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Table of Contents 2014 ASICS LA Marathon Official Race Program Welcome to All
Finish Line
CEO Perspective
Training Days
A few words from some of the people who make race day a success Pgs. 8, 10, 14
Information about the final destination Pg. 24
Tracey Russell touches on the current state of the ASICS LA Marathon Pg. 44
Andrew and Deena Kastor help you prepare for this year’s race and beyond Pg. 60
NutriBullet Health and Fitness Expo Mix and mingle with fellow runners and spectators Pg. 16
LA Big 5K The race before the big race Pg. 18
Transportation and Security Tips to get around safely Pg. 26
Checking it Out A spectator’s guide to this year’s ASICS LA Marathon Pg. 28
Still Running Start Line Information to get you started Pg. 21
Course Map ‘Stadium to the Sea’ route in all its glory Pgs. 22-23
ASICS LA Marathon Pg. 30
Sights to See ‘Stadium to the Sea’ route a love letter to Los Angeles Pg. 38
Recovery After the Run Keck Medicine of USC shares tips for runners Pg. 43
Hollywood State of Mind Elite Field: Men Top racers in this year’s marathon Pg. 48
So many things to see, do in Tinseltown Pg. 64
By the Numbers Elite Field: Women Who will pull off the win? Pg. 49
Did you know 54 countries are represented this year? Pg. 66
Cast and Crew It takes all kinds to make the ASICS LA Marathon run Pg. 52
All for the Cause Over 90 charities team up with the ASICS LA Marathon Pg. 58
About this publication This Official Race Program has been created as a partnership between the ASICS LA Marathon and the Santa Monica Daily Press. It was produced to give runners and spectators of this historic event an opportunity to learn more about the marathon. It speaks to all aspects of the race: competition, charity, the course and the diverse communities that it serves.
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March 9, 2014 Dear Friends, Welcome to the 2014 ASICS LA Marathon! This great race is a celebration of athleticism, determination, and the City of Los Angeles. Close to 24,000 runners are expected to start the race which begins at historic Dodger Stadium and moves west through some of our city’s most iconic neighborhoods before ending by the Santa Monica Pier. I congratulate this year’s athletes and everyone who worked to make this year’s event possible. I am especially thankful to ASICS, which is retuning as the Tittle Partner. Their support has helped to bring global attention to this race. The ASICS LA Marathon was first inspired by the Olympic Marathon in 1984. It is a tradition that helped us secure the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, I send you my best wishes for a successful race. Sincerely,
ERIC GARCETTI Mayor
ERIC GARCETTI
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Dear Runners and Sports Enthusiasts, Welcome to the 2014 ASICS Los Angeles Marathon. ASICS is incredibly excited to be sponsoring this extraordinary event for the second year. The one-of-a-kind stadium to sea course is unlike any other race in the world and its runners are among the most passionate and dedicated. This year ASICS is celebrating the spirit of the marathon runner. From the newcomers who are attempting their first 26.2 mile feat, to the “legacy runners� who have participated in every single Los Angeles marathon since 1986, to the elite athletes who will be competing for the glory of first place, we salute you and your commitment to the sport of running. We would also like to recognize the outstanding team of people who have made this race possible. The incredible volunteers, city officials, city agencies, devoted LA Marathon staff and of course the fans who will line the streets of LA to cheer on over 24,000 runners on March 9 none of this would be possible without you and we cannot even begin to express how grateful we are for your continued support and tireless efforts to make this amazing event happen. Our team at ASICS America is devoted to helping athletes of all skill levels to achieve their goals, which is why we are bringing back our Support Your Marathoner (SYM) program. This innovative program provides friends and families the ability to send inspirational messages of encouragement to their runners during the race, giving them a virtual cheering section. Supporters can send personalized messages by visiting www.supportyourmarathoner.com. Good luck to all the runners and thank you for taking part in the 2014 ASICS LA Marathon. Enjoy!
Kevin Wulff CEO and President, ASICS America Corporation
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Hello Friends! On behalf of LA MARATHON LLC, welcome to the 29th running of the ASICS LA Marathon. With another sold-out field, runners get to experience an incredible tour of Los Angeles and its most iconic landmarks along the Stadium to the Sea course. Thank you to our friends in the cities of Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — your support is immeasurable! The ASICS LA Marathon has the best corporate partners — including ASICS, an amazing corps of 6,000 dedicated volunteers, and millions of enthusiastic spectators on course and as viewers of the broadcast. There are over 90 charities taking part in the marathon and Charity Relay where millions of dollars are being raised for important environmental, educational, civic and health-related causes. This is the first ASICS LA Marathon to take place after the tragic events that occurred at the Boston Marathon last year. Safety has always been our top priority, and we’re grateful to have the guidance of experts in the field as we plan the event. Every year, we work closely in each of the four cities with their mayor’s office, their police and fire departments, emergency medical service units, and other agencies to establish safety procedures and plan for emergencies of all kinds. While the events in Boston have lent this year’s preparations an added importance, we feel confident knowing that this is not something new, but an extension of what we’ve always done to make the event safe for our participants, volunteers and spectators. We hope you enjoy all the festivities the 2014 event has to offer, and we’ll see you at the start line of the ASICS LA Marathon! Best of luck,
Tracey Russell Chief Executive Officer LA MARATHON LLC
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2014 Sponsors We’d like to give a special thanks to all our partners, without whom this race would not exist Title Partner
Premier Partners
Sponsors
Media Partners
Licensee Sponsor
Supporting Sponsors
Community Partners GE
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RICH CRUSE
NutriBullet Health and Fitness Expo Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall Friday, March 7th 10 a.m. — 7 p.m. Saturday, March 8th 9 a.m. — 5 p.m. he NutriBullet Health & Fitness Expo will host over 140 exhibitors featuring brandnew designs in running apparel and shoes, as well as the latest developments in sports, fitness, and nutrition. It is also home of Participant Packet Pickup and the ASICS official merchandise store. The two-day expo is free and open to the public.
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New for 2014 Packet Pickup Change: Due to increased security regulations, you must pick up your own Participant Packet (which includes your event-issued bib number and timing device) at the NutriBullet Health & Fitness Expo during regularly scheduled hours. Individuals will not be able to pick up Participant
Packets on behalf of others. There will be NO race day Packet Pickup. Photo ID Required: Your bib number will not be released to you without appropriate picture ID. Your photo ID and a confirmation email are all that is required to pick up your participant packet.
RICH CRUSE
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LA Big 5K Dodger Stadium, Lot G Saturday, March 8th, 2014 6:00am DODGER STADIUM Parking Available
6:30am On-site PACKET PICKUP OPENS
8:00am RACE START
he 2014 LA Big 5K winds 3.1 miles through scenic Elysian Park. Serving as the official warm up race for the 2014 ASICS LA Marathon, the race draws thousands of participants many of whom are gearing up for the ASICS LA Marathon the next day. With both the Start and Finish Line just steps from Dodger Stadium, you’re assured a unique “ASICS LA Marathon” experience. Registration is available at www.lamarathon.com
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Getting to the LA BIG 5K Due to street closures for the LA Big 5K, only two entrances will be open to Dodger Stadium for LA Big 5K participants, the Sunset Gate and the Downtown Gate. These gates will open at 6:00am. (Note: The Golden State Gate will be closed until 10:00am due to street closures)
SUNSET GATE 1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90090
DOWNTOWN GATE 1252 Stadium Way, Los Angeles, CA 90012
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Start Line - Dodger Stadium Sunday, March 9, 2014 6:50am - Handcycle Race Start 6:55am - Wheelchair Race Start 7:10am - Elite Women Start 7:25am - Elite Men and Full Field Start
Security Checkpoints: All participants will be required to go through a Security Checkpoint prior to entering the Secured Event Zone at Dodger Stadium. All bags will be screened by security personnel and participants must use the clear plastic eventissued Participant Bag for carried gear. No other bags will be allowed through the security checkpoints.
Important Pre-race Logistics:
Important Race Updates
Broadcast Schedule:
3:00am - Dodger Stadium Opens to Vehicles/Security Checkpoints Open 5:00am - Seeded Corrals open 6:45am - Gear Check closes and Security Checkpoint #1 closes 7:00am - Seeded Corrals close
Our top priority is the safety of our runners, volunteers, spectators, and partners. We are working closely with public safety officials to create the best possible experience at the ASICS LA Marathon. Spring Forward: Daylight Savings Time will begin at 2:00am on race morning. Please set your clock/watch ahead one hour before going to bed on March 8.
Television: KTLA Channel 5, 6:00am-11:00am on Sunday morning Radio: AM 570 FOX Sports LA, 5:00am-10:00am on Sunday morning Webcast: Live webcast 6:00am-11:00am on Sunday morning
ome out and cheer on over 25,000 runners as they journey 26.2 miles from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica. If you can’t make it out, tune in to KTLA5 for live race day coverage starting at 6am.
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Race Start Times:
Universal Sports: tune in to universalsports.com to relive the experience at 12:00pm PT
Race Weekend Communication: Runners and spectators can keep up with the latest news and schedule updates by following us on: • Twitter: www.twitter.com/lamarathon; @lamarathon #RUNLA #ALAM • Facebook: www.facebook.com/lamarathon • Website: www.lamarathon.com
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Finish Line - Santa Monica he Finish Line at the ASICS LA Marathon is located in Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California avenues. New changes have been implemented for 2014 to help make the Finish Line a safe and enjoyable venue for participants and spectators.
