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2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2016 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon WELCOME TO ALL

LA BIG 5K

A few words from some of the people who make race day a success 8, 10, 12

Kicking off race weekend 20

RECOVERY AFTER THE RUN Keck Medicine of USC shares tips for runners 14

START LINE Information to get you started 21

COURSE MAP ‘Stadium to the Sea’ route 22-23

OUR SPONSORS 16

FINISH LINE

HEALTH & FITNESS EXPO

Information about the final destination 24

Q&A: EXPERT ADVICE

Mix and mingle with fellow runners and spectators 18-19

TRANSPORTATION AND SECURITY

SANTA MONICA CLASSIC A 'Classic' leading up to the main event 38

Tips to get around safely 26

Race commentator Deena Kastor reflects on the 2016 Marathon 50

LA ROAD RUNNERS

A LIFE-CHANGING MARATHON

Experienced coach helps runners find the perfect pace to race 39-40

Chuck Gold suffered cardiac arrest miles before finish line 54

SMARTPHONE APP

TRACKING TIMES

Important race tool to train smarter and reach goals 41

56

SPECTATORS GUIDE Checking it out 28-29

CONQUR ENDURANCE GROUP

SIGHTS TO SEE 58-61

32-33

THE LORE OF THE LEGACY RUNNERS

SKECHERS PERFORMANCE POWERS THIS YEAR’S RACE

Dedicated people determined to keep their streaks alive 42

34-35

MARATHON BRINGS A RICH HISTORY TO LOS ANGELES

26TH MILE PROGRAM Students learning healthy habits PG. 64

ALL FOR THE CAUSE

THE MARQUEE ATHLETE IN THE SKECHERS FAMILY 36

43-44

Over 100 charities team up with the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon 65

STUDENTS RUN LA

BY THE NUMBERS

45

Did you know 625,257 runners have entered the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon since 1986?

PG. 66

PASADENA HALF MARATHON AT THE ROSE BOWL

2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

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ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION This Official Race Program has been created as a partnership between the Skechers Performance Los Angeles 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 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon. It speaks to all aspects of the race: competition, charity, the course and the diverse communities that it serves.

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

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February 14, 2016 Dear Friends: On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, welcome to the 2016 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, which is happening one day after the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon hosted on behalf of USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee on Saturday, February 13, 2016, one day prior to the annual Los Angeles Marathon!

The Los Angeles Marathon is a celebration of athleticism, determination, and the City of Los Angeles. More than 25,000 runners from around the world will traverse the stadium to the sea course 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 event possible. I am especially thankful to Skechers Performance, the title partner and all the other partners who help to make this a world class marathon.

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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2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

Dear Runners, Supporters and Fans: Welcome to the 2016 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon!

We are proud to be a new partner and support this iconic race. As a company based in Los Angeles, we have strong Southern California roots and feel honored to join you during race weekend to help bring this monumental event to life.

On Sunday, February 14, 2016, you will be accomplishing something many people only dream about. From first-time marathoners, to seasoned racers, and elite athletes, we commend you for choosing to participate in the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon.

You have put in many long hours—committing, training and making sacrifices, to embark on this momentous “Stadium to the Sea” race. We want to thank you for your dedication and perseverance. We also want to thank all the countless supporters; from the friends and families who will be cheering along the course, to the many volunteers giving their time and energy. This race would not be possible without you all. The marathon would also not be possible without our city officials whose pledge to this great city of Los Angeles has helped the marathon thrive for over 30 years.

Today is about achievement. Whether you’re here for the pure love of running, camaraderie, to set a new personal record, or if you’re here raising money for an incredible cause, we look forward to seeing each of you at the finish line in Santa Monica and presenting you with a finisher medal that you thoroughly deserve.

Kind regards,

MICHAEL GREENBERG President, Skechers USA, Inc.

MICHAEL GREENBERG

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2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

Dear Friends, Welcome to the 31st Edition of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon and an epic week of running in Los Angeles. Featuring back-to-back marathons - the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon on Saturday, February 13 and the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, February 14, plus the LA BIG 5K, the weekend promises to deliver exceptional running.

We're excited to partner with our new title sponsor Skechers Performance, a dynamic and progressive Los Angeles based company. Through our partnership, we look forward to delivering a world-class marathon experience on February 14 and collaborating on exciting new national and global marketing initiatives. As more than 25,000 runners will experience, the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon will have a fresh, new look and feel that we believe you'll truly enjoy!

Adding to a strong list of well-respected brands, we're pleased to also welcome Fitbit, AirFrance and Angel City Brewery as new partners for the 2016 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon.

We're thrilled to partner with more than 100 charity organizations, providing a unique opportunity for our runners to raise vital funds for their respective charity causes. We are humbled by the work these charities do and the extraordinary difference they make in the lives of so many people!

The day before this year's Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, our team is honored to host the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon on Saturday, February 13. This race determines the top three male and female marathoners who will represent the U.S. at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio. We encourage you to join our "Feet on the Street" program by coming out and putting your feet on the street to help us line the Olympic Trials Marathon Course with enthusiastic spectators.

Lastly, we recently announced the launch of Conqur Endurance Group, our new master brand reflecting our growth, the addition of new properties to our portfolio, and our vision of channeling the vibrancy of Los Angeles in every aspect of our business. Going forward, the team at LA MARATHON LLC will operate as Conqur Endurance Group, a global company that designs, markets and executes a series of extraordinary endurance events. Building upon our marquee event, the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, Conqur has added a half marathon to the portfolio - the Pasadena Half Marathon at the Rose Bowl taking place on January 22, 2017. Additional properties within the Conqur portfolio include the LA BIG 5K, the Santa Monica Classic and the LA Road Runners.

On behalf of all our partners, best of luck to each and every runner- especially the 140+ Legacy Runners participating in their 31st Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon!

Sincerely,

TRACEY RUSSELL Chief Executive Officer

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2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

TRACEY RUSSELL

Congratulations to the

marathon runners!

@smdailypress

Santa Monica Daily Press

smdp.com

410 Broadway, Suite B | Santa Monica, CA 90401

(310) 458-PRESS (7737)

LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTORS Two Keck Medicine of USC doctors give marathon advice on running and injury prevention

F

or many elite athletes and weekend warriors, the day of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon is one of the most exciting days of the year. But despite all of that adrenaline pumping, it's important for marathoners to remember to pay attention to their bodies and avoid injury.

Dr. Eric Tan, a Keck Medicine of USC assistant professor of orthopedic surgery, recently held a Q&A on the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon's Facebook page where he answered questions about training and injury prevention, and at the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Health & Fitness Expo on Saturday, Feb. 13, he'll repeat the process in person.

