and served as head coach of the Jamul Toads, a track club in the San Diego area that won the 1976 AAU National Cross Country championship, beating out the finest cross country teams in America. Coach Larsen then went on to win two (1987/1988) NCAA Outdoor men’s track and field titles as the UCLA men’s track & field head coach (1985-99) and was a four-time National Coach of the Year. In 2013, he was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame.
Coach Larsen’s life-long commitment to understanding the sport of distance running has been a key contributing factor in the resurgence of American distance running on the international stage. He has produced winning teams and star athletes from unlikely circumstances. Coach Larsen’s ability to galvanize the emotional, intellectual and physiological components of his runners has gained unwavering respect from his athletes and the coaching community.
Larsen’s greatest athlete has been Meb Keflezighi, the greatest distance runner in UCLA’s men’s track history and one of the best in USA all-time distance running records. Meb won four NCAA titles his junior season in 1997, and became the third athlete in NCAA history to win the cross country championship and the outdoor double (5,000m/10,000m) in that same season. He then went on to win the silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon and placed fourth at the 2012 London Olympic marathon. Meb then became a true American hero when he won the 2009 USA Marathon in New York City and became the first American winner in 31 years at the 2014 Boston Marathon. Meb hopes to continue his success at the 2015 New York City Marathon on Nov. 1 as well as qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Meb Keflezighi, born in Asmara, Eritrea, who became a U. S. citizen and a world-class distance runner with a unique American success story, frames ‘City Slickers Can’t Stay With Me.’ Through Meb, ‘City Slickers Can’t Stay With Me’ reminds us that great achievements are rarely made on one’s own. However, Meb’s narrative of success is only half the story. His extraordinary personal and athletic achievements are all part of the legacy of Coach Bob Larsen.
‘City Slickers Can’t Stay With Me’ is directed by Robert Lusitana, RJL, LLC Films, of Cardiff CA. Lusitana ran for Coach Larsen at Grossmont College, UCLA and later as a member of the Jamul Toads Running Club. He describes Coach Larsen as, “A great leader of men,” and sees the project as an opportunity to pay tribute to his former coach. The documentary is produced by award winner Robert Kirk and features striking cinematography by Jeffery Durkin.
For more information on the film visit http://www.boblarsenfilm.com
Contact:Don Franken/ Heather Donner, Media Contact; Office (310) 342-0260, Cell (310) 962-3297
