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Volume 9 Issue 112
Santa Monica Daily Press CRITTER-PROOF COMPOSTING SEE PAGE 6
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THE WHAT A RACE ISSUE
Massive race takes all kinds BY NICK TABOREK Daily Press Staff Writer
DOWNTOWN In a field of 25,000, there were bound to be some characters. Among them were Patrick McDonagh and five friends who ran the race dressed up in full Elvis Presley regalia, complete with wigs and white spandex jumpsuits, blaring rock ‘n’ roll from a stereo on a pushcart and drinking beer instead of Gatorade. It’s not a strategy you’ll find in the official L.A. Marathon training guide, but it seemed to work for the crew of Presleys, all experienced marathoners with scores of races under their sequined belts. “I’ve met all my goals in running, so what a way to have fun,” said McDonagh, who completed his 49th marathon Sunday. Hours after the elite runners finished the race, marathoners continued to cross the finish line on Ocean Avenue at Santa Monica Boulevard in droves, cheered on by a crowd that packed the sidewalks down the final stretch. “The people just made it so uplifting,” said Michael Seguin, a Los Angeles police officer who was running his first marathon. It wasn’t a postcard perfect beach day, but for the runners the overcast sky and cool 68 degree afternoon temperature was about as good as it gets. “The weather was perfect,” said Christy Araujo-Henderson, who called Sunday’s race her favorite of the five marathons she’s completed. “I can’t say anything bad about it.” The L.A. Marathon’s new route that brought the race to Santa Monica for the first time didn’t go off without a hitch — there was a late start because of a traffic jam at the race’s Dodger Stadium starting point — but officials in Santa Monica said the massive crowd that turned out for the race had been well behaved and there were no serious injuries reported by mid-afternoon. Publicity surrounding the new “Stadium to the Sea” route helped attract the largest field of runners in the event’s history. Peggy Hoyle, who traveled from Washington D.C. to run the race, her third marathon, said she was among those attracted by the new course. “It was always interesting — there’s SEE MARATHON PAGE 7
Byron Kennerly news@smdp.com
JOINING THE WINNERS’ CIRCLE: (Left) Kenya's Wesley Korir cele-
Morgan Genser news@smdp.com
brates as he wins the 2010 Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday. It was the second straight year he won the race on the mens' side. (Above) Edna Kiplagat, also of Kenya, won the women's race, in a time of 2:25:37.
Kenyans dominate L.A. Marathon THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SANTA MONICA The Los Angeles Marathon’s new “Stadium to the Sea” course was designed to be a visual tour of the city, beginning at Dodger Stadium and passing landmarks such as Graumann’s Chinese Theater and Beverly Hills’ upscale shopping district, Rodeo Drive, on the way to a finish near the ocean. No one enjoyed those sights, or the race, more than Wesley Korir.
Korir successfully defended his Los Angeles title Sunday, while Edna Kiplagat won the women’s event and a gender challenge bonus of $100,000. “One thing my coach told me is, ‘Wesley, enjoy yourself,’ “ said the 27-year-old, whose 2009 win in Los Angeles was his first marathon victory. “I tried to do that. To get my head out of running, I was looking everywhere. I saw everything.” Korir, a native of Kenya living in Louisville, Ky., won a tactical battle by break-
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ing away from fellow Kenyans Richard Limo and Paul Samoei in the 25th mile to cover the 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 19 seconds, the third-best time in the event’s 25year history. Limo finished 29 seconds back, followed by Samoei in 2:09:54. Kiplagat, of Kenya, dropped Teyba Naser of Ethiopia in the 23rd mile to win in 2:25:37. She took advantage of an 18minute head start women’s elite competiSEE WINNERS PAGE 7
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