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FINISH LINE SPECTATOR VIEWING & ACCESS Spectator access will be closed on Ocean Avenue from Washington Avenue to Santa Monica Boulevard. Palisades Park will also be closed to spectators from Washington Avenue to Santa Monica Boulevard. Any spectator wishing to watch their runner cross the Finish Line will
need to station themselves on Ocean Avenue north of Washington Avenue. Spectators are strongly encouraged to meet their runners at the Finish Festival located at the intersection of Second Street and Santa Monica Boulevard or the Family Reunion Area located on Ocean Avenue between Santa Monica Boulevard and Broadway. For more information on new security procedures and how spectators will be affected, please visit lamarathon.com/home/securityupdates.
Family Reunion Area: Family and friends can meet runners in the Family Reunion Area located on Ocean Avenue between Broadway and Colorado Avenue. Make arrangements to meet your family at one of the letters of the alphabet along Ocean Avenue.
Runner Pickup Area: The Runner Pickup Zone is located on Ocean Avenue between Moomat Ahiko Way and Pico Boulevard. Vehicles can access the Runner Pickup Area from the east via Pico Boulevard or from the south via Ocean Avenue.
Finish Festival: The Finish Festival is home to the Michelob Ultra Beer Garden, the ASICS LA Marathon Treadmill Challenge, and other fun entertainment and giveaways! The Finish Festival is located at the intersection of Second Street and Santa Monica Boulevard and is open from 9:00am - 3:00pm.
Hotel Shuttles (Wristband Required): For participants who booked hotels in Downtown LA and Beverly Hills via our Hotel Reservation Center, Hotel Shuttles will be staged at Santa Monica City Hall located at 1685 Main St. Hotel Shuttles require a wristband to board. Hotel Shuttles will begin departing on a continuous basis at 11:00am and will run until 4:00pm.
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Transportation Getting to the Start Line OPTION 1: Shuttles to Dodger Stadium The easiest way to get to the start line is by taking one of our complimentary pre-race shuttles from Santa Monica or Union Station. Shuttles from Santa Monica and Union Station are guaranteed for race participants only. There will also be complimentary shuttle service from officially booked Beverly Hills and Downtown L.A. hotels. Please see lamarathon.com for more details. PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS NO SHUTTLE TRANSPORTATION BACK TO DODGER STADIUM FROM THE FINISH LINE IN SANTA MONICA • Santa Monica shuttle information LOCATION: Shuttles leave from in front of Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main St., Santa
Monica, CA Shuttle Times: 3:00am-5:30am • Union Station shuttle Information LOCATION: Shuttles leave from Bay 3 at Patsaouras Transit Plaza at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA Shuttle Times: 5:15am-6:15am OPTION 2: Dropping off/ parking at Dodger Stadium Both parking and runner drop-off will be available at Dodger Stadium on race day. Dodger Stadium will open for parking starting at 3am. Vehicle access on race morning is ONLY permitted through the Golden State Gate (1850 Academy Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012), which is accessed from the I-5 Freeway. All other Dodger Stadium parking gates will be closed to vehicular traffic.
• Dropping off: Use the LEFT lanes leading into the Golden State Gate and proceed to the Runner Drop-Off Area in Parking Lot 4. • Parking: Use the RIGHT lanes leading into the Golden State Gate and proceed to Parking Lots 1, 2, and 3. NOTE: There will NOT be shuttle transportation from the Finish Line in Santa Monica back to Dodger Stadium after the race. Please see lamarathon.com for gate access to retrieve your vehicle from Dodger Stadium after the race. Racers: Plan on arriving between 3:00am and 5:45am on race day. If you want to start the race on time, we recommend that you are inside the gate and parked no later than 6:00am. Please note: there will be slow traffic as you exit the freeway and you need to allow time to get into the parking lot. Don’t get
caught in traffic ... BE EARLY! OPTION 3: Public transportation The easiest way to get to the start line via public transportation is to make your way to Union Station and ride the complimentary shuttle running from 5:15am-6:15am. Please refer to www.metro.net and www.bigbluebus.com for updated public transportation race day schedules.
Getting around on race day • Commuterama.com will be providing real time road closures and how to get around on race day. • Radio Station AM 570 FOX SPORTS LA will be providing early morning traffic updates to help runners get to the start line on time beginning at 5:00am. Traffic updates will also be fed through @LAMarathonINFO on Twitter.
Security checkpoints & bag screening Dodger Stadium New this year, any participants parking or getting dropped off at Dodger Stadium must pass through security before entering the Secured Event Zone at Dodger Stadium. There will be three designated security and bag screening checkpoints located around the secured event zone perimeter. You will only be able to access the start line through one of these designated entrances. All bags will be screened by security personnel. All participants must use the clear plastic event-issued “Participant Bag” for carried gear. Bringing the clear plastic event-issued bag with you will expedite the bag screening process and will help
maintain an efficient flow of participants into the secured event zone. Participants who opt not to carry bags can access the start line through express security lanes. Please arrive early to Dodger Stadium to account for the additional time it will take to pass through security. Expect delays. Dodger Stadium will open to vehicles at 3:00am.
Shuttles New this year, any participants boarding a shuttle from Santa Monica, Downtown LA, Beverly Hills, or Union Station must pass through security before boarding the shuttle bus. There will be designated security and bag screening checkpoints located at each shuttle
stop. You will only be able to board the shuttle bus after going through a security checkpoint. All bags will be screened by security personnel. All participants must use the clear plastic event-issued “Participant Bag” for carried gear. Bringing the clear plastic event-issued bag with you will expedite the bag screening process and will help maintain an efficient flow of participants into the shuttles. Please arrive early to your shuttle stop to account for the additional time it will take to pass through security. Expect delays.
Colorado Avenue. There will be three designated entrances to the secured event zone (at Second Street/Santa Monica Boulevard, at Second Street/Broadway, and Colorado /Ocean avenues). You will only be able to access the secured event zone through one of these designated entrances. All spectators are subject to search upon entering the secured event zone. It is strongly recommended that spectators opt not to bring bags to help maintain the efficient flow of spectators through the security checkpoints.
Finish line secured event zone
Online help
A secured event zone will be created on Ocean Avenue from Santa Monica Boulevard to
Additional information can be found at www.lamarathon.com.
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Checking it Out A spectator’s guide to this year’s ASICS LA Marathon Start line The start line, located at Dodger Stadium, is one of the most exhilarating spectator experiences, watching over 25,000 runners begin their 26.2 mile journey! Spectators are welcome at the start line with vehicle access and parking available only through the Golden State Gate entrance.
On course Entertainment stages Atmosphere is a big part of the event and these bands make the day one to remember. Find a mile that suits you and stop by for free music while you cheer on your runners! Check out the web for more info on the bands! Mile 1: Stadium Way & Elysian Park Avenue Mile 3: 1st & Main streets Mile 10: Hollywood Boulevard & Vine Street Mile 11.5: Sunset Boulevard & La Brea Avenue Mile 18: Santa Monica Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars Mile 20: Sepulveda Boulevard & Ohio Avenue Mile 21: San Vicente Boulevard & Barrington Avenue Mile 25: San Vicente Boulevard & Ocean Avenue
find out where your favorite cause will be on race day, visit lamarathon.com/charities.
The NUTRIBULLOOZA Healthy Living Festival!! Location: Santa Monica at Nemo Come join the fun at Mile 15 in West Hollywood where NutriBullet will be celebrating another year of their partnership with the ASICS LA Marathon! If you’re going to be supporting a runner on race day, this is the place to be! From 8 a.m. to noon, come enjoy live musical performances via stage and Jumbotron, DJ Spase and the NutriBullet Dancers, live percussion performances, NutriBullet and NutriBullet Swag Giveaways, dance contests, free green smoothie bars, comedy, and more!
Beverly Hills Cheer Zone 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Location: Beverly Hills: Little Santa Monica Boulevard & N. Crescent Drive Come join in the fun and see your runner at this community Cheer Zone that will feature live music, food and beverage sampling, and product giveaways!
Cheer Alley Location: Just at the start of mile 18 near Little Santa Monica Boulevard and Moreno Drive
Charities Our 90+ charities join us on course to offer support and inspiration to the runners. To
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encouragement for all marathon runners! A cheer competition will take place for Cheer Alley participants where each squad will be judged on overall spirit, creativity, and showmanship.
Arrowhead Hydration Zone Cheer Alley boasts over 600 cheerleaders lining the streets to provide motivation and
Location: Mile 16 on S. Santa Monica Boulevard at N. Crescent Drive
Join hundreds of volunteers and spectators at this water station turned celebration! Arrowhead will be on site helping keep runners hydrated and motivated as they hit the home stretch. Come out and join in the celebration.
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gets crowded, so make sure you and your runner know where to meet after the race.
ASICS Support Your Marathoner Supply some digital inspiration to your friends, family or neighbors running the ASICS LA Marathon by logging on ASICS’ website www.supportyourmarathoner.com; there, you can upload a video or picture based message which will be delivered on-course, during the race, to the runner of your choice. Mile 8: Silverlake - Griffith Park and Sunset Boulevards Mile 17: Beverly Hills - Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Drive Mile 22: Veterans’ Administration - Bonsall and Eisenhower avenues
Finish Line Festival
Finish line
Think you have what it takes to run at a champion marathoner’s pace? Find out by taking the ASICS LA Marathon treadmill challenge. The one of a kind truck-mounted treadmill only runs at one speed, the ASICS LA Marathon record pace. See how long you can keep up, compete for the record and register to win free ASICS gear. To find treadmill locations go to asicsamerica.com/lamarathon.
