Through the Eyes of a Child S.H.A.R.E. Runner
We were very lucky the weather was cool, in the mid 50’s. We had morning fog and a light breeze. We started at 7:30 and ran down Figueroa past the Staples Center. There was a large group of Japanese drums playing. The drums reverberated up the corridor of buildings. It was like running in thunder. Wow! The hardest part of running a marathon is running my own pace and letting the faster people go by. I really forced myself to run my own pace.
We ran past USC then turned west and went by the swimming stadium and the coliseum. We headed out Exposition and enjoyed some live mariachi music. I felt good. I ate some electrolyte gel cubes. At mile 5, I wet my nylon shirt front and back with water to keep cool. I continued to wet my shirt every other mile throughout the marathon. I had done some heat training in 90 degree weather and found a wet shirt is cooler than not wearing a shirt.
We turned north on Crenshaw and ran past the Arthur Ashe Tennis Center. Then we went up the hill and over the 10 freeway past a buddhist monastery with monks in yellow and orange. Not far away was a group of cheerleaders in green, black and white. Only in LA. At mile 10, I ate some Accel gel with 5 g of protein. Protein gels help against sore muscles later.
I ran with several legacy runners, who have run all 23 LA Marathons. I have only run 14 LA Marathons, counting this one. We had a good time chatting about previous marathons. We turned west on Venice and got to the 12 mile mark just after Korir (Kenya) won the marathon.
We turned up La Cienaga and got to the Child S.H.A.R.E. area near mile 14. I said hi and walked a few minutes as I ate a chocolate Cliff bar, good stuff. I was maintaining a steady 10 minute per mile pace, just right. We twisted and turned our way through Pico and San Vicente, then onto 6th. I had been running beside a couple in red tops and black shorts. Directly under the mile 18 banner, he stopped, got down on his knee and took out a ring. She jumped into his arms and shouted Yes! Several of us stopped to applaud. Then we ran on, just 8.2 more miles.
We run up 3 hills. Several runners were not ready for the hills. Actually, the runners who are not well trained start walking somewhere between mile 16 and 18. Most runners stop running at mile 20 to 21. I slowed down a bit at mile 17 as I went anaerobic. Then got back to my normal, steady 10 minute per mile pace. We turned east on the long home stretch on Olympic.
At mile 24, I was getting hot and tired. I walked a couple of minutes. After mile 25, I was hot and tired again and walked a couple minutes more. I turned up the final hill on Flower and ran all the way to the finish line in 5h 7 min and 45 sec for my 18th marathon. This was my fastest marathon since 2005 and my most enjoyable marathon in many years. I went home, showered and rubbed a Chumash remedy on my legs, tincture of sagebrush. It took away the pain, cramps and swelling in a few minutes, but not the fatigue.
If you would like to sponsor my effort, please go to firstgiving.com/jimadams or send a check to Child S.H.A.R.E., 1544 West Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201. Your gift is tax-deductible and benefits abused and abandoned children.
