LA Marathon Race Recap What to say about today…it was many things – inspiring, funny, hard, painful, hopeful, hot, crazy, heartbreaking…so many things… But, thru all of it the spirit of the runners shined bright. The day started at 2am for me (hard with the time change – ugh), I had only slept about 4 hours each of the previous two nights because of my news job and this night was even worse – 3 at best. I slid into bed with 5 hours in my sights but, excitement was swimming around inside and made it very hard to sleep. So, I just sort of rested. LOL I got up did the quick shower, protein shake and dog snuggle then headed out. I was picking up Sparrow runner Debbie and Sparrow runner Monika in Pasadena and the three of us were heading down to Santa Monica together. The LA Marathon is a point to point course that starts at Dodger Stadium and ends near the ocean in Santa Monica. The organizers wanted us to park at the finish and take the shuttles to the start so, that is what we did. We made good time to the parking lot and hopped on a bus together. There was a quiet hum of anticipation around us. Monika was a bit worried as her watch was giving her trouble and without it shooting for a BQ would be hard. We discussed our options in the dark peaceful bus. Under normal circumstances she could have jumped in with a pace group but, at LA the fast pace groups were all up with the seeded corals, not in the general population coral. I was in C corral but, Monika was in the general public. So, the pace group was not an option. I found it really odd that the pace groups were with the people who already ran the paces they were pacing? Why not give everyone a shot at hitting a goal time? We arrived at Dodger Stadium around 5am. We each grabbed a free bagel and made our way into Dodger stadium. It was such a nice perk to sit in a real seat inside the stadium – it was warm and had ample room. We also had use of the restrooms - a much preferred alternative to the porta potties. We hung out and people watched. The organizers had videos playing on the jumbotrons so, that was also a nice distraction. My favorite person to watch as we waited was a guy dressed like Uncle Fester from the Adam’s Family. He had a hand stuck to his head that moved, the costume and makeup and even a light up bouquet of light bulbs. As we sat there it was decided that I would give up my spot in the seeded C coral and run with Monika in the general population coral – to help her pace and get off to a good start. I was very honest and told her I did not know if I could hold the faster pace without hurting the ab muscle but, I would give it a go. If I couldn’t hold on she would take my watch and run. I knew I was not running this race for time so, it wouldn’t hurt my race at all and could help hers a lot. At 6:30 we headed out to the corals and assumed our positions. It was very crowded and hard to work ourselves into a good position in the coral but, we did manage to get forward a bit. When I gun went off, we took off. We held a strong and steady pace for the first 3 miles, banking a little time for the monster hill we knew was coming at mile 4 – the one that would take us up the Music Center and Disney Concert Hall. On our way to the hill we passed thru China Town - where the spectacular Chinese Dragon costumes greeted us. I have always loved seeing the massive dragon heads with the flowy bodies dancing around. Wonderful! As we came out of China Town and rounded the corner the monster hill came into view – I think we both were a bit surprised at how massive it looked. I looked at her and said “Up and over” and so we did. On the hill they had positioned the Japanese Drums and it was very powerful. As we crested the hill – I could feel the ab muscle start to object. I knew I was pushing it – the fast pace (8:15 – 8:35) and the hills were a bad combo. We pressed on and after several more hills and 6 more miles, I finally told her to “Go, just run – I can’t hold this.” I felt like I was fading and holding her pace back. So off she ran and I pulled back. By 12 I was starting to limp a little, I was over compensating for the ache in the ab and putting too much pressure on my left food. I ran into a medical tent – took 2 ibuprofen to help with the swelling and the pain and got right back on the road. We passed thru Hollywood – viewing the Walk of Fame and the Dolby Theater (home of the Oscars) – pressing on thru the streets of the cities and down Sunset Blvd, with the Hollywood sign in the distance. It really is a wonderful course. By 16 I was in a good place mentally but, my body was losing it – the ab was throbbing and the left foot was swelling causing my big toe to push up against my shoe, making it very sore. I pushed it away and tried to enjoy the moments on the course – high fiving a Michael Jackson performer, high fiving a cute little 3 year old boy who clapped and jumped up and down, the fantastic bands, the dogs the spectators brought…all of it. By 17 the heat had set in and we were in full sun and 85 degree temps. I now have crazy sun burn lines. LOL At this point the water stops had hot Gatorade and water – not real refreshing – I later learned they ran out of Gatorade and ups for the later runners, not good. I don’t think the organizers were prepared for the heat and the amount of fluids the runners would need. At 19.5, my phone rang and it was Monika telling me she had run into trouble. Her leg had started to hurt – I told her to run into a medical tent and get ibuprofen to bring the swelling down – when I got to 20 she was waiting for me. I told her to run – not wait on me – run. She did. By now, the race was looking a lot like the walking wounded. I saw 5 runners passed out from dehydration and being tended too, another man had fallen and ripped up his arm…people were pulled off stretching and starting to fill the medical tents. The heat was taking people down and it wasn’t good. I pushed on and walk – ran the last 6 miles. As I approached the finish it struck me just how strong the security for the race was. There were police everywhere - swat, on horseback, in the air, on bikes, on motor bikes – everywhere! The spectators were kept far from the runners in the finish chute and there were big signs warning bandits to get off the course with police standing next to them. It was locked down for our safety and I respected it greatly. I crossed in 4:25:27 and ran into Monika, who was waiting for me. We found a place to hang out and grabbed a couple wet ice covered towels to cool off – as we waited for our fellow Sparrows. An hour later we started to worry – about that time Brian from Lung Warrior texted me and said he had cracked his rib coughing (his lungs were not cooperating) and they had started to walk. Then Judith’s text came and said she was done and happy. A short time later we saw Brain finish and we were able to hug and congratulate each other. Brian and his friend Allby finished strong, so proud of them! We parted so they could get Brian some medicine for his lungs and we made our way back to the finish. Along the way grabbing a photo with the Running Elvis’ – they are very famous at So Cal Races as they run in full Elvis costumes pushing a stroller filled with beer. By now, the only runner we had not heard from was Debbie and that was worrisome. We found her much later and found out she had overheated and stopped at mile 20. So respected her choice and her warrior attitude – having started to feel the heat at mile 8 and powering on to mile 20, finally pulling up as she felt herself getting close to a danger zone. It was heartbreaking to see her disappointment, we hugged and I gave her my medal. She deserved it, she fought so hard to get to LA and to have heat rear its ugly head was gut wrenching. So proud of her – realizing your safety is more important than the race is a hard choice and she made it – many, many others didn’t. The finish line was a revolving door of paramedics, ambulances and runner after runner who came across the finish and passed out or collapsed. The finish area was swarming with medical personnel and the sound of sirens was the music around us. We went as a group to get Debbi’s checked bag and I was able to acquire another medal and 3 Gatorades. I knew she wouldn’t keep mine if I didn’t get another so, that was my mission. The women in charge of the medals were so kind and I am grateful to them for adding a very happy moment to our day. By now, we were all ready to head home so we slowly made the 1.5 mile walk to our car chatting and stretching our legs. Today was not as any of us planned – the elevation chart did not do it justice and the heat killed many running time hopes. But, we did it and we did it with our running family. You can plan and train but, there is no telling what will happen on race day – today we faced high heat and no shade – it was not comfortable and the finish line was a combo of happy and very sad. I would say that I had a wonderful day, despite the injury and heat. I was in my element with my team and it meant the world to me – more than my time, more than the pain, and more then how I finished. Today we were warriors and that is what we can be proud of. Run on Friends.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 05:10:41 +0000
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