The Finish Line of the 2014 ASICS LA Marathon is located at the intersection of Ocean and California avenues. Spectators are encouraged to cheer on their runner as they get to the finish.
Finish line spectator viewing Palisades Park: New this year, spectators will not be allowed access into Palisades Park south of Washington Avenue and north of Santa Monica Blvd. Any spectators wishing to meet up with runners must head south on Second Street to Santa Monica Boulevard. We recommend spectators meet up with runners in the Family Reunion Area on Ocean Avenue between Santa Monica Boulevard and Broadway.
Family Reunion Area Location: Ocean Avenue and Broadway Family members can go to this tent and track the progress of their runner. Remember to have a finish line plan; the finish line
Location: Santa Monica Boulevard between Ocean Avenue and Second Street After cheering on the runners as they cross the finish line, join them at the post-race finish festival which includes the Michelob Ultra Beer Garden (free beer for runners - wristband required), entertainment, and giveaways!
ASICS LA Marathon Treadmill Challenge Location: Finish line festival
2014 ASICS LA MARATHON
Union Station. Walk across Alameda Street onto Los Angeles Street. Walk through LA Plaza Park to Main Street. Little Tokyo/Arts District Gold Line Station - MILE 3 Board a Gold Line train and exit Little Tokyo/Arts District. Walk one block west on 1st Street. Civic Center Red Line Station - MILE 3 Board a Red Line train and exit Civic Center. Walk toward 1st Street. Vermont/Santa Monica Red Line Station - MILE 8 Board a Red Line train and exit Vermont/Santa Monica. Walk .7 miles east on Santa Monica Boulevard to Sunset Boulevard. Vermont/Sunset Red Line Station - MILE 8 Board a Red Line train and exit Vermont/Sunset. Walk two blocks east toward Virgil Avenue. Hollywood/Western Red Line Station - MILE 9 Board a Red Line train and exit Hollywood/Western. Walk out to Hollywood Boulevard.
Spectator viewing by train Find a list of the best viewing areas accessible by Metro trains. Visit Metro for train timetables and other public transportation options.
Hollywood/Vine Red Line Station - MILE 10 Board a Red Line train and exit Hollywood/Vine. Walk out to Hollywood Boulevard.
Chinatown Gold Line Station - MILE 2 Board a Gold Line train and exit Chinatown. Walk one block south to College Street and turn right. Walk one block to Spring Street and turn left. Walk one block to Alpine Street.
Hollywood/Highland Red Line Station - MILE 11 Board a Red Line train and exit Hollywood/Highland. Walk out to Hollywood Boulevard.
Union Station Red Line Station - MILE 2 Board a Red Line train and exit
Create your own cheer zone • Have a party with friends and/or neighbors if the course travels past your area or pick your favorite mile on course to gather.
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• Make noise to encourage the runners! Bring fun & upbeat music, blow horns, kazoos, whistles, cheer, clap — anything goes. • Make distinctive signs and move to different locations throughout the course. Believe it or not, runners will remember you and it will encourage them to keep going. • Create a unique theme … do whatever you can to make it fun and exciting for both your cheer group and the runners! • Runners have personalized bibs so call out to them using their name or nickname listed on the bib!
Spectator tips • Do something to make runners smile. Laugh, sing, dance or do tricks such as juggling. It may put the runners at ease for a few moments. • Please do not crowd the runners by standing in the street, especially in the earlier miles. This may cause a back up for the runners and make the marathon more difficult. • If you see a runner who appears to need some help or medical attention, please try to remember his or her race number and inform a course monitor or fluid station volunteer. If the runner’s injury looks serious, please try to find a police officer on the course. • If a runner does not smile back or talk to you, please do not take this personally. The runner may be deep in concentration, fatigued or in pain. Lack of response is usually not for lack of appreciation. • Keep in mind that the runners in the back of the pack need the most encouragement, as they will be out there the longest. Be sure to cheer for them as well!
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Still Running ASICS LA Marathon he ASICS LA Marathon’s roots can be traced back to the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, where United States Olympic Committee head Peter Ueberroth introduced a new way to fund and stage largescale, international sporting events. The 1984 Games, the second to be hosted by Los Angeles, were a critical and financial success, generating a profit of $223 million and resurrecting the floundering Olympic movement. Seeking to capitalize on the euphoria and goodwill generated by the 1984 Olympics, and influenced by the growing popularity of big city marathons held in New York City and Chicago, the Los Angeles City Council sought proposals for staging a marathon. The city granted William Burke the rights to the race and the inaugural City of Los Angeles Marathon took place on March 9, 1986.
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The size of the field, 10,787 registrants (7,581 finishers), was the largest ever for a first-time marathon held on U.S. soil. And that surprised nearly everyone involved. There were concerns that smog, traffic congestion and a widely held belief that marathons were only for professional athletes would keep most people away from the race. “Nobody knew what to expect,” said historian Toni Reavis, who has been a running commentator for roughly 30 years. That the ASICS LA Marathon allowed people to register the day of the race, a rarity in the sport, only added to the uncertainty. So imagine long-distance runner Rod Dixon’s surprise when he walked up to the Los Angeles Sports Arena adjacent to the Memorial Coliseum on race day in 1986 to see thou-
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sands of people ready to run, including a motivated weekend warrior who decided the night before that he wanted to give it a go. (That man did finish the race, albeit in six hours and change, a few hours off his target time.) It was clear to Dixon then that the ASICS LA Marathon had legs. “We all felt at that time that this was a great idea, a great thing to have evolve from the [1984 Los Angeles] Olympics,” Dixon said. “Now the ASICS LA Marathon has really become one of the great races of the world. That’s because they stayed with the two principles outlined by [former L.A. Mayor] Tom Bradley — participation and community. He said we have to have another reason to have people come out of their homes, into the street and meet their neighbors.” Now, more than ever, the marathon is accomplishing that thanks to the relatively new “Stadium to the Sea” route, which connects the city of Los Angeles to neighbors Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, the Veteran’s Administration and Santa Monica. Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge has been involved with the marathon since its inception
and believes it has united the region and captured the diversity Los Angeles is known for. “People really come out and support it,” LaBonge said. “More people are participating than ever before. It’s a time to celebrate Los Angeles. It unites all of us.”
A marathon first The marathon, which will be held Sunday, March 9, is making history once again, hosting for the first time the USA Track & Field Team Trials — Marathon in February 2016. The top three male and female finishers will secure the right to represent America in the Olympic Games in Brazil. It’s a significant moment in the marathon’s illustrious history, solidifying its spot as one of the premiere racing events in the world. “We are thrilled with what Los Angeles will provide to our athletes, the Olympic movement and the sport of long-distance running by hosting this event,” said USA Track & Field CEO Max Siegel. “With television coverage on NBC and incredible public and private support for the race in one of the world’s biggest media markets, everything is in place to continue to
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HISTORY FROM PAGE 30 elevate the Olympic Trials and give our athletes a platform on which they can truly shine.” The idea even has a powerful friend at City Hall. “With its iconic landmarks and decades of experience hosting world class sporting events, Los Angeles is the ideal location for America’s elite marathoners to prepare for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil,” said LA Mayor Eric Garcetti.
In the beginning The original marathon course featured a loop configuration which started and finished near the historic Memorial Coliseum, the symbolic centerpiece of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games. The winners of the men’s and women’s open divisions were Americans Ric Sayre (2:12:59) and Nancy Ditz (2:36:27). The marathon course remained consistent until 1995, though there were some minor adjustments made to the original layout. In 1996, race organizers introduced a new downtown loop course, which began at the intersection of Figueroa and Eighth Streets and finished at the Los Angeles Central Library near the intersection of Flower and Fifth streets. Over the next decade, organizers kept the locations for the start and finish essentially intact, but experimented with different course configurations in a highly publicized effort to produce a sub-2:10 marathon. The hope was that a faster race record would improve the event’s standing in the international running community and attract more registrants. The plan to create a faster course, which included eliminating a
number of existing elevation gains, was successful and in 1999 Kenyan Simon Bor established a new mark of 2:09:25. Despite Bor’s race record, the LA Marathon struggled to distinguish itself in a distance running racing calendar that grew more and more crowded as there was an increased interest in the sport (there are now over 500 organized marathons every year). While other big city marathons such as New York, Chicago, Paris, Berlin and London continued to flourish and began to routinely draw fields in excess of 30,000 participants, the number of registrants in Los Angeles barely eclipsed 20,000. In 2004, Chicago-based Devine Racing purchased the rights to the marathon. The new race organizers tweaked the course yet again in an effort to produce still faster winning times, and their efforts were rewarded in 2006 when Kenyan Benson Cherono (2:08:40) and Russian Lidiya Grigoyeva (2:25:10) broke the existing race records. The 2006 race also
broke records for the number of registrants (25,947) and finishers (20,169). In 2007, race organizers completely overhauled the course layout, turning the LA Marathon into a point-to-point race which began near Universal Studios in Universal City and concluded at its customary Central Library finish line. In 2009, the course reverted back to its downtown loop layout. That same year, the new management team, in an effort to appease religious leaders of churches located near the route who for years had complained that street closures on race day negatively impacted their parishioners’ ability to attend Sunday service, changed the start date to Memorial Day on Monday, May 25. The date change proved to be problematic as there was a 17 percent drop in participation, and the Los Angeles City Council quickly agreed to schedule the next race for the following March. The 2010 silver anniversary edition of the race, and the “Stadium to the Sea” course,
marked the first time that parts of the marathon were run outside the city limits of Los Angeles.
