LEGS OF A LEGACY L.A. MARATHON RUNNERS ENJOY 26.2-MILE JOURNEY DURING ANNUAL TRADITION.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

Running in a marathon race takes some incentive. Agoura resident Cliff Housego has all the incentive he needs to run in the L.A. Marathon every year.

``My father died of a heart attack at 48, and my father-in-law died of a heart attack at 51,'' said the 51-year-old who works as a dance instructor in Thousand Oaks. ``It's very important for me to stay healthy, because I want to be able to watch my kids' kids grow up.''

Of the approximately 21,000 runners who will set out Sunday morning to conquer the grueling 26.2-mile course, Housego will be one of 366 ``legacy runners'' to have started and finished all of the 14 previous Los Angeles Marathons.

Housego celebrates the completion of each marathon by drinking a margarita and going out for a night of dancing, a task that has become more daunting each year.

``Last year, I was one hurtin' puppy,'' Housego said. ``I couldn't even locate my car keys, that's how out of it I was, but I jumped in the Jacuzzi for a few minutes and after that I kept going all night.''

Valencia resident Michael Bare believes Housego's streak is something special.

``It's pretty amazing when you stop and think about it,'' Bare said. ``There are so many little things that could go wrong, with injuries or whatever, things that could ruin a lot of streaks, but there are still a lot of people running.''

The ``legacy runners'' include 66 area residents, and many of them share a similar pattern. They ran the first marathon, in 1986, as a means to stay in shape and achieve a goal.

They enjoyed themselves, came back, and before they knew it, five years had passed.

After 10 years, well, why stop now?

``The other day, my dad reminded me of the first marathon,'' said Barry Leonard, 44, an optometrist who lives in Tarzana. ``My dad was there videotaping the finish, and on the tape you can hear him say, 'Boy, that sure was exciting, when's the next one?' ''

``I kind of smiled and said, 'You know, that was a great experience, but I don't see any reason to put myself through that ever again.' Of course I went back, and now I want to do all of them,'' Leonard said.

``I ran the first one when I was 30, and I want to be 65 and say I ran one every year for 35 years,'' he said.

On Saturday, the ``legacy runners'' were recognized in a special ceremony at Olvera Street, where they each received an award from Mayor Richard Riordan. They will have a special place in the mass of humanity Sunday morning, as they will line up right behind the elite runners near the front of the pack.

``I always look forward to this time of the year,'' said Mickey De Palo, 53, a recreation program coordinator from Burbank. ``I know I'm another year older, but when I get on the starting line I feel as young as ever.''

De Palo will celebrate his 15th anniversary by staying with his family at the Regal Biltmore Hotel, right in the middle of the annual marathon festival.

``As a parent, I try to be the best role model I can be,'' De Palo said. ``I have a 9-year-old son, and I hope this shows him something about dedication, and being able to accomplish anything you set your mind to, as long as you give it your best effort.

``For me, it's a way to make sure I stay in shape and watch my diet,'' he said.

Many participants share De Palo's view that running the Los Angeles Marathon makes them feel young and helps them maintain a measure of physical self-discipline in their busy lives.

Health is also of paramount importance to Encino resident Jose Cadenas, who previously smoked 2 1/2 packs of cigarettes per day.

``I went to the first one just to support a friend who was running, but I got caught up in the excitement and decided to run myself,'' Cadenas said. ``My mother-in-law died of lung cancer, so I realized that it was time to get healthy and do it for my family.''

Several of the streaks have come close to ending throughout the years. Bare was diagnosed with a bilateral hernia after the first marathon, and competed for several years with a neck injury that caused his arm to go numb when he ran. Two other local runners have rebounded from serious bicycle injuries to resume running, and at least one competitor almost expects a pitfall each year.

``It's kind of a running family joke,'' said Dave Vint of Newbury Park, who has come down with flu symptoms prior to six of his 14 marathons. ``I'm normally a pretty healthy person, but it's almost climactic every year, because people just wait for me to get sick.''

IRON WILL

Southland residents who will be competing in their 15th L.A. Marathon on Sunday:

--Bare, Michael, Valencia

--Blanck, Jim, Simi Valley 

--Cadenas, Jose, Winnetka

--Carlson, Leonard, Sherman Oaks

--Cedillo Jr., Marcos, Newhall

--Cepeda, Caesar, Monrovia

--Chavez, Richard, Palmdale

--Chin, John, Arcadia

--Colangelo, William, Canyon Country

--Contreraz, John, Sylmar

--Davis, James, Sylmar

--De Vita, Patricia, Granada Hills

--DePalo, Mickey, Burbank

--Di Bari Jr., Anthony, Northridge

--Dominguez, John, Acton

--Drachenberg, Ariel, Glendale

--Dudley, Jim, Palmdale

--Fong, Wayne, Chatsworth

--Franco, Richard, Winnetka

--Gillman, Donald!dtpost, Pasadena

--Hamalainen, Jussi, Agoura Hills

--Harris, Michael, Glendale

--Hendrich, Steve, Lancaster

--Hernandez, Cruz, Mission Hills

--Hernandez, Eduardo, Simi Valley

--Housego, Cliff, Agoura

--Kirchner, Kathy, Sunland

--Kohler, Steve, Woodland Hills

--LaPierre, Paul, Van Nuys

--Leonard, Barry, Panorama City

--Lindsey, Charles, Canyon Country

--Lisiewicz, Stan, Glendale

--Luisoni, Antonio, Granada Hills

--Martinez, Alfred, Oxnard

--Mehrkhodavandi, Jahangir, Simi Valley

--Meyer, Jacques, Sun Valley

--Miller, Gary, Van Nuys

--Murphy, Elaine, Arcadia

--Newman, Don, Northridge

--Nosco, Jack, Newbury Park

--Oakes, Myron, Northridge

--Olmeda, Richard, Pasadena

--Ouimet, Thomas, Granada Hills

--Peplow, William, Glendale

--Perez, Freddie, Sylmar

--Picker, James, Glendale

--Pollo, Larry, Sierra Madre 

--Rasky, Edward, West Hills

--Reeves, Larry, Lompoc

--Ringwald, Richard, Simi Valley

--Robles, Alfonso, Pasadena

--Romo, Mary, Northridge

--Rosales, Ruben, Westlake Village

--Rupp, Daniel, Lancaster

--Sidles, Christa, Santa Clarita 

--Sidles, Russell, Santa Clarita

--Simien Jr, August., Shadow Hills

--Sowers, David, Thousand Oaks

--Stevenson, Marie, Altadena

--Torres, Salvador, San Fernando 

--Vint, Dave, Newbury Park

--Vulich, Don, Sylmar

--Walker, James, Westlake Village

--Wilson, Everett, Altadena

--Witt, Dan, Reseda

--Wyatt, Aimee, Glendale

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: (color) Cliff Housego of Agoura is one of the 366 'legacy runners' who have started and finished all of the 14 previous L.A. Marathons.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer

Box: Iron will