Flap’s 2010 Los Angeles Marathon
Here is my race bib from yesterday:
I started the course yesterday well rested and trained. However, I was not as prepared for the hills of the initial 6 miles of the course nor the heat. With my LA Roadrunners group we had trained at Venice Beach, Marina Del Rey and Santa Monica but usually early in the morning and during the fall, winter and early spring. The temperatures were usually in the 50’s and 60’s and with a cloud cover. I do not do well with the heat, being fair skinned and the sun was out in force yesterday.
I stayed with my Roadrunners until around mile 8 and dropped back, unable to sustain a pace of around 15:50 per mile. Leah had taken us out so that we could have a scheduled restroom break at mile 13 and still finish within the 7 hour range for our group. I decided I would go a bit slower and hope to catch up at mile 13 when they stopped. This was not to be the case.
I did not catch up by mile 13 since there were even more hills than I anticipated. Plus, my legs from the inital 6 miles of the course had lost their spring. I resolved to go as fast as I could, but finish nonetheless. Then, my feet started to blister from the hot pavement and although I was pumping in analgesics they hurt and I could not get the traction that I normally would have.
In the meantime, the day got warmer and warmer. I was pounding in the Gatorade from my bottles and Powerade from the many stations along the course. I still felt queazy, like I have felt before when dehydrated and sweating out electrolytes that the body needs to run its energy machine. Three marathons ago I had fallen at mile 16.5 and had to retire from the marathon. A decision I regretted deeply for over two years and which I think about every day. I was never going to quit again.
Around mile 17.5 along Wilshire Blvd and just south of Rodeo Drive, one of my belt Gatorade bottles dislodged from the belt and I stopped to pick it up. I got extremely dizzy and could not walk. I reached out to a passing racer who along with his partner escorted me to the curb. I wish to thank this unknown racer and his girlfriend for helping me and preventing me from falling. As soon as I was seated curbside a Beverly Hills motor police officer came up and radioed for the Beverly Hills Fire Department and Paramedics.
I waited about 10-15 minutes and the paramedics arrived. I rested and knew with some rest and hydration I might be able to continue. They asked me the requisite questions took my pulse and blood pressure and gave me the option of retiring from the course. Just as the moment of truth arrived, three members of my walk group walked by and asked me if I was OK. I said for them to move along and that I would see them at the finish. Then, two Roadrunner pace leader monitors came up and by the look on their faces, I thought I was going to be taken off the course.
I insisted/pleaded to the paramedic captain, that I wanted to continue. He told me to rehydrate myself at the next water stations and to pound the Powerade and water for the duration of the race. He kind of shook his head on why I wanted to continue, but allowed me to proceed. Another paramedic bandaged by leg where I had worn a sore. Thank you Beverly Hills Firemen and Paramedics for your prompt, courteous attention. I never would have been able to finish the marathon without you.
Back on the course, I was alone, blistered, hot and dehydrated. I prayed for the last 4 miles of downhill along San Vicente Blvd. But, I was at mile 18 and had 4 plus miles to go before the cool breezes of Santa Monica. I plodded along. The Westwood part of the course was MISERABLE.
At the West Los Angeles VA, I decided to sit and rest for a few minutes, gather myself for the last leg of the marathon and rehydrate myself. I sat and rested on a VA bench for a timed five minutes. Back to the course.
I was still dizzy and knew if I started to wobble they would pull my ass off the course. I had to find more Powerade. I was out and no station in sight. However, there was a private African American support group with a tent up and they were pulling up stakes and leaving. I went over and asked them for some Powerade anyway. The nice lady could have blown me off. I mean after all I was a strange old white guy – who was I to her? She responded: would Gatorade be OK? She gave me a small bottle of Srawberry Gatorade. She saved my marathon and I thank you!
I made it to San Vicente and now they were re-opening the streets. I had to walk on the sidewalk but this was like so many training sessions before with the Roadrunners. I was gathering speed and increasing my pace. I began to pass racers left and right. I met a young mother named Karen (completing her first marathon) and we walked together for about two miles until her husband met her along the course to walk with her. I took off when I hit Ocean Blvd. with 1.2 miles to go.