The Challenge In 2004, the LA Marathon introduced a battle of the sexes competition called the “Challenge” to generate more interest in television viewership. In the “Challenge,” the elite women’s field was granted a 20:30 head start on the elite men’s field. The first marathoner to cross the finish line would earn a bonus of $50,000. Russian Tatyana Pozdniakova won the inaugural “Challenge” by beating Kenyan David Kirui by 3:54. The “Challenge” proved so successful that the amount of the bonus was increased first to $75,000 in 2005 and then to $100,000 in 2006. Each year the time handicap of the “Challenge” is calculated using the differences in the lifetime best marathon times of the elite women and men participating in the field.
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Innovation The LA Marathon has always had a reputation for being creative and innovative with its race management. In 1987, six students at East Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights High School enrolled in a marathon training program offered by teacher Harry Shabazian. The Students Run L.A. organization has grown dramatically since its inception, and today thousands of at-risk students from throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District participate in the six month program that promotes physical fitness, discipline and goal setting. More than 33,000 students have been a part of Students Run L.A. and 90 percent of them have completed the marathon. In 1987, race organizers experimented with creating a division for race walking, and in the early 1990s they created a division for inline skating. While race walkers are still welcome in the marathon in an informal
manner, inline skaters were only allowed to compete for one year. In 1995, race organizers introduced the Los Angeles Bike Tour, a noncompetitive event in which cyclists were permitted to ride along a lengthy portion of the marathon course before the official start of the marathon. One of the regular participants of the bike tour was former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan. New management discontinued the bike tour in 2009 to return the focus of race day to the runners. In 1996, the LA Marathon was the first major U.S. marathon to adopt field-wide chip timing in which each participant’s performance is measured using a transponder and radio receivers located at strategic points along the course. Chip timing is now a common feature at most organized marathons. In 2002, race organizers offered participants the option of wearing personalized bib numbers so that their names would be prominently displayed for spectators viewing the race. Personalized bib numbers are
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now a familiar sight at many marathons. In 2009, the LA Marathon became the first big city marathon to fully adopt social media outlets such as Facebook, YouTube, RSS, Flickr
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and Twitter to not just promote the race, but to also allow participants to connect with one another and to be immediately alerted of all marathon-related developments.
QUICK FACTS • While there are no qualifying standards to be eligible to participate in the ASICS LA Marathon, runners wishing to receive an official time must successfully complete the course in eight hours. To date there have been 440,214 official finishers. Los Angeles is a popular venue for novice marathoners, and on average 53 percent of the runners who make up the field are attempting a marathon for the first time.
• As is the case with most large scale marathons, the ASICS LA Marathon is as much about giving as it is running and since its inception it has raised over $20 million for various charities throughout the community.
• 1984 Olympian Joan Benoit Samuelson still holds the record for the fastest women’s marathon ever run in Los Angeles (2:24:51), which she accomplished during her gold-medal winning performance.
• Boxing great Muhammad Ali served as the honorary race starter for several years between 1989 and 2004.
• The most decorated performer in ASICS LA Marathon history is Mexican Saul Mendoza, who has won the Wheelchair Division seven times.
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• The LA Big 5K run/walk, a fixture on marathon weekend since 1990, draws in excess of 4,000 participants every year. • Notable entertainment personalities who have participated in the ASICS LA Marathon include Freddie Prinze Jr., Shia Labeouf, Gordon Ramsay, David James Elliot, Flea, Alison Sweeney and Chris O’Donnell.
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Sights to See Stadium to the Sea route a love letter to Los Angeles he now fabled Stadium to the Sea route takes marathoners past some of Los Angeles’ true gems. From its start at Dodger Stadium to its end near the Santa Monica Pier, there are plenty of landmarks to feast your eyes on as you make your way to the finish line. Soon after the first runners settle into their pace they will approach the tallest base-isolated structure in the world, Los Angeles City Hall with its Greco-
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LOS ANGELES CITY HALL - MILE 4
Roman inspired Art Deco architecture. It is elegant, glamorous, functional and modern looking. Architects John Parkinson, John Austin and Albert Martin com-
pleted this 32-story, 453-foothigh beauty of a building in 1928. Its ziggurat shapes or rec-
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DISNEY CONCERT HALL - MILE 5
COURSE FROM PAGE 38 tangular stepped tower are a classical feature of Deco architecture. It is interesting to note that the concrete in its tower was made from sand from each of California’s 58 counties and water from each of the 21 historical missions. City Hall has appeared in many movies including: “Adventures of Superman,” “The Bad News Bears” and “Mission Impossible: Ultimatum.” Soon after passing City Hall the participants will make their way through the historic district of El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park and the oldest section of Los Angeles. They will pass by a plaque that states “On September 4, 1781 eleven families (44 persons including children) arrived at this place from the Gulf of California to establish a pueblo which was to become the city of Los Angeles.” The town was named “Our Lady Queen of the Angels on the Porciuncula River,” today
known as the Los Angeles River. Amongst the many unique historic buildings, the marathoners will pass by La Placita Church or The Church of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels founded in 1814. The present church dates to 1861 and is a noteworthy Californian Historical Landmark. About halfway into the marathon the competitors pass through Hollywood where they encounter another Art Deco gem bought in 1928 by the legendary makeup artist to the stars, Max Factor. Seven years later The Max Factor Makeup Studio and Factory opened in 1935 after the renowned S. Charles Lee redesigned the building. This light pink and green marbled building is indeed gorgeous. Just as Max Factor specialized in transforming ordinary people into dazzling stars so, too, did Lee but with buildings. Max Factor was on the cutting edge of not only makeup artistry and design but also a pioneer of theatrical stick greasepaint as he was the first
to create waterproof theatrical makeup. The Max Factor Makeup Studio was finally a place where all women could go in public to get their makeup done like the stars. Also inside the Max Factor Building are four floors dedicated to the Hollywood Museum. It’s home to the most extensive collection of Hollywood memorabilia in the world from costumes and props to some of the
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MAX FACTOR BUILDING - MILE 11
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COURSE FROM PAGE 39 most famous scripts ever written. The museum has Marilyn Monroe’s million-dollar dress and the first pair of Rocky’s boxing gloves. It also boasts an extraordinary collection of photographs. As the race proceeds into Beverly Hills it passes the famed Doheny Manor, also
GREYSTONE MANOR - MILE 19
know as the Greystone Mansion for its abundant use of stone construction and somber gray appearance. Oil tycoon Edward Laurence Doheny originally purchased the land. He gave the 12.6 acres with breath-taking views of the city to his son Ned as a wedding gift. The lavish estate took three years to build and was reputed to have cost $3 million. In 1955, the Doheny Manor was bought by Chicago industrialist Colonel Henry Crown and rented to movie studios. In 1971, it became a park. Many movies were filmed on location there like “The Dirty Dozen,” “Ghostbusters II” and “Stripes.” As the runners head for the homestretch into Santa Monica down San Vicente and on to Ocean Avenue they pass by Palisades Park. This 26-acre jewel of green-space sits atop of the stunning coastal sandstone bluffs over looking the mighty Pacific Ocean. The land was donated by the “God Mother of Santa Monica,” Arcadia Bandi de Baker at the
turn of the 20th century. With 30 varieties of plants and trees like stately eucalyptus, pines, palms and figs it’s enjoyed by millions of people. Just past the finish line at the Fairmont Miramar hotel sits an 80-foot Australian Morton Bay fig tree, the second largest specimen in America. The city of Santa Monica has designated it a city landmark and rightfully so. This centurion was planted on the private estate of Senator Percival Jones. Many celebrities have since been photographed in front of this regal tree including Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Charles Lindbergh and President Bill Clinton. Why not join the rich and famous with your picture under the majestic Miramar Morton Bay fig.
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Recovery After the Run Keck Medicine of USC shares tips for runners imothy Charlton, M.D., assistant professor of clinical orthopaedic surgery at Keck Medicine of USC, brings you tips to help recover after running a marathon. Crossing the finish line of a marathon is a feeling like no other. After 26.2 miles, though, well-deserved feelings of celebration sometimes overshadow the need to recover from the strain that marathon running places on your body. To minimize harm and ensure a smooth road to recovery, both physically and mentally, keep these things in mind:
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Immediately after the marathon Stay clean and dry. Once you stop walking, your body’s recovery systems will kick in, and even on a warm day, you will probably feel a cold chill. Make sure to have good, dry and warm clothes to wear after you cross the finish line. Change your socks and allow your feet to rest for at least 20 minutes. Replenish. Start replenishing your calories with recovery gels and some protein. Avoid highsugar foods, as the sugar swings are not good for postmarathon recovery. Avoid alcohol. After you are cleaned up, you may be tempted to celebrate, but avoid excessive alcohol and keep the celebration fairly short. Go home and get some sleep — you deserve it. Assess the damage. When
you get home, assess the physical damage, specifically looking for blisters. Resist the temptation to pop them. Let them decompress naturally by soaking your feet in warm water and Epsom salts or water with diluted iodine over the course of the week.
The first week Stay healthy. The first week of recovery should be focused on muscle recovery and sickness prevention. The immune system may weaken, so eating foods rich in vitamin C such as leafy greens, broccoli, orange juice or vitamins can help. Lean meats like fish and poultry can help rebuild muscle, and wholegrain carbohydrates can replenish glycogen stores.
