Los Angeles Marathon 2020
On March 8, 2020 I ran my ninth marathon, my fourth Los Angeles Marathon and my second consecutive year marathon for the LA Marathon.
The weather was perfect. Not too warm, even hovering on chilly, and the temperature stayed the same throughout the day. The morning was clear and beautiful though we all lost an hour of sleep due to daylight savings occurring just a few hours before the race.
Every marathon starts with the runner registering for the race, then doing their training. But the excitement builds in the weeks and days leading up to the race. The day before the LA Marathon runners must make their way to the Staples Convention Center in Downtown Los Angeles to visit the LA Marathon Expo and pick up their bib and race pack. This is where the excitement really begins.
This year was special for me because this was the first time my mom was joining me for these pre-race rituals.
I have run many marathons by myself so it was nice to share the sights and sounds of the Marathon Expo with my mom.
At the beginning of the marathon it is an impressive sight to see 30,000 plus runners all gathered at Dodgers Stadium for the start of the race. I usually park in Santa Monica where the race ends and I take a shuttle bus to the start of the race.
At 4:30 am on Sunday morning I am in my car using my gps to navigate me to the city center of Santa Monica. There are very few cars on the streets at this hour, but as I get closer I can start to see elements of the race day preparation. In less than an hour most of the main streets will be blocked off. I find a parking garage fairly close to where I estimate the race will end. I park on the third level and there are only a handful of cars in the lot. I don’t see anyone around. I grab my little clear bag that has my race preparation gear: suntan lotion, sunglasses, a bagel, water, tiny band-aids, a cliff-bar, and other goodies. I head out for the shuttle bus. I walk along the sidewalk towards the Santa Monica City Hall. I see homeless people lying in alcoves. Then I see my first fellow runner. He is jogging, as he goes past, he asks, “Are you running today?” I say, “Definitely.” He shouts back, “Good Luck!” I shout back the same.
Then four more runners join me. Hoodie sweaters, holding their clear plastic gear bags, short jogging shorts. They tell me it’s their first marathon. I tell them that it’s a great course and there is lots to see along the way. It feels good to be able to be encouraging to others and to be comfortable with all of this pre-race nervousness.
The sidewalk fills with more runners and then we see rows and rows of busses. Everyone is in a good mood. I realize that the weather is strangely perfect. I was expecting it to be chilly in this early morning hour, but it is quite comfortable, then I start to feel nervous that it might get hotter later in the day. But there is no need for the leggings or the sweater I have on.
We board the bus, and everyone is in their own world of their iPhone, or just sitting calmly reserving their energies. I try to look out the bus window but it still dark out and I can’t see much of the city as we head East on the 10. We run into traffic outside the stadium. Finally we disembark at Dodger stadium and even though it is dark the area is illuminated with flood lights and the first sight is the long rows of porta-potties. Which is where I head first.
Hydration is so important to a runner but it also means several trips to the porta-potties in the time waiting for the race to start. Sometimes the lines can be long, but on this day the lines go quickly. I stuff my sweater and leggings into the clear bag and check the bag at the truck that will deliver everyone’s stuff to the end of the race. I find a place to stretch and generally relax. Then as time draws near I make my way to the start corral.
Because the weather is pretty mild standing and waiting for the start of the race is quite pleasant but in previous marathons this phase can be difficult. On cold mornings it is challenge to not freeze while one is waiting and wearing shorts and the least amount one wants to carry for 26.2 miles. The solution is for people to wear old hoodies and sweatpants, hats, and gloves and then, just before the race starts take off the extra items and throw them to the side where they are all gathered up and brought to a donation center.
Sure enough, in the minutes before the start I begin to see sweaters and clothing items arcing over people’s heads as they are tossed to the side. Sometimes landing on the fence, sometimes landing on runners, but no one is upset. Everyone is cheerful and understands.
If you look at some of the photos I have posted you can see piles of sweaters on the fence to the side.
The sun breaks over the horizon as the National Anthem is sung.
Anticipation builds, and the race begins. It still takes over ten minutes before I am able to get to the start line, cross it and begin my run.
