CITY SMART / How to thrive in the urban environment of Southern California : Giving Clients a Run for Their Money : Cheryl Anker Agata

Age: 45

Job: Tour guide runner and personal running partner

Locale: Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Los Angeles

Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Pay: Charges $35 for the tour, $28-$35 an hour for clients.

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What I do: I’ve been running for the last five years. When I get a call from somebody, I find out what kind of a runner they are and then meet them where they are staying.

I usually give them a choice of things they would like to see unless they know exactly what they want to see.

I can run up to 12 miles, but usually people run about five or six miles. When we return from the run, I give them a T-shirt that says “Running Keeps Me on the Street” and then provide them with a runner’s breakfast: bottled water, fresh fruit, bagel and cream cheese.

I work with clients as a personal running partner as well.

When I run with people who live here, they are surprised at what they see. They notice new things--homes, fountains--in their neighborhoods.

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Why I do it: Whenever I went on vacation I would always have a tough time finding a nice and safe place to run in a new city.

I was a paralegal and I would ask myself, ‘What am I going to do? I just cannot work in law firms anymore.’ So I decided that it would be a good idea to start a running tour in the Santa Monica and Los Angeles areas. I started Off ‘n Running Tours in July of 1994.

I feel like I am always on a coffee break. It’s so enjoyable. I get to talk to people and I get to run.