Tan said that safety starts with your shoes.

“At the beginning, you pick the right shoes,” he said.

“You want to find shoes that are comfortable for you.”

Dr. Seth Gamradt, director of orthopaedic athletic medicine for Keck Medicine of USC, said you shouldn't change up your shoes on race day.

“Wearing your tried and true runners will prevent the foot pain and blistering that are common in long-distance running,” he said.

In general, it's a good idea to keep things familiar on race day. Don't take any new medications or even try out a new sports drink or nutritional bar before the marathon.

“Running is about getting into a routine,” Tan said.

Another thing to remember, although it's not about injury prevention, is to always double check your 14

plan for parking and getting to the Marathon, Gamradt said. “Don't let a pre-race snafu compromise all of your hard work and training.”

Once you're all set to start running, you should take a moment to get ready.

“Prior to any sort of race, people should warm up, make sure they adequately stretch,” Tan said.

There are also some

you've prepared, some pain or soreness is normal on race day. However, sharp pain with every step, swelling in joints, escalating pain are not, Gamradt said.

“It is not advisable to push through these types of symptoms and finish the race,” he said.

Confusion, light-headedness and chest pain can also be signs its time to stop the

ERIC TAN, MD

SETH GAMRADT, MD

things that you shouldn't do, like eating or drinking an hour or two before the marathon begins.

“You want to make sure you're not hungry, but you're not over-full,” Tan said.

When the race begins, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to run at the pace you've trained at, and not try to push yourself beyond your limits, Tan said.

“You've got to make sure you have a goal, you're pacing yourself,” he said. “If you've never run a seven minute mile before, you're going to burn yourself out.”

No matter how much

race and seek medical attention.

“A lot of it's kind of listening to your body,” Tan said.

But it's also about listening to your body's more basic functions, like hydration. Drink about six to eight ounces every 20 minutes, Gamradt said. And you should mix up your liquid intake, drinking sports drinks as well as water.

It is possible to overhydrate, which can upset your blood's sodium level.

Or it can have a more recognizable result.

“If you're pumping down Gatorade, you'll have to go

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

to the bathroom or you'll have some indigestion that can affect your race,” Tan said.

We've already seen what El Niño can do to the roadways, but what about the raceways?

Tan said there are a couple of precautions you can take if you find you're going to be running in the rain. And, again, it starts with shoes.

“You want to make sure there's enough traction so you don't slip or fall or have an accident along the way,” he said.

You should also wear clothing that's waterproof but breathable.

“You still want to be able to sweat, but let off that moisture.”

Finally, it's a good idea to have a change of clothes waiting for you at the finish line, he said.

“You want to quickly get into some dry clothes after the race so you don't get sick.”

Immediately after the race, there are a few steps you can take to make sure you take care of yourself.

“For the first 15 to 20 minutes, you want to make sure you hydrate,” Tan said. “You want to spend another 20 to 30 minutes stretching. And then, throughout the rest of the day, you should plan on eating a good meal.”

An ice bath, to reduce swelling, is also a good idea, Tan said. And you shouldn't have any big runs planned for the next day. After all, you just the ran the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon. Give yourself a chance to relax and soak up your accomplishment.

THE KECK EFFECT: MORE ENDURANCE

Keck Medicine of USC attracts the world’s top researchers and physicians. Together, we’re preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases with greater precision — an approach we call The Keck Effect. That means doing everything possible to help our patients do more of the things they love.

With locations throughout Southern California, exceptional care is close to you. See how we’re redefining medicine.

KeckMedicine.org (800) USC-CARE © 2016 Keck Medicine of USC

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

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2016 PARTNERS We’d like to give a special thanks to all our partners, without whom this race would not exist Title Partner

Sponsors

Licensee Sponsor

Media Partner

Community Partners GE

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2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

HEALTH & FITNESS EXPO LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER, SOUTH HALL G-H

FRIDAY, February 12 10 A.M. — 7 P.M.

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he Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Health & Fitness Expo hosts over 110 exhibitors featuring brand-new designs in running

gear and shoes, as well as the latest developments in sports, fitness, and nutrition. In addition, the Skechers Performance Los Angeles

LOCATION

EXHIBITOR

LOCATION

103 120 121 122 123 201 202 205 206 209 210 215 302 303 309 314 315 320 321 322 323 325 400 402 406 407 408 409 411 412 413 414 420 421 422 423 425 429

Official Charity Program Team World Vision St. Jude Aids Project Los Angeles The Dream Center Oatmega Bar LIVE Soda Hidow International Go Raw Virus Intl Blue Diamond Athletic Displays Invo Coconut Water Arctic Zero Marine Corps Marathon Perfect Bar Garmin USA Nuun Hydration Mee Audio KT Health USA-Sport Eyewear DoctorInsole A Runner's Circle Lorna Jane Nutriblade Los Angeles Running Company FlexPharma Bic Bands Gu JBL Headphones Epson Kowa Health Care America Orange Tree Trade Kodiak 100 Compressport USA RaceForce LLC Rad Roller Elite Sport Optics SolarCity

431 503 506 507 508 509 510 513 514 520 521 522 524 529 530 535 600 602 606 607 608 612 612 613 614 615 621 625 638 639 640 641 647 713 715 716 719 721

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SATURDAY, February 13 8 A.M. — 5 P.M. Marathon Health & Fitness Expo is the home of Participant Packet Pick-Up for all marathon and LA BIG 5K runners. The two-day

EXHIBITOR

KRAVE Jerky Ventura Marathon Cutco Lumo Bodytech Kaleo Marketing Generation UCAN UFC Coconut Water Britax Child Safety Marathon Pain Relief Nulo Pet Food CEP Compression SingleFit Wyndham Resorts Hoka One One SF Marathon Brooks Minute Rice Lyft Lenny and Larry adidas Roo Sport Good Neighbors USA Larabar JLab Audio Biblok Mamma Chia OC Marathon / Run Racing Conqur Endurance Group Magic Masseuse Orig3n Marathon Tours Zensah Fleet Feet Encino Electrolife Skinslide Sparkly Soul Wings for Life Polar Electro

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

LOCATION

740 741 742 747 749 814 821 823 825 831 833 837 839 841 847 848 849 909 910 914 920 922 924 928 930 932 938 939 940 941 946 946 1012 1014 1038 1040

Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Health & Fitness Expo is free and open to the public.

