[dromedary]

hey <b>SLOJim</b>,<br><br>
You were right about the LA Marathon....the crowds, the insanity, the lousy point to point...I can't believe you did 4 or 5 of these things and they just got worse! <b>arc918</b> is right, this bad boy is always on a hot day.<br><br>
Anyway, here's the report for you and anyone else who didn't see it because the Ragnar Relay people got all the glory this week (wink wink) since they only posted their stuff in 3 or 4 places (hey, you earned it!) and I followed The Rules <img alt="surprised.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/surprised.gif"> (<b>Sans Souci</b> would hurt me for breaking rules):<br><br><a href="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23500" target="_blank">http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23500</a><br><br>
p.s. I have been lurking in the Runners World Discussions since there is a big Southern California forum there and many of them ran the LA marathon too. It was validating to read that they were all reporting the same things I encountered like heat and leg cramps. They also said about the goodie bags were skimpy compared to last year (mostly paper adverts) and that there were no Cliff Shots this year at mile 19 this year. Hard times lead to cost cutting, I suppose.

 

[SLOjim]

Congrats Dromedary!!!<br><br>
LA had been my favorite Marathon for a number of years....... with all the negatives there are some positives too...... I love the crowds of spectators, the wild costumes, the beer at mile 21, and the great medical support. The worst negative is the course layout...... I ran the Inaugural LA Marathon 23 years ago which was my first and I loved the course.... it started and finished at the Coliseum which provided plenty of open areas to meet up with friends and family and the museums were open early for those that were waiting around hours and hours for the runners to complete the race.<br><br>
It's funny on Saturday I was at the beach with DW, telling her that this was perfect marathon running weather (while we were trying to stay warm on the completely overcast day) and I sort of wished I was running LA ...... wouldn't you know it, on marathon Sunday the skies were clear and sunny and the commentators were talking about how beautiful it was.... maybe for them, but not for the runners!!!

 

[Ileneforward]

Hey girl girl! I've only done LA once, and it was the other course. This one is only in its second year isn't it? How about I run it with you next year? You can show me the ropes.<br><br>
Great job by the way!

 

[dromedary]

Hey <b>Ileney</b>! You're the original comeback girl. Arm in sling, then no arm in sling and cute race pictures! And now you're Boston-bound!<br><br>
I don't know about doing this again next year; <b>arc918</b> was right about the heat and the crazy point-to-point. Of course, if it becomes a loop and they move the date to a colder time of year, I'd consider it. There is that possibility (I heard this from the L.A. Road Runners):<br><br>
"Rumors swirl that L.A. Marathon might be for sale. Operator Chris Devine says no deal has been reached despite talk involving equity firm that has bought related businesses. Many see room for improvement no matter who owns event, to be run March 2."<br><br>
By Greg Johnson<br>
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer<br><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...,7057171.story" target="_blank">http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...,7057171.story</a>

 

[Cashmason]

Congrats on getting through a hot marathon.<br><br>
In the future LA may have to change the course layout again to meet Boston Qualifying rules. I believe that when the rules go into effect that the start and finish can not be more than 9 miles apart and that the net downhill for the course will be limited.<br><br>
I think to prevent some current courses in Utah continuing to offer a start way up high and have nothing but downhill course, thus giving those racers an advantage over most other courses.

 

[dromedary]

Thanks <b>Cash</b> and <b>SLOJim</b>! I think SLOJim may have inadvertently cursed me by thinking how it was "perfect" weather on Saturday <img alt="uhoh2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/uhoh2.gif">, but I might break the curse if I run this next year with <b>Ilene</b>....hey no promises right now. All I can think of is how am I gonna get my shoes out of the garage, they still reek from Sunday. That's a new one for me too.

 

[Cashmason]

Look forward to seeing you and Lew at a local race soon!

 

[dromedary]

Thanks <b>Cash</b>, Lew says hi to you too--and hi to <b>SLOJim, Ilene, SherieRainer</b>, and <b>huskydon</b>. He's going to run a 5K next weekend (St. Patrick's Day in Redondo/Torrance) so wish him well (I haven't decided yet to join him yet). He said you guys are the ones who inspired him to take up running after a 30 years siesta.