This marathon was a mixed bag, but mostly it was disappointing.

I had goals in mind that completely went out the window when I saw that the temperature for the day was going to be close to 90 degrees.

It was a hot marathon, and it became a challenge, but after running Berlin in 85 degree weather, I had a strategy that worked, and kept me out of trouble, but my time greatly suffered.

What also really threw me was the enormous delays in transportation. I’ve done the LA Marathon 11 times so one would think I could apply some experience. I left my home in Eagle Rock at 3:30AM, Parked in Century

I left my house at 3:30AM for a 30-minute drive to park in Century City (Where the race ends).

On the drive to Century City I was on the 10 freeway and I witnessed a strange site in the sky. I saw what must have been a piece of space junk hitting the atmosphere and burning up in the sky. It was bright orange, and trailed for about 20 seconds. Interesting what one might see at 3:45 AM

I Parked in Century City at 4:00AM roughly the same spot I parked in the previous three year, inside the parking structure and out of direct sunlight. I got my gear together, put on suntan lotion and set off. I met up with other runners and then we saw the line for the shuttle buses that was 3 blocks long and moving slowly! Deep breath. Nothing anyone can do about it. But in all previous years my experience has been that you walk up, buses are there, you get on and it's 30 minutes to the stadium.

Walking to the unexpected long line to board the Shuttle Bus to Dodger Stadium.

Not yesterday.

By the time we got on the buses, 20 minutes later, the buses took over an hour to get to the stadium. We arrived at 6:30AM! The race starts at 7:00.

At the Stadium and the Start

I had no time. I got in line at a porta-potty, which is usually a 20–30-minute wait, and I just focused on what I knew needed to happen. They were singing the national anthem while I was still in line.

After the porta-potty, I raced to the corral, and even though I had a slot in "E" Corral, the race had already started so I was in the back with the open corral runners. That means spending a lot of the first 5 miles being behind much slower runners.

Marathon-First Quarter

I was running and trying to manage my pace knowing it was going to get hot later, then at mile 6 the sun really came out and I could feel the temperature rising. I stopped at every water station and kept to my plan for fueling and taking sodium tablets so that I would not cramp up or get into trouble later in the marathon.

I was behind a lot of slower runners due to the late arrival at Dodger Stadium and inability to get into my assigned corral. It definitely put a damper on finding an early groove, and wasted time and energy zig-zagging. I would never be rude to another runner on a course, but I was frustrated when there were people running three or four abreast to be with their friends. It really bottle-necks the course and I’m pretty sure is mention in the suggested but impossible to enforce “rules of the road”. The real lesson…I got to start my transportation EVEN earlier next year to ensure proper corral placement. That means a 2:30AM Out-the-door just to be able to get to Dodger Stadium in time to use the porta-potty and get to the corral. Ridiculous, but this is the reality. When I run international marathons I can get to the start and back to my hotel within minutes. But here at home….it takes hours. Go figure. But back to the Race…And the rising temperatures.

Marathon-Second Quarter

This stretch through Hollywood and West Hollywood went smoothly. The miles seemed to go by quickly and much of it was a blur. I don’t know about other runners but even though I am looking around and enjoying the sites, I also go into a bit of a trance, and I’m focusing on the ground or runners in front of me. I do listen to music when I’m running, which I enjoy and can be inspirational, but it’s also like being on a long drive, and you just listen to music, tune in and tune out.

We passed under a massive overhang that was built in front of the Kodiak theater in preparation for the Oscars next week. Going under that overhang also emphasized the stark contrast between the heat and being in the shade. It felt good, and it was a welcome relief from the sun.

Marathon-Third Quarter

This is the stretch that continues along West Hollywood and then is on Santa Monica Boulevard, and does a jog to pass through Rodeo Drive.

Here again, I felt like I was doing okay and cruising. I was starting to experience some pain and slight cramping in my right knee which was alarming, of course, because the worry is that it could get worse. I don’t panic, but I do start to worry when I feel twinges like that this this could suddenly get much worse and even scrub the race, so the only thing to do is drop into a lower gear, and go slower.