EXHIBITOR

Calbeena (Harvest Snaps) Melissa's Produce Sun Chlorella USA Fitletic Superhero Events Calmoseptime Team Parkinson Verengo Solar Pro-Tec Athletics Spibelt Fond Memories Graphics Goldwin America Dusseldorf Marathon LifeStyle Sports Hippie Runner Orgain Ragnar Relay Fulfillment Fund Centrum MuscleAidTape FlipBelt Prevention Pharmaceuticals Run to Remember Run to Remember Sacramento Running Association Robert Forster PT Mahatma Rice Sport Hooks L.A. Leggers Real Time Pain Relief BeeCause Charms New Years Race Students Run LA Team in Training Honolulu Marathon Legacy Runners

HEALTH & FITNESS EXPO HEALTH & FITNESS EXPO February 12-13, FEBRUARY 12-13, 2016 2016

EXITS

LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER Los Angeles Convention Center, SOUTH HALL G-H South Hall G-H

EXIT

9'

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CONCESSION

TELE.

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WALL STORAGE

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EXITS

FREIGHT D EXITS

SRLA

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EXITS

TShirt Exchange

WOMEN

WOMEN F.H. 9'

EXITS

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MEN

FREIGHT DOOR

EXITS

MEN

EXITS

FREIGHT DOOR EXITS

Men’s

TSHIRTS & GOODIE BAGS

F.E.9'

9'

30’

EXIT

Women’s

FREIGHT DOOR EXITS

EXIT

5K Pick-Up

participant wall of fame

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F.E.

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SKECHERS PERFORMANCE OFFICIAL MERCHANDISE STORE

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742 743

641

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936 837 535 932 833 EXPO STAGE

100AMP 208 WATTS

Video Truck 23’ x 7’6”

WOMEN

LA Marathon Endurance 529

Group

924 825 F.E.

325 422 323

322 223

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520 421

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716 715 614 615

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Fitness Stage

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329

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522 423

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REGISTRATION

530 431

Conqur

928 829

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625

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911 910 908

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COLUMN SIZE 5' DIAMETER

REGISTRATION FOR HALLS G&H 37' X128'

SOUTH LOBBY

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STAIRS

LA BIG 5K Saturday, February 13, 2016

RACE DAY SCHEDULE February 13 Dodger Stadium 6:00 am- gates open 6:30 am- Bib Pick-Up & Race Day Registration Opens 8:00 am- LA BIG 5K Race Start AWARDS AND AGE DIVISION LIST The prize structure for the LA BIG 5K (Men and Women): 1st - $500 gift card to Big 5 Sporting Goods.

2nd - $250 gift card to Big 5 Sporting Goods.

Participants will compete in the following male and female age divisions: under 15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 3539, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 6569, 70-74, 75-79, 80 and over.

The top finisher in each age division will receive a $50 gift card to Big 5 Sporting Goods and a commemorative 1st place medal. The 2nd place finisher in each age division will receive a $25 gift card and 3rd place finishers in each age division will also receive a commemorative medal. Awards can be picked up after the race at the awards tent.

Awards must be picked-up in person on race day as awards are not shipped.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION Participants that register for the LA BIG 5K on Friday at the Los Angeles Convention Center will be able to collect their race packet at the point of sale. Participants that register for the race on Saturday at Dodger Stadium will also collect their race packet on-site at the point of sale.

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PACKET PICK UP INFORMATION Pre-registered participants in the 2016 LA BIG 5K have two options to pick-up their race packet prior to the LA BIG 5K. Friday, February 12 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall 1201 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90015

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

Participants may visit the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Health & Fitness Expo to pick up their LA BIG 5K bib, timing device, and participant shirt. Friday packet pickup is not required.

Saturday, February 13 beginning at 6:30 a.m.

Dodger Stadium, Parking Lot 6 1000 Elysian Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Pre-registered participants can pick up their race packet beginning at 6:30 a.m. in Parking Lot 6 at Dodger Stadium

Sunday, February 14, 2016 START LINE SCHEDULE 3:00 a.m. — Dodger Stadium Opens to Vehicles /Security Checkpoints Open 5:00 a.m. — Gear Check/Seeded Corrals Open 6:30 a.m. — Gear Check Closes/Security Checkpoint #1 Closes/Wheelchair Race Start 6:32 a.m. — Hand Cycle Race Start 6:40 a.m. — Seeded Corrals Close 6:45 a.m. — Elite Women Start 6:55 a.m. — Elite Men and Full Field Start GEAR CHECK Gear Check is located in Parking Lot K at Dodger Stadium. All gear checked at the Start Line will be transported to the Finish Line for

pick-up post-race.

Participants must use the clear plastic event-issued Participant Bag to check gear. Non-transparent bags, backpacks, or luggage will

NOT be accepted. Do not check anything valuable or fragile as the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon is not liable for any loss or damage. Gear Check closes promptly at 6:30 a.m.

SEEDED CORRALS Seeded corrals A, B, C, D, and E will open at 5 a.m.

Each corral will have its own

entrance and runners that have qualified for a Seeded Corral must show their bib to security personnel to gain entrance. The Seeded Corrals will close promptly at 6:40 a.m. Runners should plan accordingly and must be in their appropriate corral by 6:40 a.m. or they will not be permitted entry into their seeded corral.

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

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2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

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RUNNER SECURED FINISH ZONE Once runners cross the Finish Line, they will enter the Runner Secured Finish Zone, which is closed to the non-credentialed public. The Runner Secured Finish Zone is located on Ocean Ave from California Ave to Santa Monica Blvd. Runners will keep moving south on Ocean Ave to collect their finisher medal, mylar blanket, water, Gatorade Endurance Formula, post-finish food, and any items at UPS Gear Check.

Runners will exit the Runner Secured Finish Zone at Santa Monica Blvd.

Spectators are not allowed In the Runner Secured Finish Zone.

SPECTATOR ACCESS POINTS Spectator access will be closed on Ocean Ave from Washington Ave to Santa Monica Blvd. Palisades Park

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will also be closed to spectators from Washington Ave to Santa Monica Blvd. Any spectator wishing to watch their runner cross the Finish Line will need to station themselves on Ocean Ave north of Washington Ave. Spectators are strongly encouraged to meet their runners at the Finish Festival or Family Reunion Area.

FINISH FESTIVAL The Finish Festival is home to the Angel City Brewery Beer Garden, music, and other fun entertainment and giveaways! The Finish Festival is located on Santa Monica Blvd between 2nd St and Ocean Ave. The Finish Festival is open from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

FAMILY REUNION Make arrangements to meet your family at one of the letters of

the alphabet. The Family Reunion area will be located on Ocean Ave between Santa Monica Blvd and Broadway Ave.