Stay happy. Returning to running can often be more of a mental challenge than a physical one. Long-distance running can produce endorphins, the chemical associated with a runner’s high, and the absence of these effectively creates a runner’s withdrawal. Other neurological processes can also make the mental recovery more challenging than anticipated. Choline, a neurotransmitter precursor that helps athletic performance, has been shown to be depleted in marathon-like efforts.
Resuming running Start slowly. Running should be kept to a minimum for the first week after the race. Crosstraining (such as biking or swim-
ming) is ideal in the days right after the race. A slow transition to running again can begin at the tail end of week one for a maximum of 30 minutes. Avoid pain. A gentle transition into longer running can be done in week two, but the intensity should be kept to a minimum effort and pain should be avoided. By week three, you can return to a modified training schedule. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter said, “You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can’t know what’s coming.” Congratulations on completing a marathon, and best of luck in your recovery efforts.
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CEO Perspective Tracey Russell touches on the current state of the ASICS LA Marathon ew CEO Tracey Russell joined LA MARATHON LLC in August of 2013 with nearly two decades of race management experience. At the Atlanta Track Club (ATC), under her leadership, both annual sponsorship revenue and the organizational budget doubled during her six-year tenure, more than 15 new running and
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youth events were added to the ATC portfolio, and the club’s membership tripled to more than 19,000 runners. Prior to her time at the ATC, Tracey spent 12 years with the Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers, which owns and produces 13 different sporting events annually.
We caught up with Tracey a couple of weeks ago as the LA MARATHON LLC team was in pre-production mode and ramping up all necessary activities to ensure a successful LA Big 5K and ASICS LA Marathon race week. Q. You’ve had a very busy schedule since joining LA MARATHON LLC. One of the first assignments you led in your new position was for your team to present a bid for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon for 2016. Congratulations are in order — LA MARATHON LLC has just been awarded the trials by USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee. What is in store for your organization and for the ASICS LA Marathon
as a result of bringing the Olympic Trials to Los Angeles? A. It’s definitely been exciting and a busy time since I joined LA MARATHON LLC. Our team did an excellent job pulling together a strong bid to host the 2016 Olympic Trials and I am both honored and proud that USATF and USOC chose us to host the trials. As the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles provides an incredible stage and there is no question that it will be an exciting weekend in 2016 with two incredible marathons back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday. We are certain that the attention associated with the Olympic rings will
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Q&A FROM PAGE 44 have a very positive effect on our annual ASICS LA Marathon and we intend to leverage that in our efforts to expand our race with both professional and recreational runners. Q It’s a significant and celebratory year for women’s marathon running. It was 30 years ago that Joan Benoit Samuelson won the Olympic Gold Medal at the 1984 Olympics right here in Los Angeles. What do you think that Olympic gold medal meant for marathon running as a sport and for female long distance runners specifically? KRISTIN BURNS
A. There is no question that marathon as a sport has become more recognized and respected over the past couple of decades. It’s undeniable that Joan Benoit Samuelson’s 1984 win had an impact. It was that very win that inspired other female runners to excel in the marathon, including Olympic Bronze Medalist Deena Kastor. Additionally, Joan’s 1984 Gold Medal performance is also what inspired then Mayor Tom Bradley to champion the initiative that led to the first LA Marathon in 1986. Q. In 2016, your team will produce the 2016 Olympic Team Trials for both men, and women on Saturday, Feb. 13 and then your team will produce the ASICS LA Marathon on Sunday, Feb. 14. How will your team take on such a significant production challenge? A. I’m honored to work with a strong team of professionals, many of whom are passionate runners. There is no question
that putting on two marathons in one weekend is a big undertaking. We will work closely with both USATF and the USOC to ensure that we produce the best Olympic Trials for America’s finest marathoners. With two events back to back, it will be essential that our team effectively engages the necessary service providers who will support us on both races, thereby eliminating duplication of efforts and services whenever possible. Q. Surely the 2016 Olympic Trials will influence the growth of the ASICS LA Marathon; what’s your vision for the ASICS LA Marathon and how do you see the race developing over the next 5 to 10 years? A. Part of our vision is to elevate the ASICS LA Marathon to the top tier of international races. Hosting the 2016 Olympic Trials will be a great catalyst to becoming a must-run global marathon. With more runners coming from across the U.S. and around the world, the
ASICS LA Marathon is going to be a tremendous engine of economic development for Southern California. I’m also excited about the opportunities we have to further enhance the marathon’s connection to the people and communities of Los Angeles. The ASICS LA Marathon has already shown the power to connect Los Angeles communities and to support the causes they are passionate about through our commitment to our official charities, and I believe we can do so much more. Q. LA MARATHON LLC has nearly 90 charity partners this year. You must be pretty proud of the revenue that the race will generate to the benefit of these charity partners. What is your long-term goal? A. It’s very rewarding to help so many incredible and worthy charities. There are countless stories of participants who run for a cause in our marathon, that are truly heart-warming.
These runners are so passionate about why they run and we’re honored to afford the charities an opportunity to generate necessary funds to serve those in need. We’re determined to continue to grow the number of charity partners and to provide them with the support and resources they need to increase their fundraising efforts every year. Q. Producing a marathon must be like a military operation — what does it actually take? A. Organizing a marathon in a major city like Los Angeles takes tremendous team work. Our partners at the City of Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provide us with incredible support allowing for one of the most attractive marathon courses in the country with our “Stadium to the Sea” course. The dedication and tireless work
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Q&A FROM PAGE 45 of 6,000 volunteers is the backbone to our infrastructure. And finally, the resources from our amazing corporate partners deliver an experience of a lifetime for our 25,000 marathoners and 4,000 participants in the LA BIG 5K. Q. Traditionally, younger runners gravitate toward running shorter races. The ASICS LA Marathon includes a large group from Students Run LA. How many will participate this year and how do you think participating in, and completing the ASICS LA Marathon will impact their lives? A. This year we expect close to 3,200 participants from Students Run LA to participate in the marathon. The training for and completion of the ASICS LA Marathon for many of these students are life-changing. The program challenges at-risk secondary students to experience the benefits of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health. We are pleased to provide these students the opportunity to commit to a specific goal that tests their determination in a supportive and rewarding environment. Q. Given the events that took place in Boston last year, should the runners and spectators expect new security measures and initiatives? A. Safety has always been our top priority, and we’re grateful to have the guidance of experts in the field as we plan the event. Every year, we work closely in each of the four cities with their
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mayor’s office, their police and fire departments, emergency medical service units, and other agencies to establish safety procedures and plan for emergencies of all kinds. New measures in place for this year include runners picking up their own packet at the Expo, using the clear plastic event-issued Participant Bag for gear check, and adding security and screening check points in designated areas at both the start and finish areas. Q. For someone who wants to run in the 2015 ASICS LA Marathon, how would you suggest they prepare themselves for the race? A. For those who are local, we highly recommend signing up to be part of our LA Roadrunners program. As the official sixmonth training program of the ASICS LA Marathon, the LA Roadrunners serves all skill levels — from first time marathoners to veteran Boston qualifiers. For someone who lives out of town, we encourage you to download an app from our new partner PEAR, which offers training tips and programs no matter where you live. PEAR also has a downloadable app where a participant can run the “Stadium to the Sea” course guided by Deena Kastor’s instructional voice. Q. The “Stadium to the Sea” course, introduced in 2010, has really been embraced by both the professional and recreational runners. What makes it so special? A. The iconic “Stadium to the Sea” course is truly unique; it traverses across Los Angeles and takes runners from Dodger
RICH CRUSE
Stadium to the Pacific Ocean. Runners pass many of L.A.’s world-famous landmarks along the way, including Walt Disney Concert Hall, TCL Chinese Theatre, the Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive and the Santa Monica Pier. We continue to hear overwhelmingly positive feedback from both our professional and recreational runners who tell us the “Stadium to the Sea” course is the marathon experience of a lifetime. Q. How have your corporate sponsors and partnerships enhanced ASICS LA Marathon weekend? A. Each of our corporate partners invest significantly in the ASICS LA Marathon participant experience in ways that embody their unique brand identities. BIG 5 Sporting Goods contributes to the weekend in a huge way by kicking things off with the LA BIG 5K on Saturday morning. Our title sponsor ASICS brings runners the Support Your Marathoner program, allowing runners’ friends and family to cheer them on along the way via interactive screens positioned along the course! Nestle Waters Arrowhead brand keeps our runners hydrated through 26.2
miles and activates the Arrowhead Hydration Zone in Beverly Hills, while our partner NutriBullet, title sponsor of the NutriBullet Health & Fitness Expo, inspires at the Start with the NutriBullet Entertainment Stage and on-course in West Hollywood with the Nutribulooza Festival. Clif Bar provides our official pace team and will increase to two energy zones along the course this year. Keck Medicine of USC provides our medical support. Gatorade Endurance Formula will give our runners the electrolytes they need. Our partners come together in a huge way to support our runners on their journey through training and along every mile. Q. Being new to Los Angeles — have you found a favorite place to unwind? A. Not yet, as it’s been a busy first 6 months. I recently moved to Los Feliz and look forward to checking out many of the great local eateries in the neighborhood!
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Elite Field: Men Erick Mose, defending champ: 2:09:44
Benjamin Kiptoo
Kenya
Age: 35 Personal Best: 2:06:31 (Paris, 2011) Kiptoo holds a personal KIPTOO best time of 2:06:31 in the 2011 Paris Marathon. He has been competing on the circuit since 2004, and every year since 2007. To date, he has five first place finishes with four other top-four finishes. He last captured a victory in the 2011 season and won twice during the 2008 campaign.
