LA Marathon Race Report - What I forgot about road marathons.

It has been many years since my last road marathon, four years, to be exact, and the decision to run another one came about when it was announced that the Olympic Trials Marathon would be held the day before the regular people marathon in LA. It was like the buy one, get one free of marathon weekends.

The Trials

We flew into LA Saturday morning and arrived downtown at the convention center about ten minutes before the start of the men's race. The course couldn't have been more spectator friendly. The runners would loop past us four times, so we got to see the entire race unfold. So. Exciting. For a tiny little video I put together, see previous post here.

Making 5:45 mile splits look like no big deal

The LA Marathon 

Dodger Stadium, 5am. 

My race plan was pretty simple: Cruise the first ten miles at an easy pace, no music, soak up the experience, and have fun. At mile ten, put on the tunes and do the work to get through the next ten. Then, just hang on, and try not to blow up on the last 6. I didn't wear a watch so that my brain could be quiet and just enjoy the day, and it was a good day.

There are plenty of differences between a trail marathon and a road marathon. Each is a completely different experience with a different culture and etiquette, and I was looking forward to some of those differences. Here are a few of them, along with a few that I forgot about.

1. There will be so many costumes.

Not pictured: dude in a full tux, girl cupid.

2. When the race starts, I will not actually cross the start line for about 15 minutes.
3. When the race starts, dudes will cross the start line and immediately run to the side of the road to pee, and at mile 12 when I have to stand in line for two minutes waiting for a porta potty I will resent all dudes.
4. I will love how many young kids are at the water stations and tell each one I take a cup from thank you and good job.
5. In my head I will still refer to water stations as aid stations. 
6. I will never be able to drink water from a paper cup while running without getting water up my nose. I really REALLY tried this time. I pinched the top. I concentrated. I almost drowned. EVERY TIME.
7. I will have to continuously remind myself that I am in downtown LA not in the mountains, so I can't duck off the trail and pee, even if some buildings have extra lush landscaping and DUDES ARE DOING IT.
8. I will get teary watching families standing on the sidewalks with signs waiting for their runner.
9. I will get teary seeing firefighters, police officers and soldiers in full uniform in the race.
10. I will get teary being inspired by runners who are blind or runners who are disabled.
11. Basically, I will cry a lot.
12. Miles 17-18 will suck. Always have, always will.
13. No, I won't eat a chili dog at mile 6, but yes, I will drink some beer at mile 20.
14. It will go by fast, and then the last mile will last a lifetime.
15. I will not like any of my race photos.

   

I like the big city marathon. I'd like to do more. In different cities. Once every four years or so. 

See you on the trails.