Los Angeles Marathon - RunMarathon


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Los Angeles, California
United States
Conqur
70F / 21C
Sunny
 		Total Time = 3h 31m 43s
Overall Rank = 913/20216
Age Group = M 55-59
Age Group Rank = 22/649
Pre-race routine:

Had to fight my way through multiple injuries to get to starting line: Stress injury to right 2nd metatarsal Labor Day weekend, peroneal tendon strain six weeks before race, bursitis in right knee one week out. Made a switch in shoes from Hoka Cliftons back to Skechers Ultras less than two weeks out. Somehow got to start basically healthy and only slightly undertrained. Predicted on Facebook I'd run around 3:32 and that's exactly what I did.
Event warmup:

A little light jogging. Didn't want to do too much and risk inflaming the bursitis before the start.
Run
  • 3h 31m 44s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 08m 05s  min/mile
Comments:

Went out trying to see if I could sneak in sub-3:30 (like last two times at LA, 2015 & 2017). Had it going until about mile 17, but fell off the pace slightly then. Last 5K (downhill), my calves and right foot were not cooperating and I had to hustle at the finish to get in under my original goal (and predicted) time of 3:32.

Changing shoes was the right move and the bursitis in my right knee was no more than a nuisance throughout.

Ended up qualifying for both Boston and NYC for 2020. Third fastest marathon (of 18) all-time.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing really. I lost a critical week of peak training to the right foot injury 6 weeks out, but I was definitely appropriately trained, had a legitimate shot at sub-3:30, and managed the race well.
Post race
Warm down:

Walked through the finish area: Medal, water, food, photos. Ran into several members of my running club who just killed it.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Lost a little training in February to minor injury. But mostly I'm just starting to see the effects of aging...I'll be 59 in 7 weeks.

Event comments:

Tenth year for what has become something of an iconic course, from Dodger Stadium to the beach in Santa Monica. Decent crowd support. Manages to take in a remarkable number of LA sights along the course.




Last updated: 2018-11-27 12:00 AM
Running
03:31:44 | 26.2 miles | 08m 05s  min/mile
Age Group: 20/649
Overall: 898/20216
Performance: Good
809 of 11786 men
Course: Point-to-point, net downhill - Dodger Stadium to Palisades Park in Santa Monica.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4