Age: 27 Personal Best: 2:09:43 (Los Angeles, 2013) Mose beat his prior personal best in winning the 2013 ASICS LA Marathon with a time of 2:09:44. MOSE He finished the 2012 Torreon Marathon in Mexico with a time of 2:10:40, placing first. He also was the top finisher in the 2011 California International Marathon with a time of 2:11:50. With a time of 2:19:45, he captured the victory at the 2013 Cancun Marathon. He has four other top-four finishes since 2010. Though he was born in Toluca, Mexico, Mose holds Kenyan citizenship.
Kenya
Tujuba Megersa MARK S BERNAL
Ethiopia Age: 26 Personal Best: Debut Megersa competes across varied distances including 10km, 15km, half marathon and 25km. Last year, he ran the Tripoli International Half Marathon in 1:07:01 bringing him a fifth
place finish. His personal best for the half marathon occurred at Ivry-sur-Seine (France), coming in at a time of 59:43. Also in 2011, he completed a 25km road course in Berlin with a time of 1:14:50. Megersa will make his marathon debut in this year’s ASICS LA Marathon.
launched onto the scene in 2007 winning a bronze and silver at the World Youth Championships in Athletics and African Junior Athletics Championships. Wolde represented Ethiopia at the 2012 London Olympics and will make his marathon debut in this year’s ASICS LA Marathon.
Dawit Wolde
JEREMY REED
Ethiopia
Aaron Braun
Age: 22 Personal Best: Debut Wolde is a middle distance runner who specializes in the 1500m, where he has WOLDE a personal best of 3:33.82 from 2012. His best half marathon time also occurred in 2012 at the Egmond Half Marathon, breaking the decade-old course record with a time of 1:00:46. He initially
United States of America Age: 26 Personal Best: Debut Braun set a career time in the half marathon earlier this year at the BRAUN Houston Half Marathon, coming in at 1:01:38, beating his previous time by 74 seconds. In 2013, he won his first professional National
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Elite Field: Women Amane Gobena Ethiopia Age: 31 Personal Best: 2:23:50 (Dubai, 2013) Gobena has crossed the line first four times in her career. Her first victory was in the 2009 Toronto GOBENA Waterfront Marathon with a time of 2:28:31. Her last victory was the 2011 Xiamen International Marathon in China, where she finished in 2:31:49. She finished second at the 2009 Los Angeles Marathon with a time of 2:26:53, one of her two career second-place finishes. She also finished third in the 2013 Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon with a personal best time of 2:23:50.
Tigist Tufa Ethiopia Age: 33 Personal Best: 2:29:24 (New York City, 2011) Tufa has a career best time of 2:29:24 from the 2011 New York City Marathon, placing her eighth among the female elites. Her best finish by place occurred at the Jacksonville Marathon in 2013 with a time of 2:40:45, where she finished only one-hun-
ELITE FROM PAGE 48 Championship, winning the first running of the US 12km Championship. During his collegiate career at Adams State College, he was a 16-time AllAmerican and won six national championships. He placed fifth
dredth of a second behind the first place finisher. She also finished eighth in the TUFA 2011 Houston Marathon with a time of 2:41:50.
Kristen Fryburg-Zaitz United States of America Age: 33 Personal Best: 2:37:50 (Sacramento, 2013) Fryburg-Zaitz has a personal best time of 2:37:50, enough for a fifth place finish at the FRYBURG-ZAITZ 2013 California International Marathon. She finished the 2012 US Marathon Championships in 2:44:49 and placed 13th with a time of 1:13:50 at the 2013 US Half Marathon Championships. Fryburg-Zaitz earned qualifying times for the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials.
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Age: 25 Personal Best: 2:42:17 (Carlsbad, 2013) Kleppin won two races in the
Lindsey Scherf Age: 27 Personal Best: Debut
In February 2014, Scherf took top honors winning the Gasparilla Distance Classic Half Marathon in SCHERF 1:13:08, breaking the course record by nearly seven minutes. Scherf won the 2013 Roanoke Island OBX Half Marathon with a finish time of 1:15:05. She also reached the podium in third place with a time of 1:16:41 at the Coamo San Blas Half Marathon this year. She had top 10 finishes at the 2009 Columbus Half, 2009 New York City Half, 2011 Houston Half, and the 2012 Duluth Half Marathon. She has competed across various distance platforms including the 1500m, 5000m, 5km, 10km, 25km and half marathon. Scherf will make her marathon debut in this year’s ASICS LA Marathon.
in the 2012 Olympic Trials for the 10,000m. Braun will make his marathon debut in this year’s ASICS LA Marathon.
year with a bang, setting a personal best of 1:02:22 at the Houston Half Marathon, placing him 10th. He placed fourth with a time of 1:04:28 at the 2013 San Jose Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon. He has set personal bests in distances ranging from the mile, 5000m, 10km, and half marathon since February 2013.
Proctor finished his collegiate career at Western State Colorado University in PROCTOR 2013 and will make his marathon debut in this year’s ASICS LA Marathon.
Lauren Kleppin
2013 season. The first was a victory at the Carlsbad Marathon in January with a time of 2:42:17. In KLEPPIN May, she captured the victory at the Green Bay Marathon with a time of 2:47:20 and a margin of victory of close to three minutes. She also competes in many other distances including 25km road, 10km road, 10,000m and 5,000m. She started off her 2014 campaign in great fashion, with a personal best time of 1:12:12, placing her second at the US Half Marathon Championships.
United States of America
Gabriel Proctor United States of America Age: 23 Personal Best: Debut Proctor started off the 2014
United States of America
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Cast and Crew It takes all kinds to make the ASICS LA Marathon run ust past 7 a.m. on March 9, over 25,000 runners will spring from their positions at the mountainous reaches of Dodger Stadium and begin the long run toward Santa Monica’s pristine shoreline. From the tireless volunteers that made the event possible to the runners — both experienced and green — who dusted off their shoes and trained through the fall and winter, the day will be the culmination of months of effort expended in preparation for the marathon ahead. After all, it takes all kinds to make a marathon … well … run.
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Joyce Snyder VOLUNTEER Possibly no one knows that better than Joyce Snyder. The 84-year-old West Los Angeles resident and serial sporting events volunteer knows more about the inner workings of the marathon than the majority of its staff. She joined the team after a volunteer stint at the Olympic Festival in 1991, a watershed moment that would cement her as the go-to lady for sporting events. She’s worked the ASICS LA Marathon since 1991 as opera-
tional support, making phone calls to institutions along the race route, preparing SNYDER runners’ bibs on her long dinner table and doing inventory on race-day essentials. Snyder also takes care of the less technologically inclined runners who want to fill out a paper form rather than submit their registration and payment online.
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CAST
for Kerson — it was her first marathon, an experience that launched a new passion in her life. Since that day almost 30 years ago, Kerson has laced up her shoes for over 400 marathons all over the world. She had just bought tickets to Dublin when we caught up with her.
FROM PAGE 52 The marathon was a gateway for Snyder; she also worked Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl in 1993 and one World Cup. She and other volunteers also flew to New York to man the ASICS LA Marathon booth at that historic event. Q: Why do you like volunteering for the sporting events? A: The thing is that when you get married and have kids, the minute school starts — even kindergarten — you’re a volunteer. Then somebody’s running for something that has something to do with the school district and you have to go and help them. The first time I went to the Olympic Festival ... they showcased all the different sports in the summer (games) and everybody is smiling and happy and I had such a good time. Q: What is your favorite memory of the ASICS LA Marathon? A: It was at the finish line and the mayor was (Richard) Riordan and they were taking pictures. I have a picture with me and him and Muhammad Ali.
Edgar Ninofranco WATER CAPTAIN While Snyder rests on the big day, Edgar Ninofranco is just getting warmed up. NINOFRANCO Ninofranco serves as a water captain on mile 13 of the race near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. He became
Q: How many marathons have you run? A: I just did a marathon last month. I’ve run 453. SHAWN AHMED
involved in 1989 through his fraternity, the Alpha Phi Omega of Greater Los Angeles, and neither he nor the organization stopped. APO expects to field 150 volunteers this year. Every year, Ninofranco arrives at his station before the sun rises at 4:30 a.m. to meet the supply truck and begin the strenuous process of unloading the huge quantity of water needed to keep the over 25,000 runners in good spirits (and good health). Q: What does your race day look like? A: As a captain, I report to my location around 4:30 to 5 a.m., because that’s the time the supply truck arrives, and I make sure I coordinate with the driver to make sure we know where to meet the truck in the early morning. We unload the truck, and there are possibly 20 pallets of water you have to unload. Just the water alone is enough to make you busy all morning. Q: When do the first runners come through? A: Since the marathon starts at 7 a.m., around 8 o’clock. That’s the time that you expect to see the elite runners start passing by. About 30 or 40 minutes after, that’s when the majority of
the runners, thousands, start passing through your area. That’s the time you get busy, because those are the people who need water. Q: What was your favorite water station location? A: In the late ‘80s, we started at mile 15, which was along Vine (Street) in the Hollywood area. There were so many band players, and they were playing music. There were a lot of TV and movie personalities enjoying the event as well. I remember back then we had some Playboy bunnies.