I wanted to walk at pace the Raodrunners trained me and would leave whatever I had left on Ocean Blvd. I broke down a bit when I saw the finish line and the clock, like I had dreamed about over so many months of training. I was flying at sub 16:00 minute per mile pace at this time. I crossed the finish line, received my medal and was greeted by my wife, Alice who had finished the marathon more than an hour previously.
And, the rewards:
The longer version:
Thanks to everyone and as my feet heal, I am ready to start training for next year’s Los Angeles Marathon. Next year, I will finish with my Roadrunner group and my goal is 7:00 – 7:15.
I KNOW I can do it.
12 Comments
Kevin Callahan
Hey, why to hang in there. I I trained for a Vermont marathon while living in Florida. There are NO hills in Florida. Vermont IS a hill. I know that pain. Both my quads cramped at 18. No way was I going through that hell that far and not finish. Pushed through the cramps. Race officials pulled me over to a drink station at about 20. Kept me a minute to make sure I was hydrated and let me go. My goal was 4:00 finished in 4:18. Was about 35 at the time. 20 some years ago. I remember it like yesterday. Stayed at my sisters spare upstairs room that night. Could NOT walk down the stairs. Had to go down on my backside. Still was a good feeling. Why to go. No one can take that one away from you. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Rick Smith
Are u willing to sell your medal for $20 bucks?
RaDragon
Hey Flap!
CONGRATULATIONS and WELL DONE for finishing and not quitting! Had I known you were trailing back (well, had I known you were in the same marathon ^_^) I would’ve tried to get you to walk with me and my big sis.
Who knew that Los Angeles would be that hilly?! I mean, I expected that sort of hills from San Fran but not LA. 🙂
Anyway, best of luck with training for next year — I have no doubt in my mind that you can achieve that new personal best.
Cheers,
Mounty/Mountaineer
(alias Raciel ^_^)
Flap
Raciel,
Thanks so much for your comments.
Maybe next year you and your sister would be interested in joining LA Roadrunners? Then, we can see each other and train every week!
All the best on the San Diego Marathon.
Windows tips and tricks
Great and well done for your marathon! I stubmled on this blog looking for info about Ny marathon! Are you going to be there?
home based jobs
This 6 month training was intense and fun at the? same? time. i’m ready for the L.A. Marathon
Steve
Congratulations for participating in the LA marathon!
The medal you won looks really fantastic and I think it could be an excellent motivation to participate in such an event again, isn´t it? It is really good to see that there are were a lot of nice people that supported you (such as the women that gave you an Gatorade!). Are you intending to participate in 2011 again?
Yours Sincerely
Steve from Motivation Method Blog
Amy
What an inspiring entry! I bookmarked this awhile ago and keep coming back to it, so I figured it was time to comment. I will be running/walking in the 2011 event in my grandfather’s memory. (He was my best buddy and passed in July.) I also lost well over 100 lbs through diet changes and exercise, and I’ve maintained a healthy weight for about four years so finishing this means a lot to me for many reasons. I’ve read that they open up traffic at a 13 mile pace. Was that not your experience?
Congrats on such an amazing accomplishment!
Flap
Amy,
They open up the streets after 6 hours and this year they will cut off the finish line at 8 hours.
The 6 hour street closure is not a bid deal since most run/walkers will be on San Vicente by then and the sidewalks are good.
Last year, Ocean Blvd, the finish line street was open at 8 hours- although the sidewalk paths there would have been a satisfactory alternative.
This year I am already training for a sub 7 hour marathon.
Thanks!
Amy
Thanks so much for your quick response Flap!! That is very good to know. I’m confident you’ll reach your goal, especially with the past experience and hard work you’ve put into it! I am hoping to FINISH before they wrap things up 😉 I’m at mile 8 on my long runs but it’s really a combo of running/walking (run 3, walk 0.5).
Flap
Amy,
Are you in an organized training group?
Jeff Galloway is the guru of Run/Walk/Run.
My LA Roadrunner group is at 6 miles this Saturday.
Amy
I’m sorry I just saw your latest response. Are you familiar with the Pacers? I’ve been following their plan and will be joining them Saturday, but I’m a bit nervous since I did 8 miles last week (walked 2.5 of them)…. And they’re at 9 this week. I think they’re mostly runners so I’m intimidated but I’ll let you know how it goes!
And I will google Jeff! Thanks!!