My Marathon: Part IX

As a LA Roadrunner, I was on San Vicente doing training runs numerous times. The San Vicente Urban Obstacle Course became a familiar place, even though storms sometimes eliminated it from our coursework.

Now, I was running the Los Angeles Marathon and I saw that famous island in the middle of the street on the border of Santa Monica and Los Angeles. This time I got to run on the street and not the Urban Obstacle Course of the grassy island with its holes, roots, signs, and other ankle-turning challenges.

Mentally it was great. I knew it was going to be getting easy since the street angles downhill from Los Angeles to Santa Monica. I knew I was close to the end, basically just a 5K. I used to think how odd it was when they would say "Just a 10K"or "Just a 5K"left at the Roadrunners; but, now, I was thinking it!

I felt strong. The pain and agony and all I had heard about and may be feared were not there. I probably felt better than I did early in the race which shocked me!

I was also passing a lot of people easily; I was stunned.

I saw that familiar City of Santa Monica sign and the exclusive houses. I saw the numbers of the streets getting smaller. My pace was getting faster, not slower, which was a nice feeling. My fears of exceeding 20 miles were fading quickly.

I got my last water cup at Mile 24. I was not having problems with dehydration; so, I concluded I could go the rest of the way non-stop. The Roadrunners training had far fewer water stations than the marathon (for comparison, one would be at 26th and San Vicente, one at about Mile 25/Totem Pole, and one at the Casa del Mar Hotel!).

I got my water ... looked up ... there was the sea! The sight I had been waiting a long time for and been thinking about for months.

I had discussed how it would feel during the long runs with my partners. Now, I was living it. I saw Mile 25 Marker and made the turn ...