Angel City Brewery craft beers will be available for sale at the Finish Festival.

MASSAGE TENT ANGEL CITY BREWERY BEER GARDEN Runners and Spectators will be able to enjoy delicious craft beer at the Angel City Brewery Beer Garden from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Wristbands will be required and can be picked up at the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Health & Fitness Expo.

If you are unable to pick up your wristband at the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, there will be an ID check station located at the entrance of the Angel City Brewery Beer Garden where you can show your ID and those 21+ can pick up a wristband.

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

All runners are able to receive a complimentary massage after completing the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon. Look for the Massage Tent on Ocean Ave just south of Broadway Ave.

HOTEL SHUTTLES For participants who booked hotels in Downtown LA or Beverly Hills through the Hotel Reservation Center, Hotel Shuttles will be staged at Santa Monica City Hall. Shuttles require a wristband to board and will depart every half hour beginning at 11 a.m. with the last pick-up at 4 p.m.

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

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2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

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2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

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WATCHING THE PACK A spectator’s guide to this year’s Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Y

ou don’t have to run 26.2 miles to be a part of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, there’s plenty of room on the course for cheering, supporting your loved ones, simply marveling at the accomplishment of the participants or even enjoying live music and other entertainment. Plenty of fun has been planned for spectators of this year’s race, here’s a rundown of what’s planned along the course this year.

THE START LINE Over 25,000 runners begin their journey in the wee hours at Dodger Stadium, an exhilarating site to see and the band CalPhonics headlines the start at Stadium Way. Entry here is limited to the Golden State Gate entrance.

MILE 2 Chinatown sets the scene here featuring the Wong Tai Sen Lion Dance Team.

The Chinatown entertainment center is always very loud, festive, and fun!

MILE 3 Award winning songwriters Anders~Royal will be performing at Main and 1st street while 1st and Central will feature the Japanese American National Museum which will present a Taiko performance by East LA Taiko, and a photo booth.

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MILE 4 At 1st and Central Avenue next to Disney Concert Hall, the Hongo Taiko School's premier Japanese taiko drum ensemble will be in full force.

The Japanese taiko drum ensemble has been a staple of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon and is well-loved by its runners.

Temple and North Figeuroa will feature the country/latin rock of Tommy Morrison.

MILE 5 Southern rock lights up Bellevue and Echo Park with Orange County’s Wildfire County.

MILE 6 ESP Evolution at Glendale and Montrose is described as real music for those that crave to break out of the mold.

MILE 7 At Sunset and Maltman you’ll find MOSTLY, a two person dark pop ensemble. Sunset and Fountain will feature Earlez Grille, a famous hot dog restaurant founded two decades ago by brothers Cary and Duane Earle. What started out as a hot dog cart in the Crenshaw Santa Barbara Plaza has evolved into a successful catering business in the heart of the Crenshaw district at Jack's Chili Factory. They offer hot dogs, sandwiches, burgers, tamales, Jamaican patties, chicken wings, ol' school coffee cakes, vegan & veggie fare and much more.

MILE 8 The Salvadorian community in Los Angeles comes out in strong support every year with popular musical entertainment.

Join the party at Hollywood and North Vermont just outside of Barnsdall Art Park.

MILE 9 Chock full of live entertainment along Hollywood Boulevard. At Edgemont Mary Lind Gospel Choir will be inspiring the masses.

North Mariposa will feature Dan McNay strumming his banjo. At Kingsley Drive, Hott Nue/z-Lightening will perform and big voiced diva Tiffinni Saint Ranee will be at North Gramercy Place.

MILE 10 Runners and spectators are encouraged to make their Valentine’s Day truly memorable by getting married or renewing their vows during the 10th mile of the Stadium to the Sea course. The special opportunity, made possible by Universal Pictures to highlight the release of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (in theaters in March), will be available from 8 am – 10 am at the intersection of Hollywood and Vine.

MILE 11 The run down Hollywood Boulevard continues where Devin Tait and the Traitors will be at Whitley Avenue, entertaining with pop/rock tunes. Band Havashot will be just down the road at North Las Palmas.

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

MILE 12 As the runners make their way onto Sunset, entertainment will feature rock bands Hoity-Toity and The Local Rebellion at North La Brea, there will also be samples available from Clif bar at North Martel Avenue and North Vista Street.

MILE 13 Continuing on Sunset, DJ Name will be at Havenhurst Drive.

MILE 14 The sounds of L.A.’s AMP 97.1 radio can be found on Sunset between Spaulding and Courtney.

MILE 16 Power 106 will be bumping hip hop tunes at Burton Way and BlacklistLA will be at Burton and North Elm Drive. Air France will be saying bonjour to all who visit them at Burton Way and Alpine Drive, Burton Way and Rexford Drive and South Santa Monica Boulevard and North Crescent Drive.

MILE 17 This action packed mile features DJ Carmin Wong at Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way and as the course progresses to Wilshire, pop/rock band SupaNova entertains at Peck Drive. Hale Family Singers will be belting out tunes at South Roxbury, UnitedLA will be at SEE SPECTATOR PAGE 29

MILE

Support your runner RUNNER TRACKING Keep time with your runner via the official race app powered by Fitbit.

Participants can tap into Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon social channels, talk to other runners or post from the course.

Find more information about the app at lamarathon.com/eventinfo/smartphone-app.

APPROXIMATE RUNNNER CROSSINGS To the right is a chart of approximate times runners will be crossing each mile.

SPECTATOR FROM PAGE 28

Linden, ECMS rock band greets those at Little Santa Monica and the famous Cheer Alley is at Moreno Drive. This year, 600 cheerleaders on 20 squads will compete for a $2,500 prize purse ($1,250 for first place, $750 for second place and $500 for third place). This is the fifth year of the competition. Each squad will perform their 2minute routine, and then will line the course to cheer on runners. Squads will be judged on overall spirit, creativity, showmanship and uniform.

MILE 18 As the course turns down Santa Monica Boulevard, Jamie Beeman & The Stingers as well as Langston will get the party going at South Avenue of the

Start 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Finish

LOCATION (CITY) LEAD WOMEN Dodger Stadium near Lot G (LA) 6:45 a.m.

Sunset Blvd., just north of Marion Ave. (LA) 6:50 a.m.

Broadway, just north of Sunset Blvd. (LA) 6:56 a.m.

Main Street, between Temple & 1st Streets (LA) 7:01 a.m.

1st Street, just north of Spring Street (LA) 7:07 a.m.

Temple Street & Victor Street (LA) 7:12 a.m.

Glendale Blvd., just before Santa Ynez St. (LA) 7:18 a.m.

