March 19, 2023. My 13th Marathon, 7th Los Angeles Marathon, and 5th consecutive Los Angeles Marathon.

Mile 19 of the Los Angeles Marathon on Santa Monica Blvd heading West towards the turnaround at mile 22.

Marathon Expo, March 18, 2023. The day before the race.

Los Angeles Marathon Expo- The Marathon excitement really kicks off with a visit to the Marathon Expo to pick up a race pack which includes the all important Race Bib that has my race numbers and a thin strip that identifies me each time I run through a timing station.

In my early years of racing there was a little timing chip that runners would have to lace into their shoes. I thought that was incredibly futuristic and space age, but now they have the same technology meshed inside the race bib.

The Expo was held at Dodgers Stadium as an outdoor expo. Before the pandemic the Expo was always held at the big convention center downtown, but it is kind of nice to be able to visit Dodgers Stadium and seeing what it looks like in daylight.

On Race Morning people take buses to get to Dodger Stadium. I have to drive to the end of the race in Century City, park in a garage, grab my gear then walk over to the busses then take the 30 minute bus ride back to Dodgers Stadium.

When I get off of the bus it is about 4:30AM and it’s still night time and the place is lit with flood lights. An eerie but exciting scene.

This is the lane where the 35,000 runners will line up at the start of the race.

Race Day-March 19, 2023

I stepped off the bus at 4:30AM and then immediately used the porta-potty. It’s all about hydrating, stretching, keeping warm. and waiting, using the bathroom again, until the start of the race.

Runners getting off the busses.

The Starting Line.

Runners shed their hoodies, sweatpants and other items on the fence or to the side. These are collected and donated.

Running the Race.

This is a selfie of my running at around mile 19. I don’t take photos along the route because I’m focused on running and because I don’t want to use up the battery on my phone because I’m using it to play music and I need to be able to use the GPS to find my Car after the race is over!

Finish Line.

Photo taken just a few seconds after crossing the finish line.

2 Medals! One for finishing the LA Marathon and another because I completed a series of 3 races called Conquer LA.

Space Blanket-A volunteer put this on me, which not only keeps you warm, but at that very moment it started to rain!

Below is a link showing 4 hours of the Finish Line of the Marathon. If you scan through to 2:57:15 and you don’t blink you can see me hobbling over the finish line.

Or cut and past this url to a new browser:

https://youtu.be/MM7SmJ7RZcU?t=10616

I cross the finish line when the clock in the frame says 5:07

Los Angeles Marathon 2023