finish line – santa monica pier

On January first, I started my training program. After my last half marathon in October, I took running off until mid-December, as I knew training would be constant. Starting January first, I started running 2-4 miles about 2-4 times a week. I gradually started adding more miles to my weekend runs in mid-February. In Mid-February, I did an 11 mile Saturday run, followed by 13, 15, 17, then 19, and then I was done. Through all my half marathon training I kept indoor cycling in my weekly workouts – I decided to keep this through the full training. I personally feel that I could run a half marathon the first time because I was already avidly cycling for the past few years. So when full training came along, I kept the 3-5x of indoor cycling a week in my schedule. I just needed to make sure I was running the same amount if not more, so I wasn’t gaining too much leg muscle. I definitely feel heavier all around when I cycle too much. I needed to lean out, which is what running helps me with. After my longest run of 19 miles, I walked myself into urgent care. Both delirious from hours of running and battling being sick, I thought this might be a wise idea. I told the doctor “I have a cough”. He looked at me like I was crazy and sent me home.

Leading up to the marathon week (10 days before to be precise), I injured my ankle pretty badly. I basically had over-used and over-worked my ankle, which forced me to taper and not move in the last leg of training. As a runner, this is my worst nightmare – doing NOTHING with 9 days to go. My anxiety was through the roof and my patience for trusting that everything would work out was wearing very thin.  

Marathon morning, everything went wrong. The Uber took the wrong turn into the Stadium and we were stuck in an hour+ of traffic. We didn’t start the race on time, BUT we made it. It is easy for me to talk highly of the Los Angeles Marathon. Living in Los Angeles my whole life, being able to run from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica Pier, is something I never could have dreamed about – mostly because traffic makes it feel a lot further than 26 miles. I ran through the city with the biggest smile on my face, feeling prideful to be from such an incredible city, and so grateful for all the local cheerleaders and neighborly bystanders. The LA energy that day made it so special. Through Chinatown there were dragons. In Hollywood, stages were set with famous actors and musicians performing. Throughout West Hollywood, drag queens lined the streets, and in Brentwood, multiple stages were erected for local and popular DJs. I felt extremely supported seeing so many friendly and familiar faces. Looking back, all I can do is smile. It was such an amazing experience, and I cannot wait to run it again this coming March!

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