Sunset Blvd., just before Silver Lake Blvd. (LA) 7:23 a.m.

Sunset Blvd. between Myra & Bates Aves. (LA) 7:29 a.m.

Hollywood Blvd. & Edgemont Street (LA) 7:34 a.m.

Hollywood Blvd. & Wilton Place (LA) 7:40 a.m.

Hollywood Blvd. & Wilcox Ave. (LA) 7:45 a.m.

Sunset Blvd. & LaBrea Ave. (LA) 7:51 a.m.

Sunset Blvd., just west of Fairfax Ave. (LA) 7:56 a.m.

Sunset Blvd., just past Alta Loma Road (LA/WH) 8:02 a.m.

Santa Monica Blvd., west of Robertson Blvd. (WH) 8:07 a.m.

Burton Way, past Oakhurst Drive (WH/LA/BH) 8:13 a.m.

Rodeo Drive & Dayton Way (BH) 8:18 a.m.

Santa Monica Blvd & Century Park East (BH/LA) 8:24 a.m.

Santa Monica Blvd., past Westholme Ave. (LA) 8:29 a.m.

Sepulveda Blvd., north of Santa Monica Blvd. (LA) 8:35 a.m.

Dowlen Drive before Bonsall Ave. (VA) 8:40 a.m.

San Vicente Blvd., near Montana Ave. (LA) 8:46 a.m.

San Vicente Blvd., past Bristol Ave. (LA) 8:51 a.m.

San Vicente Blvd. & 18th Street (SM) 8:57 a.m.

San Vicente Blvd., between 7th & 4th Streets (SM) 9:02 a.m.

Ocean Ave., past Idaho Avenue (SM) 9:08 a.m.

Ocean Ave. & California Ave. (SM) 9:32 a.m.

Stars and Rebel Rose will be entertaining at Fox Hills Drive.

MILE 19 Another entertainment filled mile along Santa Monica Boulevard begins with Drumm beats at Manning Avenue, singer/songwriter Shani Rose at Malcolm Avenue, Loma Linda Lopers running and fitness club at Veteran and CBFreeLA at Camden. Clif bar will also be giving out samples at Santa Monica Boulevard and Westwood Boulevard.

MILE 20 Rocker Ronny North will be on stage at Ohio and Sepulveda.

MILE 21 DJ Mike Grimm will be on the ones and twos at San Vicente and Gorham/Montana.

At San Vicente and Barrington, Ann likes Red and Felis will be entertaining the crowd.

MILE 22 Ask the team at Fitbit how many points a marathon earns you at San Vicente Boulevard and Montana Avenue.

MILE 23 Angel City Brewery will have a presence at San Vicente Boulevard and Burlingame Avenue and be sure to check out the Angel City Brewery Beer Garden for some tasty brews at the finish festival.

MILE 25 As the course turns onto Ocean from San Vicente patrons will enjoy Core.

THE FINISH LINE Runners will cross the line in

LEAD MEN

MID-PACK

6:55 a.m.

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6:55 a.m.

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8:03 a.m.

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12:27 a.m.

Santa Monica just south of California Avenue on Ocean Avenue. The Family Reunion Area is a good spot to meet up and the finish festival, home to the Angel City Brewery Beer Garden, will feature music and other fun giveaways. If you’re meeting a runner, be sure to have a finish line plan. It can get crowded in this area so be sure you and your runner have a pre-designated post race meeting point.

CHARITIES In addition to all of the exciting on course entertainment, over 50 of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon’s official charities will be on the course to offer support and inspiration to the runners. To find out where your favorite charity will be on race day, visit: lamarathon.com/charities/official-charities.

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

29

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OUR EXPERIENCES SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES M A R AT H O N

LA ROAD RUNNERS

S A N TA M O N I C A CLASSIC 5K/10K

U . S . O LY M P I C TEAM TRIALS M A R AT H O N

26TH MILE

LA BIG 5K

PASADENA H A L F M A R AT H O N AT T H E ROSE BOWL

H E A LT H & FITNESS EXPO

OUR PARTNERSHIPS SPONSORSHIPS

CHARITIES

Elevate and expand your brand with oneon-one engagement with our participants.

We customize each brand’s involvement with a targeted approach ranging from specific initiatives to year-long engagement.

Use endurance as a way to help your cause. Become an official partner to raise funds, build awareness, and create meaningful impact with our community of charities.

OUR ORIGIN

We set out to create a new breed of endurance organization in Los Angeles.

Through a process of reimagining and redefining, we identified what’s unique about the sport of endurance and celebrated it through the lens of this city to establish the framework for our new venture, Conqur Endurance Group.

Partnering with the local brand consultancy Innovation Protocol, we leveraged a thirty-year history of designing, marketing, and executing endurance events in Los Angeles and paired it with a vision of supporting the triumph of limits for every athlete, every partner, and every charity we impact.

Whether you’re a novice runner, professional athlete, charity, or sponsor, join our experiences and partnership programs as we all use endurance as a conduit for good and a means of testing enduring human grit.

G E T S TA R T E D W I T H U S AT

SKECHERS PERFORMANCE POWERS THIS YEAR’S RACE

W

hen athletes finish their 26.2-mile run in Santa Monica, they will have traveled more than twice as far as the Skechers executives who will be on hand to celebrate the festivities.

Skecher’s Manhattan Beach headquarters is only about 12 miles from the finish line so it's makes sense for the two organizations to work together on the race, but the 2016 partnership is about more than just supporting the hometown footwear company.

Rick Higgins, SVP Merchandising/Marketing, Skechers Performance, said sponsoring one of the world's premier races will help increase awareness for the company's rapidly evolving performance division.

“When we began conversations with the Los Angeles Marathon, we both felt from

34

the beginning it was a great fit,” he said. “For starters, the race is here in our backyard. Additionally, as we are the second largest athletic footwear brand in the U.S. and rapidly growing internationally, the partnership offers us both a louder voice in the market.”

The Skechers Performance Division designs and produces an extensive collection of technologically advanced performance footwear. Their Skechers GOrun line has received numerous awards from the running press and elite athletes worldwide are choosing to compete in their footwear.

“The partnership offers us a huge platform and a much larger voice within the running community,” said Higgins. “Many consumers are not yet aware of

Skechers getting to the number #2 spot last year, so a relationship like this helps us connect to the consumer at a deeper grass roots level and experience our running shoes firsthand as well as the brand's energy.”

Skechers has already had significant success at the elite level with marathon champion and Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi, elite runner Kara Goucher, and pro golfer Matt Kuchar all competing in their shoes.

