I’m finally taking the plunge. I’m going to start training for next year’s L.A. Marathon, something as a 15-year Angeleno I’ve wanted to do but had always put off until “I got in better shape” or “could run farther than 5 miles.” My friend Jules motivated me to join her in registering with the L.A. Roadrunners, a training program that welcomes all levels of runners from beginner to advanced for 28 weeks of training.

The program started last week but Jules said it’s not too late for us to register so this morning at the Westminster Avenue School in Venice we’ll begin our path to fat (and knee) destruction and next year’s L.A. Marathon — a course that will take us through 26.2 miles of our lovely city.

To register with the training program and for the marathon you pay $85 for the race plus $60 for the training. Not too bad considering I will basically be starting from scratch. Currently I only manage to run 6 miles a week, if that, with a 13-minute/mile average. So we’ll just see if they can whip me into shape come race day.

The Roadrunners program has running, run/walk and walking pace groups who meet every Saturday for the next 27 weeks in Venice, Ventura and the Inland Empire. Training T-shirts, lectures on nutrition, a training manual and calendar, and even gait analysis and personal performance evaluation are provided for registered trainees.

• LA Roadrunners meet at 7am in Venice at Westminster Avenue School
• Ventura Roadrunners meet at 7:30am at San Buenaventura State Beach
• Inland Empire Roadrunners meet at 7am in Chino Hills at Butterfield Park

But first I need to get me some kicky new running shoes.