Sharon Kerson LEGACY RUNNER Many people would be proud to say that they’ve run a marathon KERSON once. Sharon Kerson, 72, started down that road at the first LA Marathon in 1986 and just kept going. Kerson is one of 182 Legacy Runners, hardy individuals who have participated in every LA Marathon since its inception. The race holds a special significance
Q: Wow. A: I’m a little unique, a little crazy. I’ve run a marathon in every state five times, and I’m working on my sixth time. I’m in the 50 States Marathon Club group. I’m not a fast runner. I’m slower than slow at 72 years old. Q: How are you feeling before the ASICS LA Marathon? A: I am having nightmares. I do all these marathons all over the world — Australia, Vietnam, you name it, I’ve been there. Q: Why does the ASICS LA Marathon make you nervous? A: I’ve done all of their marathons, and it’s something very special. If it hadn’t been for the marathon 29 years ago, I’d never run. Q: Really? What got you started? A: I was dating someone who was a good runner. Q: How did you work all those marathons into your life? A: I was a teacher first in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and then I was a school administrator. What I did, which was crazy, I would take a red eye flight on Friday and come back on a red eye on Sunday.
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CAST FROM PAGE 54 When I became an administrator it was easier because I had vacation time. Q: Do you have any race day traditions? A: Before I do a marathon, I put out all of my clothes and everything I’m going to need the morning of. I leave nothing to the end. I think that’s really important. Q: How long are you going to keep doing marathons? A: I’m going to run until I drop.
Stephanie de la Torre FIRST TIME MARATHONER Stephanie de la Torre knows what it feels like to get bit by the running bug. The 29-yearold East Los Angeles resident took up the sport in 2011 in an attempt to get healthy — since that year she’s lost over 117 pounds and completed the Nike Women’s half marathon in San Francisco. De la Torre trained with the LA Roadrunners in preparation for the March 9 race, which will be her first full marathon. Q: Are you excited for the race? A: I am totally excited. The closer it gets I’m getting a little more nervous, but I believe in my training. Q: Why is the ASICS LA Marathon so important to you? A: I’m such an L.A. girl. I’m a huge Dodger fan. I’ve been to opening day for seven years straight. It’s exciting to me to run from Dodger Stadium to the beach. As tortuous as my bud-
BEFORE
AFTER
DE LA TORRE
DE LA TORRE
dies say the race can be with rolling hills from beginning to end, I’m looking forward to it. I wouldn’t want to run my first full anywhere else than home.
there. I don’t care if I roll across.
Q: Why did you decide to run the marathon this year? A: I got my sorority sisters and friends into running. There’s a cool little group of us who always run together when we’re all in the same town. One of my really close friends, a sorority sister, got inspired by me starting to run and she started to run. Q: What’s gotten you through training? A: Training with the LA Roadrunners. From day one they’ve been an incredible asset. I’ve learned so much from them. I don’t think I would be able to complete the marathon without them and their support. Q: What are you most looking forward to on race day? A: I’m looking forward to seeing my boyfriend at the end. To see him at the finish line is what’s going to motivate me to get
Yesenia Ruiz CHARITY RUNNER Marathons are intensely demanding races that require months of preparation and then consume hours in the execution. The term is often applied to any task that requires steady commitment, grit and determination, and for runners like Yesenia Ruiz, the trek through Los Angeles will be only one milestone on a much longer journey. Ruiz is running for the Team to End AIDS, or T2, which benefits the local charity AIDS Project Los Angeles. The organization helps low-income people infected with HIV or AIDS by giving them direct support in the form of groceries and dental care, amongst other benefits. The cause is personal for Ruiz — she and her three sisters entered foster care because her family could not afford to feed their children after her father contracted AIDS, a condition from which he died in 1997.
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Q: Why did you decide to run with the Team to End AIDS? A: I am running with (AIDS Project Los Angeles) because when I was 9 years old, my dad was diagnosed with AIDS. I didn’t know that’s what he passed away from. I was always told pneumonia. When I was 14, I found out and at 14 I felt helpless and almost angry because I looked back and I saw the circumstances. My dad couldn’t afford medication, or to pay rent or buy food. My mother couldn’t take care of us, so we went into foster care. Now that I’m older, I thought it was a great way to give back and fundraise for APLA so families wouldn’t have to go through what my family did. Q: How has it been training for the marathon? A: It’s been very fun. It’s been challenging, but very attainable. Our coach makes it very easy to grasp. Q: Are you excited? Nervous? A: I’m very excited. I can’t wait for it to get here. I’m definitely ready to cross that finish line and see my team cross that finish line. Our coach pumps us up to push each other and remember why we’re running. Q: What do you most hope will come out of your participation in the marathon? A: My main goal is fundraising with friends and colleagues and to raise awareness. Having this disease and seeing how awful it can be and how devastating and stressful it can be on a family... donating a dollar goes a super long way. RUIZ
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2014 ASICS LA Marathon
Arrival Times Mile/Location
Wheelchairs
Handcycles
Elite Women
Elite Men
3:30 Finishers
4:00 Finishers
5:00 Finishers
6:00 Finishers
7:00 Finishers
3:30
4:00
5:30
5:00
8:00
9:10
11:27
13:44
16:02
6:55 AM
6:50
7:10
7:25
7:25
7:25
7:25
7:25
7:25
6:58
6:54
7:15
7:26
7:36
7:37
7:39
7:41
7:44
7:02
6:58
7:21
7:31
7:44
7:46
7:50
7:55
8:00
7:05
7:02
7:26
7:36
7:52
7:55
8:02
8:09
8:16
7:09
7:06
7:32
7:41
8:00
8:04
8:13
8:22
8:32
7:12
7:10
7:37
7:46
8:08
8:13
8:25
8:36
8:48
6
7:16
7:14
7:43
7:51
8:16
8:23
8:36
8:50
9:04
7
7:19
7:18
7:48
7:56
8:24
8:32
8:48
9:04
9:20
8
7:23
7:22
7:54
8:01
8:32
8:41
8:59
9:17
9:36
9
7:26
7:26
7:59
8:06
8:40
8:50
9:11
9:31
9:52
10
7:30
7:30
8:05
8:11
8:48
8:59
9:22
9:45
10:08
11
7:33
7:34
8:10
8:16
8:56
9:08
9:33
9:59
10:24
12
7:37
7:38
8:16
8:21
9:04
9:18
9:45
10:12
10:40
13
7:40
7:42
8:21
8:26
9:12
9:27
9:56
10:26
10:56
14
7:44
7:46
8:27
8:31
9:20
9:36
10:08
10:40
11:12
15
7:47
7:50
8:32
8:36
9:28
9:45
10:19
10:54
11:28
16
7:51
7:54
8:38
8:41
9:36
9:54
10:31
11:07
11:44
17
7:54
7:58
8:43
8:46
9:44
10:03
10:42
11:21
12:00
18
7:58
8:02
8:49
8:51
9:52
10:13
10:54
11:35
12:16
19
8:01
8:06
8:54
8:56
10:00
10:22
11:05
11:48
12:32
8:05
8:10
9:00
9:01
10:08
10:31
11:17
12:02
12:48
21
8:08
8:14
9:05
9:06
10:16
10:40
11:28
12:16
1:04
22
8:12
8:18
9:11
9:11
10:24
10:49
11:39
12:30
1:20
23
8:15
8:22
9:16
9:16
10:32
10:58
11:51
12:43
1:36
24
8:19
8:26
9:22
9:21
10:40
11:08
12:02
12:57
1:52
25
8:22
8:30
9:27
9:26
10:48
11:17
12:14
1:11
2:08
Pace per mile Start time
Dodger Stadium 1 Chinatown 2 Little Tokyo 3 Bunker Hill 4 Westlake 5 Silverlake
Little Armenia
Hollywood
West Hollywood
Beverly Hills
Westwood
West LA 20 Brentwood
Santa Monica
26
8:26
8:34
9:33
9:31
10:56
11:26
12:25
1:24
2:24
26.2
8:27
8:45
9:32
9:32
10:57
11:27
12:27
1:28
2:27
MARCH 9, 2014
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All for the Cause Over 90 charities team up with the ASICS LA Marathon O ver 90 charities will field teams on March 9th in the ASICS LA Marathon in order to raise awareness and money to cure diseases, provide relief and generally improve the quality of life for people as near as Los Angeles and as far away as Kenya. This continues a tradition for the marathon’s organizers — the race has helped nonprofits raise $20 million since its inception in 1986. They hope to expand that considerably this year with a goal of $4 million, said Rachel Sanchez, manager of charity partnerships for the ASICS LA Marathon.
