I’ve been up since 3 am which is really 2 am and I finished the marathon at 10:05 which is really 9:05 am. And now I don’t know what time it is. There’s what that clock says but did I remember to change it last night or this morning? Is that the current “recognized” time or is that the time of the past?
I hate daylight savings.
So instead of a breathlessly long-winded and meandering post, herewith I present a series of photos (with a few comments thrown in for good measure) from the LA Marathon Experience (2020):
The Bib Pickup on March 6th.
Inside the expo, the coronavirus had apparently scared away even the booth workers at Turkish Airlines.
I could buy this map for $30… or I could get one for free if I went with a coupon to a New Balance store in Santa Monica or Pasadena or Torrance. Or I could just take a photo… Pee Wee Herman tells me it’ll last longer.
I’m Loyal, but I’m no Legacy. There are currently 131 or 132 legacy runners, folks who have toed the line and run all 34 (and as of today 35) LA Marathons. I met some at the start line and they were delightful.
I would if I could… and so I did.
The parking lot this morning down in Santa Monica
The bad thing about a point to point race is taking a shuttle bus to the start line hours before the start. The nice thing about a Point to Point race is that you really HAVE to run the thing to get back to your car.
Dodgers Stadium was in the midst of a massive construction/refurbishment project so unlike previous years we couldn’t hang out in the ball park. Bit of a bummer.
It was admittedly a mess.
Like, a mess-mess.
So I took a selfie along the fenceline. Not quite the same as taking one along the baseline.
Moon over Coronavirus.
Milling about waiting for the corrals to open.
This was my corral.
The folks behind me in the corral — that guy yawning is Daylight Savings’ poster child.
Here I am behind some of the legacy runners. Like I said, they were great — super positive, super fun, all around good people.
Every year they hold up these signs… well, not THESE signs as obviously it would’ve been weird to hold up the 35 at say year 27 but you get the idea.
I hate this hill. I always think it’ll be fine but it always knocks the wind out of me.
Even with the beat of the drums.
I tried to shoot selfies at some of the classic locales I’ve often snapped in prior years. Disney Concert Hall is a prime example.
Aw, isn’t it nice that the El Capitan is encouraging us to go “Onward!”
I know it’s the TCL Chinese… but to me and my 1980s trips to Hollywood, it will always be the Mann Chinese (even if originally it was Graumann’s Chinese… but whatever).
Passing this In N Out burger is a sign I’m close to the halfway point.
Sun’s out, runs out.
Sunset Blvd.
That’s my neighbor Ike and his human Louise… or my neighbore Louise and her dog Ike…
…not sure who gets top billing. I assume Ike since he’s, ahem, top dog.
Rodeo Drive, where the street is paved with overpriced merch no one should ever buy.
Gaudy gauche.
And yet I selfie.
Leaving Beverly Hills… I stopped taking photos at this point as I was trying really hard to PR…
I didn’t quite make it… but I did get a rock solid Boston Qualifying time that should ensure I can run there in 2021.
Ah, the old blurred background trick.
Steven and I missed each other at mile 10 but we did catch up for a post-run lunch… and I overdid it. But so what? I ran a freakin’ marathon.
