• What a difference a fresh start can make.

The Long Beach Armada are off to a fast start in the second half of the season, going 3-1 in their first four games, which had them in first place before heading off this week to Reno for a short road trip.

The Armada are back at Blair Field this weekend for what sounds more like an NHL homestand — three games against Calgary followed by four games against Edmonton. The Armada did that same seven-game schedule earlier this month and went 5-2.

It is a 7 p.m. start Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, with Sunday at 5 p.m. Next Wednesday there is a double header, with the first game at 1 p.m. and the second around 4 p.m. Tickets for all the games are available at the Blair Field box office.

• The Long Beach Junior Ironman is next week.

This Junior Lifeguard program has youth swimming and running down the Long Beach coast, starting at First Place and working their way all the way to the Peninsula. Parents frequently will participate with their sons and daughters — and often feel a lot older when it is over.

The event starts at 8 a.m. next Wednesday (June 30) at First Place downtown. To find out more, call 570-2554.

• A series of runs — The Viking Challenge Series — is taking place this summer and raising money for the Long Beach City College men’s cross country team.

New LBCC coach George Mehale came up with the idea as a way to have some fun and raise some money for the upcoming 2008 season. The mile run series takes place every Thursday night (including tonight, plus July 31 and Aug. 7).

The cost is $10 and is at the track at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and is broken up into six groups depending on the athlete’s pace. Runners who attend three or more events receive a free T-shirt.

For more information, call 938-4876.