Higgins said the accolades received by Skechers Performance are a reflection of Skechers' CEO, Robert Greenberg's founding philosophy to deliver consumers what they want with a huge focus on quality.

“I think that what we have proven over the past several years from Skechers Performance, is that we are

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

“The Greenberg family calls L.A. home, so our headquarters and many employees live here. We also saw an opportunity to globally expand the Los Angeles Marathon by leveraging our marketing prowess and international advertising.”

Rick Higgins SVP Merchandising/Marketing, Skechers Performance

building great product based on what the athletes' needs are,” he said. “We have been laser focused on delivering product that resonates with runners and most importantly, SEE SKECHERS PAGE 35

SKECHERS FROM PAGE 34

product that performs for the athlete. It is really no different than what the overall Skechers' philosophy has been for over 24 years.”

According to Higgins, the company has always looked for ways to evolve and given it's growing reputation as a source of quality athletic gear, it made sense to become a partner in the actual athletic events.

“With the success we've had as a performance brand,

a title marathon sponsorship was one of the next steps we knew we wanted to take,” he said. “We've worked very hard over the past six years to create consumer awareness of our award winning running products, and this relationship is another avenue to communicate our brand to runners.

As the official footwear and apparel sponsor of the Chevron Houston marathon for the past three years, we've gained an immense amount of knowledge that we are taking to the next level with this title sponsorship.”

Aside from its Performance division, Skechers has a huge global following for it's lifestyle shoes. The company sells its footwear in department, specialty and independent stores, as well as through more than 1100 company-owned Skechers retail stores and online at skechers.com.

Beyond the United States, Skechers product is available in more than 120 countries and territories through an international network of subsidiaries in Canada, Brazil, Chile, Japan, and 27 countries in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, as

well as through joint ventures in Asia and distributors around the world.

Higgins said the company is eager to utilize its international reputation for the benefit of the marathon.

“We love the fact that this is a local race,” he said.

“The Greenberg family calls L.A. home, so our headquarters and many employees live here. We also saw an opportunity to globally expand the Los Angeles Marathon by leveraging our marketing prowess and international advertising.”

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

35

THE MARQUEE ATHLETE IN THE SKECHERS PERFORMANCE FAMILY

PHOTOS COURTESY MATTHEW LINKER

F

ew stories in sport are more inspiring than that of Meb Keflezighi, the marquee athlete in the Skechers Performance family.

Born in Eritrea, Meb was only three months old when his family left the capital city, Asmara, in an attempt to escape warfare between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Drought caused great hardship, to the point where “at times food was so scarce that I literally ate dirt,” he wrote in his autobiography, “Run to Overcome.” In 1981, his father fled to Khartoum for political reasons, ending up in Italy and sending for his family. They moved to San Diego in 1987, establishing a foothold in California that continues to this day.

When they arrived, the family was on welfare until his father could find a job and Meb spoke no English, but academics were a priority from the beginning. One day in seventh grade, a physical education teacher assigned Meb’s class to run a mile, telling them they would get good grades if they ran hard. His time was 5:20. A 36

MEB KEFLEZIGHI

career was born.

A state cross-country champion and national Foot Locker runner-up during his senior year at San Diego High School, Meb became a four-time NCAA Champion for UCLA. In 1998, he became a U.S. citizen.

After making his first U.S Olympic team in 2000 at 10,000 meters, and setting an American record at that distance in 2001, it looked as if the fairytale journey to success was complete.

It was only beginning.

After Meb made his marathon debut in 2002, he vowed “never again”— thankfully one of the few promises he has failed to keep in his life, because at the 2004 Olympics, despite being the 39th-fastest man in the field, he brought home a silver medal in the marathon. It was the first Olympic medal won by an American man in the marathon since Frank Shorter took silver in 1976.

Shortly before those Games, he met his future wife, Yordanos. On their first date, right after he returned

PHOTOS COURTESY MATTHEW LINKER

from Athens, he presented her with the flowers he received on the medal stand.

They now have three daughters: Sara, 9; Fiyori, 7; and Yohana, 6.

Meb missed the Olympic team in 2008 after sustaining a pelvic stress fracture while running the Olympic Marathon Trials. Many thought his career was over, but he came back to win the New York City Marathon in 2009, the first American to do so since Alberto Salazar in 1982.

In the summer of 2011, Manhattan Beach-based Skechers signed Meb to represent them. At the time, Skechers President Michael Greenberg called Meb “a rock star in the running world,” and the concert was about to get even better: In 2012, Meb became the oldest U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion in history when he won at the age of 36 years, 257 days.

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

But the highlight among highlights came in 2014.

The year after the Boston Marathon finish-line bombings, Meb helped mend the city by becoming the first American man to win the Boston Marathon since 1983, breaking the tape for one of the most poignant victories in the history of sports.

Now 40 and recently named by Runner’s World magazine as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Running, Meb comes to Los Angeles among the favorites to make his fourth Olympic team. Would he have predicted that back in 2012?

“Four years ago, absolutely not,” he said. “I didn’t think I would be able to do what I’m doing right now.”

Regardless of the outcome on Feb. 13, Meb’s place in history—and in our hearts—is secure.

The Newest edition to the Conqur Endurance Group Lineup

T

he Pasadena Half Marathon at the Rose Bowl taking place on January 22, 2017. It will turn the city of Pasadena from the Norton Simon

Museum, to the convention center, to Cal Tech into a giant race course, with a majestic finish on the field of the Rose Bowl. Starting later this year, participants

can participate in the Conqur LA Challenge, by completing the Santa Monica Classic, Pasadena Half Marathon at the Rose Bowl and

Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon in the same race season to earn a unique inaugural medal.

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

37

A 'CLASSIC' LEADING UP TO THE MAIN EVENT L

inzie Starr made his way down Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica and crossed the finish line, another race in the books, another accomplishment to cherish.

But Starr hadn’t just completed the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon. It was five months earlier, and he had just run 10 kilometers at the Santa Monica Classic.

Held in September and organized by Conqur Endurance Group, the Santa Monica Classic makes running accessible to people who are more comfortable with short distances while also serving as a training ground for athletes who are preparing to conquer 26.2 miles.

“For newer runners who may be intimidated by the race, there’s no reason to be intimidated,” Starr said.

“Everybody out there is really chill, and you get a great sense of community because everybody knows somebody.

It’s just fantastic.”

The Santa Monica Classic hosts 5k and 10k events as well as a finish-line festival, which gives participants an idea of what the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon is like.

Race entrants come from all over Southern California as well as from other parts of the country and world. In previous years, runners have arrived from San Francisco, Milwaukee, New York and even Norway to participate.