“Part of the core values of the ASICS LA Marathon is to improve the community through social responsibility,” Sanchez said. “It is important to us. We can help a charity by lending name recognition, support and tools, and they can use those things to raise money.” Large events like marathons can be an asset to nonprofits, which stand to benefit from the attention that their teams garner, said Jennifer Chandler, vice president and director of network support and knowledge sharing with the National Council of Nonprofits. “From personal experience,
driving on Saturday and seeing people walking on the sidewalk all with a blue T-shirt ... now I’m thinking, ‘Oh wow.’ I’m more in tune with the name and the brand. I may still not know what the mission is, but it might pique my interest next time I run across it,” Chandler said. That would be huge for Angel City Pit Bulls, a first-time charity with the ASICS LA Marathon, said Robin Purcell, chief operations officer with the group, which strives to promote a positive image of its namesake pooch and is part of a
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CHARITIES FROM PAGE 58 coalition to make Los Angeles a no-kill pound system by 2017. Putting the organization in front of thousands of people who might otherwise not consider pit bulls beyond their fearsome reputation means reaching a new audience of potential adopters and donors, Purcell said. “It’s great to have people see dogs as just dogs,” Purcell said. A full one-third of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation staff will be running the marathon in support of its founder and namesake who is celebrating her improving health with a marathon. It’s the first time that the organization has participated in the event, but it seems like the perfect foil for the group, said Shirley Horn, director of communications and marketing for the charity. “We’re talking to people who care about being healthy and staying healthy, and who active-
ly maintain their own health,” Horn said. Those not directly involved will be stationed at the ninth and 23rd miles to give support to their compatriots. And that’s the thing: Not everyone can or will be able to run a marathon. Charities give people a way to participate, whether or not they feel capable of strapping on their running shoes and going for 26.2 miles. “Our mission is to bring the community together. Our goal is to have everyone involved in the marathon somehow, whether to run, to cheer or to volunteer,” Sanchez said. “It’s great to get everyone involved to bring the community together and rally around something bigger than themselves, in a sense.” Charities and the marathon enjoy a symbiotic relationship — the race gets runners, some of whom can only participate through a charity after the event sells out, and many of the organizations with teams in the 2014 event have participated in the past and see the marathon
2014 ASICS LA MARATHON
as a solid way to connect with donors as well as future beneficiaries. Runners put everything on the line when they decide to devote six months of their lives to marathon training. It’s the kind of dedication that spreads the message not just to repeat donors, but to the runners’ family and friends, said Julie Helmes, events coordinator with Painted Turtle, a group which puts on summer camps for children with major medical conditions. “Events like the ASICS LA Marathon and LA Big 5K create a ripple effect that allow us to connect with our supporters on a deeper level by spreading awareness to their network through peer-to-peer fundraising,” Helmes said. Activities Recreation & Care (ARC), which works to improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities, began running with the ASICS LA Marathon over a decade ago when Rafael Adame, a client who suffered a brain injury at birth, decided to run the full race in
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2003. ARC had gone to the shorter 5K race in the past, and brought a bell choir to the full event, but no one had yet attempted the 26.2 mile course. “I thought he was kidding,” said Jennifer Davis, day program coordinator with ARC. “I said, ‘Yeah, sure we’ll do that.’” Little did she know what she was signing up for. Davis would go on to run not one marathon, but 11. She even took on larger challenges, like two 100-mile races. When it comes to marathons, ARC clients have a monopoly — Antoinette Mendoza became the first woman with Down syndrome to complete a marathon, a record which occurred in Los Angeles, and Jimmy Jenson was interviewed on the Today Show after becoming the first person with the syndrome to complete the New York City Marathon. Their efforts bring awareness and funds, but they also spread the message that a person’s life is not over after diagnosis, similar to runners like Lacey Wood, a two-time organ recipient competing with the OneLegacy Foundation, which supports tissue and organ donation and transplant research in the greater Los Angeles area. She will be running in honor of James, the man whose heart she now relies upon, and her marathon relay partner and brother Tyson, who donated a kidney to her. “The ASICS LA Marathon is an athletic event that allows us to show that both transplant recipients and living kidney donors can live very healthy lives, a feat only possible by advances in medicine and the generosity of donors,” said Jennifer Walker, director of development with the foundation.
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Training Days Andrew and Deena Kastor help you prepare for this year’s race and beyond f you’re reading this and thinking about doing any major training before the 2014 ASICS LA Marathon, stop. Taper time. Runners should start tapering, or cutting back, their weekly mileage three weeks prior to the race. By race week, mileage should be at about 25 percent of what it was before the taper, according to physical trainer Robert Forster.
I
The week of the marathon should include one race-paced run and two recovery workouts, with lots of stretching in between, he said. Deena and Andrew Kastor have a mental tip for tackling the pre-marathon runs: Use them as psychological practice. Deena got her start running on the trails in the Santa Monica Mountains when she was 11 years old. She won the 2005 Chicago Marathon and the 2006 Flora London Marathon, and took home a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics women’s marathon. She’s married to Andrew, who spent 15 years as a competitive runner, and now trains all levels of runners, from fresh start novices to serious marathoners. Naturally, Deena is his number one client.
Find joy, the Kastors say. If training for the marathon becomes stale, find a new place to explore or a new running partner to challenge you. Use long runs to simulate the marathon. From running on pavement, to what you are going to wear, to what you eat for dinner the night before and what you will have for breakfast. It is important that you aren’t doing anything new on race day. Rest well, they say. Whether it’s kicking up your heels at your desk, or indulging in a weekend nap, rest is your new best friend.
During the race The Kastors have a cool new tool for keeping your mind in gear during the race, too. Deena
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TRAINING FROM PAGE 60 teamed up with PEAR Sports (an interactive, real-time, coaching service) to bring to life a guided tour of Los Angeles. Have you ever wanted to race with an elite distance runner? Were you ever curious as to what significant and historical landmarks you were passing along the way during a big city marathon? During this “ASICS LA Marathon Course Tour,” Deena will point out and discuss fun facts of various locations along the marathon route as well as give motivational tips to get runners of all abilities to the finish line. Using GPS enabled technology, Deena’s voice will be cued up at the appropriate time to let marathoners know when a turn is coming up, when a hill is approaching, or fun information about certain landmarks, such as the significance of the Capital Records building has played in Hollywood.
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Training for next year If you’re already looking to beat this year’s time at the 2015 ASICS LA Marathon and you live in the area, why not join the LA Roadrunners? “As the official six-month training program of the ASICS LA Marathon, the LA Roadrunners serves all skill levels — from first time marathoners to veteran Boston qualifiers,” said Tracey Russell, the marathon’s CEO. You’ve heard the term, “strength in numbers.” Well, this is the case with the LA Roadrunner program. The friendships made while sharing the miles with folks who have similar goals is simply priceless. Under the leadership of Andrew Kastor, the program joins LA-area runners as they train for the big day. “We have a dedicated and knowledgeable coaching staff leading over 700 runners and walkers to their marathon goals for 26 consecutive Saturdays,” Kastor said. “I encourage those in the area to give the LA Roadrunners a try for the 2015 ASICS LA Marathon.” MARK S BERNAL
KRISTIN BURNS
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Hollywood State of Mind So many things to see, do in Tinseltown f Los Angeles is anything it’s eclectic. There’s so much to see and do it’s hard to pick a place to start. Right at the heart of the ASICS LA Marathon’s “Stadium to the Sea” course sits Hollywood. To most, Hollywood is the epitome of Los Angeles and the glitz and glamor of showbiz. Here’s just a sampling of the can’t-miss spots in this colorful neighborhood.
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Hollywood Sign
Grauman’s Chinese Theater
On a clear day in L.A. it’s hard to miss the Hollywood Sign looming from its place atop Mt. Lee. The original sign, constructed in 1923, spelled out “Hollywoodland” and served as an advertisement for L.A. Times publisher Harry Chandler’s new real estate development. Originally adorned with flashing lights, the sign fell into disrepair throughout much of the mid1900s. In the early 1940s, the Hollywoodland real estate development went under and by 1949 the “land” had been removed. Despite minor repairs, the sign wasn’t restored to its original glory until 1978, when a coalition of Tinsletown’s biggest names, including Fleetwood Mac and Hugh Hefner, came to its rescue. The sign that stands today is a recognized landmark.
Located along the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese Theater was commissioned in 1926, and celebrated its opening in 1927 with the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s film “The King of Kings.” One of the theater’s most distinctive points of attraction is the concrete blocks set in the court, which bear the signatures, footprints and handprints of more than 200 celebrities spanning from the 1920s to present day. Structurally daunting, the theater rises more than 90-feet with two red coral columns adorned by wrought iron masks holding up the dazzling bronze roof. Adding to the grand design, between the columns is a 30-foot high dragon carved from stone. The theater was declared a historic-cultural landmark in 1968.
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HOLLYWOOD FROM PAGE 64 Hollywood Walk of Fame Once a star has reached the pinnacle of success there’s just one logical place to honor their achievements — the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Comprised of more than 2,500 stars embedded in the sidewalks along Hollywood Boulevard, the walk has long been an attraction for tourists and locals alike. The stars are awarded to luminaries from film, television, music, broadcasting and theater. Honorees run the gamut of Hollywood’s who’s who. Everybody from Marilyn Monroe to Buzz Aldrin to Ed O’Neil have been enshrined in terrazzo and brass.
Hollywood and Highland Somewhat new to the scene is Hollywood and Highland. The sprawling shopping destination, located at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, has quickly become a favorite of visitors. With views of the Hollywood Sign in the distance, the upscale mall is conveniently located hear a Red Line subway station, making it easy to access. Keeping with the Hollywood theme, Hollywood and Highland’s design was inspired by a scene from DW Griffith’s film “Intolerance. The developer of the shopping center included an archway and two pillars with elephant sculptures into the construction in homage.
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By The Numbers 4 Cities and the Veterans’ Administration on ‘Stadium to the Sea’ course
50 States represented
505
10
Portable toilets
Medical
3,300
25 bands,
Band-Aids
stations 600+ cheerleaders, 4 entertainment centers
5,200
2:25:38
Ibuprofen tablets
Fastest Women’s Course Time in 2010 by Edna Kiplagat of Kenya
participants
6,000
91charities Official
Volunteers
574,151
3000+
Bagels
459,981
32,500
Total finishers (1986-2013)
54represented Countries
182 Legacy
Students Run LA members
401 feet course elevation decrease
25,000 Bananas
55,000 Gallons of water
50 pounds
1,220,000
of Vaseline
Cups
Total entrants (1986-2013)
2:06:35 Course record in 2011 by Markos Geneti of Ethiopia
1986 First LA Marathon
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