Benefits of the Ocean City Running Club

Ocean City Running Club
Image: oceancityrunningclub.com

An alumnus of Franklin Pierce Law Center (now the University of New Hampshire School of Law), J. Christopher Llinas functioned from 2007 to 2015 as a corporate counsel for disaster recovery specialist Royal Plus, Inc., in Snow Hill, Maryland. An avid runner, Christopher Llinas has competed in numerous marathons, half marathons, and Ironman Triathlons and maintains membership with the Ocean City Running Club, for which he operates as the treasurer and provides pro bono legal services.

The Ocean City Running Club hosts two weekly runs for runners of all ages and ability levels. While some runners are inexperienced and looking to get some exercise, others are training for marathons or half marathons. Whatever the experience level, every runner is looking for the motivation that comes from running as part of a group. On Wednesdays, a group of runners gathers at the Ocean City Boardwalk. On Saturdays, the group runs through Ocean Pines and finishes at a local bagel shop.

Members are eligible for various discounts at events and for merchandise. They also receive exclusive access to comfort stations at select race events, invitations to social events, and a T-shirt.

Assateague Coastal Trust Advocates for Delmarva Peninsula

Assateague Coastal Trust
Image: actforbays.org

Attorney J. Christopher Llinas owns a solo practice in Ocean Pines, Maryland. Christopher Llinas’ career focus has included strategic planning and crisis management. As part of his charitable giving, he has contributed some $2,000 to the Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT).

ACT’s mission is to improve and preserve the coastal environment of the Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia) Peninsula. The agency concerns itself with protecting waterways, encouraging wildlife health, and promoting sustainable economic expansion.

To help meet these goals, ACT employs a coastkeeper, who inspects by boat the area’s coastal bays to detect problems with unclean water and uphold existing watershed laws and regulations. The coastkeeper reports any instances of illegal chemical releases, dredging, or disallowed buffer clearing.

From May through September, the coastkeeper measures for oxygen content, acidity, salt levels, and clarity of the water. The official also tests for bacteria that threaten human health and places the results on the ACT website between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Public information is vital to the ACT’s mission. The coastkeeper educates people about environmentally beneficial practices and alerts them to changes in legislation and policy-making.

Two Underrated Spanish Cities That Warrant a Visit

Granada, Spain
Image: gospain.about.com

J. Christopher Llinas draws on more than 20 years of experience as an attorney to serve clients through his Ocean Pines, Maryland, law practice. In his leisure time, Christopher Llinas enjoys international travel and has visited various destinations around the world, including Spain.

There are many wondrous sights and sounds to behold when visiting Spain for the first time. With cities like Madrid and Barcelona dominating the tourist landscape, however, travelers can sometimes overlook lesser-known cities. With that in mind, here are two under-the-radar cities in Spain that tourists should consider visiting.

Until the 16th century, Toledo was actually the capital of Spain. The city sits atop a mountain in the central region of the country and boasts the influences of Christians, Muslims, and Jews, all of whom have made up significant portions of its population over the centuries. Today, Toledo is a marvel of medieval art and architecture that dates all the way back to the days of the Roman Empire. Spending an afternoon walking among the city’s streets paints a picture of life as it was centuries ago.

Granada City bears an interesting heritage, as it was once a stronghold of the Moorish empire. While the empire effectively ended with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella’s capture of the city in 1492, Granada still retains significant aspects of Moorish culture, including the Alhambra. A famous 13th-century palace, the Alhambra offers visitors the opportunity to view its stunning architecture, gardens, and fountains. The Muslim quarter also gives a unique insight into Spanish history.

Two Myths about Triathlons

Triathlons
Image: active.com

Attorney J. Christopher Llinas represents clients involved in various criminal and appeals proceedings through his private firm in Ocean Pines, Maryland. Outside of his legal career, Christopher Llinas has completed dozens of marathons and triathlons, including several Ironman competitions, an event that consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run.

When people hear the words “Ironman triathlon” they are often intimidated, thinking that it must take a feat of superhuman strength to complete one. While the Ironman itself is challenging, breaking into triathlons isn’t as difficult as some think. Here are two myths that often keep beginners at bay.

Many interested in competing in triathlons assume that the Ironman is the only variety, but that’s not true. For beginners, there are several events far less strenuous than the Ironman. Sprint events, in particular, are much shorter, consisting of only a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike ride, and 5k run.

Others tend to shy away because they think they need to do undertake significant strength training beforehand in order to avoid injury. While strength training is good for a person’s overall health, it’s rest in between training cycles that stands as the most important deterrent for injury in the triathlete.