Los Angeles Marathon
Los Angeles, CA
Official Website : http://www.lamarathon.com/
Date : May 25, 2009
Race Type : Running
Race Distance : Marathon
Race Description: The 2009 LA Marathon will take you from the shadows of downtown's skyscrapers to the historic Crenshaw neighborhood, past the stately old homes of Hancock Park, and through the diverse, vibrant district of Korea Town.
1 Reviews for Los Angeles Marathon
My first ever marathon and the first time I wanted to commit suicide. I made the horrendous mistake of running this race on little to no training, assuming that sheer will can finish a marathon alone. I'd PR'ed at a half marathon a few weeks earlier and thought that would be good enough. My mom was doing the marathon and I attended the packet pick up with her. She was out of her mind and stupidly encouraged me to sign up. Anyone who has ever run a marathon should never pressure another person into signing up the day before. Anyhow, at the expo I got a little over inspired and thought, I can do this, and signed up the day before.
All ways well until mile 13, I was hauling for me... like 1:47 or so and figured I could easily pull a sub-4 first time marathon. Not so quick. At mile 14 it all fell apart. My mile 15 I was at aide station getting ice packs strapped to my knees, by mile 19 I was crying, by 21 I was laying on the ground. By mile 24 I thought about jumping in front of a car. I was in so much pain, my knees were shot. It was a record heat wave for early March in Southern California (I think the year was 2003 or 04) and it was 100+ on the shadeless course. People were passing out and throwing up. Nice. Somehow I finished, barely. It took like 4 hours to do last 13 miles. I was sub 6 hours, I think. My knees were ruined for months, I literally couldn't support my weight. Stupid stupid STUPID to do a marathon with no training. I had to drop out of all the upcoming races that year, it was that bad.
Anyhow, despite my poor performance and the fact I had no right being there, the race was overall ok. The bad experience was my fault. If I recall correctly, the race was definitely well run, there were tons of volunteers, aide stations, and a clearly marked course. The run is completley flat, I don't think there is a spot of elevation on the course, which doesn't help your knees either. Keep in mind that you are running through LA, one of the world's ugliest cities, so don't sign up hoping to be inspired by the views. This isn't the race directors' fault, LA is just fugly.
So would I do it again? hmmm, that is a hard one. Maybe? There are so many other more beautiful courses to race that I'd be hard pressed to return to this one.