I now had two things slowing me down, the heat and this fatigue around my right knee. Fortunately the knee thing would go away, but then would spasm and flare up about every three miles. Annoying, alarming, but thankfully did not get worse. I stopped a few times to retie my shoe to see if that would have any affect. I think making some adjustments did help.

All along the way I had been fueling about every 30 mintues. During this phase I could start to feel less energy, but I continued to stick to my plan. I was also stopping at every water station for at least one cup of water, a sodium chew, and a splash of water on my head and wrists.

Marathon-Fourth Quarter

I saw Eddie at mile 20 where you and he waited during the 2020 marathon. It's a great location, and it's a milestone for the race in terms of defining it as the last quarter.

Eddie has come to three previous Marathons and Mile 20 seems to be the spot. It’s a massive boost, and I am so grateful.

He had a zip-lock back I gave him with body glide and suntan lotion which I applied. I wasn’t in crisis, but it was a confidence boost to know I didn’t have to worry about these two areas in the last 6 miles.

Thank you Eddie!!

Then I set back off, but the temperature was easily 85 or even closer to 90. So I slowed way, way down. I never really worried about finishing, but to manage that I just had to start walking in the heat.

Most runners around me were walking at this point. Occasionally there would be some rallying and some running. But when I did that I could feel my body overheating, So I went back to a fast walk.

The final mile was tough because the crowds were not really in alignment with what we were experiences. I know everyone means well but in 89 Degree temperature and after 25 miles, it’s not helpful to have people trying to coax you to “get back running” and to “finish strong”. We are finishing strong, and if people are walking at this point, it’s because that is all they have. Unfortunately I saw people trying to “finish strong” and the result was that several of them collapsed a 10th of a mile from the finish and were cramping severely and in serious pain. Not good. I get it. I’ve done it. But at this point I was fast walking and ignoring the crowds, knowing I’d get my medal, knowing my time was horrible, and yet also knowing I need to still focus on hydration, salt, and keeping my legs moving.

After passing the Medal area and the water/banana zone there was a larger area where runners were being corralled but this is where runners collapsed on the ground on their shiny mylar blankets. There were a lot of runners in bad shape…some in really bad shape, but they just hit the deck anywhere they could and then they could not move. I had to step over runners to keep moving. I felt bad.

It’s happened to me. In Chicago in 2016, I found a spot in the park after the marathon, sat down and then my legs started to cramp and seize and I could not bend my legs or stand for about 20 mintues until the salt/potassium capsules worked their magic. It was awful. So I knew what these folks were going through, but I was also grateful that I’m learning from my own previous marathon experiences.

My salt strategy along the route worked.

My time was really bad, and I'm very frustrated. I hit the unfortunate spot of being a slower marathoner, and then hitting the higher temperatures, which slows one down even more and then having to spend even more time in the hottest part of the day.

Obviously I want to do better, and I have Paris in a month to test my abilities again. (Hopefully cooler weather) But still...I thought Berlin was going to be an exception. I felt proud that I managed Berlin on a hot day...but now having to do it twice is really upsetting and makes me wonder if this is not going to be a permanent change in terms of what one has to train for in the future.

My first marathon in 2002 was in New York and the high of the day was 42 Degrees.

Race directors all over the world are having talks about how to manage races and tens of thousands of people in the face of rising temperatures. A lot of World Major Marathons last year were considered “hot”, that is, anything above 70 degrees.

But I did finish my 9th Consecutive LA...and 23rd in all....so next year will be my 10th and I will earn some LA Loyal Marathon swag, like a hat or something.

In summary-

Even though it was brutal with the temperature, today I am sore, but not wiped out. When I crossed the finish line I was in good spirits, I wasn't collapsing, and my recovery is going quick and smooth.

There is a part of me, that, even though I'm frustrated and disappointed, I can manage things so that I'm doing this safely and can run another day.