The 5k and 10k events begin at 2600 Barnard Way in the Santa Monica beach parking lots and continue south on Barnard Way, east on Marine Street, north on

38

Main Street, west on Colorado Avenue and north on Ocean Avenue.

Participants in the 5k turn around at Washington Avenue and head back towards the intersection of Ocean and Colorado; 10k runners continue north on Ocean Avenue and east on San Vicente Boulevard before turning around at 11th Street.

“I run all the time, and I wanted to be with a bunch of friends who were running it,” said Starr, who was preparing for his fourth Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon. “We use the shorter-distance runs as training runs.”

Starr, 30, got into marathoning by accident.

About five years ago, he said, he got tired of coming home after work and being sedentary. He wanted to do what he could to stave off diabetes and heart disease.

And he felt he wasn’t doing enough to negate the effects that the potatoes and other starchy foods were having on

his body.

He started jogging short distances. Then, after a bad day at work, he went running and noticed how much better he felt afterward.

“I was like, ‘I should do more of this,’” he said. “I signed up for a half marathon four months later.”

Starr acknowledges that he isn’t your average runner.

He’s completed 24 marathons, 44 half marathons and dozens of other shorter races. But he said he loves the relaxed vibe of the Santa Monica Classic.

“It’s really an event for everybody,” he said.

“Nobody judges anybody.

We’re all there to have fun, and there’s a lot of encouragement on the course. It’s a really great event. It must be something in the ocean air.”

The ocean air is also built into the event’s post-race expo, where runners meet up with supporters, get results, check out the assortment of vendors and celebrate their accomplishments. The finish-

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

line festival on the Santa Monica Pier allows participants to make a day of the races.

There’s also a philanthropic component to the Santa Monica Classic. Last year’s edition supported the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation, the fundraising arm of the local school district. Proceeds from previous editions of the event have gone to Heal The Bay, a Santa Monica-based environmental advocacy organization.

“When people run in one of these events, they’re asking, ‘Where does the money from that race go?’” Starr said. “That does sway people if they’re going to support the race. Some won’t if it doesn’t benefit others.

This would absolutely sway somebody to join.”

Starr’s advice to newcomers?

“Don’t be intimidated,” he said. “You’re never going to know what you’re capable of unless you take the first step.”

RUNNING TO THE RIGHT RHYTHM LA Road Runners’ coach Gerard Deegan helps runners find the perfect pace to race

PHOTOS COURTESY MATTHEW LINKER

T

here's a lot of advice floating around on the Internet: how to fry an egg, how to lose weight and for those looking forward to race day, how to run a marathon. But while there is a lot of good information online, nothing beats having the tactile experience of running in a group and training with coach Gerard Deegan.

If you want to get in great shape for the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, and spend race day with a great crowd, consider joining the LA Road Runners.

The LA Road Runners are the official training program

of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, which trains runners of all backgrounds-from people who've run 20 marathons to people who've never run two miles.

Ryan Greene, LA Road Runners program administrator, trusts a lot of the information that's available online, but he said the LA Road Runners give you the security of professional trainers in a supportive environment.

“I would certainly suggest it to anyone who's at all interested in the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon as a bucket list

item,” Greene said.

Greene had already inserted himself into the Los Angeles running communitycreating a successful running club that operated out of his Westside athletic supply store, Top to Top, and working with people who were involved with 5K and 10K races across the globe-when he was approached by Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon officials to help revamp the LA Road Runners, he said.

Training a diverse crowd of marathoners takes more than just coaches, the support of peers that share common goals and fitness

levels is key, enter the pace groups.

“Those groups are dependent on experience and speed with which the runner is capable of running,” said Greene.

That means that everyone, from the runner who clocked a seven-minute mile to the one who just jumped off the couch, can find a place to run.

There are pace groups that run and groups that run and walk. Runners are encouraged to try different groups until they find one that is comfortable, and SEE ROAD RUNNERS PAGE 40

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

39

ROAD RUNNERS FROM PAGE 39

each group is led by an experienced runner.

Pace running is one of the hallmarks of the Road Runners program and LA Road Runners head coach Gerard Deegan is a staunch believer in the concept. He remembers a piece of advice a coach used to give his runners.

“He'd say to us, and we'd be coming back from an injury or time off or anything like that, it's not the distance that kills you. It's the pace,” Deegan said.

This marks the first marathon the LA Road Runners are being headed by the Dublin, Ireland, native. Deegan fell in love with running following the the 1976 Olympics, and he's hardly stopped racing since: initially running in high school and national events in Ireland, graduating to national and international duathlons, like the American Duathlon Championship.

Along the way, he never lost contact with his first running coach, Peter McDermott.

“He, over the last few

COURTESY OF GERARD DEEGAN

40

PHOTOS COURTESY MATTHEW LINKER

years of my racing career, groomed me for becoming a coach as well,” Deegan said.

“He just told me one day, Gerard, you would make a good coach.”

Deegan tested the coaching field when a colleague asked him to help train a high school track team.

Since then he's coached the high schools and national triathlon teams, and opened his own coaching company, Griffith Park Sports. In 2015, he became the LA Road Runners head coach.

“That was a big honor, and I was very, very happy to take the position,” he said.

It has been a tremendous joy to watch the LA Road Runners progress, Deegan said and it's required him to adpat his training methods.

“It's a different kind of coaching because you're dealing with some people who've never run before and some people who've got 20 marathons under their belts,” he said.

“Do away with the techni-

cal stuff,” Deegan said. “Run at a conversation pace. Run so you can run and talk to your training partner. I don't care if it's slow.”

This advice tends to resonate well with beginning runners.

One person who's never run a marathon before is Loren Piretra, a sales manager with Red Bull. Although Piretra has always been an athlete, she was having trouble finding time to fit workouts into her schedule, so she started running. She ran half marathons in the spring and summer, but thought she'd join the LA Road Runners to properly prepare for a full marathon.

“The network and the support and knowing you're in it with them, it's a huge benefit,” she said.

“You can lean on your pace leaders and the coaches for advice on training,” she added. “And it helps to have the confidence and energy of running with a group.”

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

Piretra found her particular pace group after trying out a couple of different ones before settling into a run-walk group.

“We'll run for 10 minutes and then walk for one minute,” she said. “It's something I've never done before, but it's helped me to cut my time down on longer runs.”

The training goes hand in hand with the community of runners around you, she said. Even while they're on a training run, they can distract each other, talking and even singing through the highs and lows of the run.

“I definitely wouldn't have been able to get through the longer runs without the team I've run with,” she said. “I feel prepared. We have one 20-mile run under our belts. I definitely feel like, if I can get through those, I'll do the 26.2.”

For more information about the Road Runners, visit LAMarathon.com.

APP PROVIDES INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE Important race tool to train smarter and reach goals

R

unning is perhaps the oldest human sport but it's not immune to technological upgrades so it's no surprise that in the era of the selfie, smartphones have become an increasingly important race tool.

The Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon has partnered with Fitbit to provide runners of all levels with a positive experience and the tools they need to train smarter and reach their goals via the official race app powered by Fitbit.

“Over the last several years, more and more runners are taking to the course with their smartphones,” said Ryan Cavinder, Marketing Manager for Conqur Endurance Group.

“Whether they're tracking their progress, listening to music or snapping photos of the landmarks, it's definitely become one of the top running accessories.”

The official race app powered by Fitbit offers a world-class, interactive experience that gives runners, spectators and the entire Los Angeles community access to race information and tools designed to enhance their engagement with the iconic race on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2016.

The app features a GPSenabled course map, that lets runners and spectators easily navigate the course and its amenities while providing information about

the many landmarks and entertainment acts that make up the iconic Stadium to the Sea course. As runners prepare for race day they will have access to training tips and inspiration from Fitbit Ambassadors, including two of America's premier distance runners Ryan and Sara Hall, as well as ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes.

The official race app powered by Fitbit has been designed to ensure that runners can access this information anytime, anywhere while also taking full advantage of social media features, including custom Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Instagram borders and the ability to easily join in the social conversation surrounding the marathon.

“By supporting events like the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon and equipping race participants with training tips from some of the sport's most successful professional runners, Fitbit is helping consumers reach their race day goals,” said Tim Rosa, VP Global Marketing, Fitbit. “Armed with these tips and Fitbit's activity tracking technology, runners of all levels are powered with the information they need to maximize their performance. With features like GPS and automatic heart rate tracking, they can make smart decisions as they train to cross the finish line.”

Cavinder said the official race app powered by Fitbit is popular for several reasons, including the social connection it provides.

“Completing a marathon is a tremendous accomplishment and we wanted to provide runners with tools to memorialize that accomplishment on social media,” said Cavinder. “Users can access custom Instagram borders, post directly from the app and stay up to date with the latest marathonrelated posts.”

Cavinder said runners who have used the features love the experience.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said. “Users love the stateof-the-art map features, social tools and ability to create their own race week calendar. Professional athletes, amateur runners and race organizers have been raving about this app. We're excited to show it off to the masses during race week.”

Race officials said Fitbit has a reputation with its cutting edge technology that aids athletes so the app partnership was a natural fit.

“Our brands share the common goal of encouraging healthy, more active lifestyles and creating positive experiences for runners of all abilities,” said Sheri Wish, VP of Business Development for Conqur Endurance Group. “The marathon app offers a unique interactive experience that will help runners and spectators navigate the course and its amenities on race day.”

The 2016 official race app powered by Fitbit is available today, at no cost, in the Apple App Store (http://bit.ly/LAMappi) and Google Play Store (http://bit.ly/LAMappa). The 2016 official race app powered by Fitbit was developed by Aloompa, LLC.

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

41

THE LORE OF THE LEGACY RUNNERS Dedicated people determined to keep their streaks alive

T

here’s a tale about the guy who once ran half of the Los Angeles Marathon in flipflops because he forgot his shoes. There’s one about a breast cancer survivor who recovered in time to run, another about a woman in her early 80s, still another about a man who once completed the 26.2-mile course on crutches.

Their stories make up the lore of the Legacy Runners, the dedicated people who have crossed the finish line of every Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon since its inception in 1986. Each year they overcome personal, professional and physical challenges to participate in the race, determined to keep their streaks alive.

“We’ve got every culture, every socioeconomic situation,” said Denny Smith, a retired public school teacher.

“It really truly reflects the diversity of Los Angeles. It’s a great mix of people. We’re all just people who have been part of something special for so long. It’s something that we’ve become very proud of.”

Smith serves as a coordinator for an esteemed group that has 173 remaining members, a number that can only shrink with time.

The Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon has recognized its Legacy Runners over the years, particularly for landmark anniversaries. At the 30th edition of the race last year, they were invited to start running before the rest of the field.

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The group didn’t gain traction until the turn of the millennium, when Smith reached out to race officials about bringing together the people who had finished the race every year.

By about 2002, Smith was collaborating with fellow marathon veteran Lou Briones on outreach and planning. Before long, members of the group had a website and an online listserv.

“I just had this vision of us getting to know each other,” Smith said. “We had so much to share, and we had so much in common, but a lot of us didn’t know each other. There were different little cliques, but nobody really interacted with other members of the group.”

Once connected, the Legacy Runners started scheduling brunches and monthly training runs. The first few events were attended by no more than a couple dozen people, but over time the active members have formed close bonds.

The Legacy Runners, who have a booth at the Health & Fitness Expo, have become something of a support net-

work for each other. They have also grieved with the families of former members.

When a member passes away, the group presents relatives with a T-shirt signed by other Legacy Runners.

“It’s become this family of warriors who have shared so much,” Smith said. “Because of the hardships we’ve overcome to make it to the starting line each year, it’s become this really big family where we recognize everybody. There’s a great sense of belonging.”

The camaraderie transcends age, occupation, gender and ability. Last year, 52-year-old Trinidad Robles clocked in at just over 3 hours. Smith, an avid beach volleyball player who in his athletic prime was able to finish the race in about 3 hours 15 minutes, now needs closer to 6 hours. For Granada Hills resident Patricia DeVita, the oldest woman in the group, completing the 2015 course took more than 7 hours.

“The time isn’t that important anymore,” Smith said. “It’s just about crossing the finish line and keeping

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

the legacy going.”

According to Smith, one member of the group has run more ultra-marathons than marathons. Some of the Legacy Runners have entered racing events around the world. But all of them share a passion for distance running, a love of the outdoors and a desire to see how far they can push themselves.

“When you get involved in something that gives you that much self-worth and pride, it’s something you’ve got to keep doing no matter what the obstacles are,” Smith said. “Once you cross the finish line, it makes everything so sweet. No matter what’s going on in your life ... you’re overcoming these obstacles to maintain something that means a lot to you and your other fellow Legacy Runners.

“We’ve had people say, ‘I’m not gonna run,’ but they end up making the effort because there’s a lot of support. Even in times of personal crisis, that kind of family aspect means a lot to me and a lot to these runners.

You don’t want to let the family down.”

THE MARATHON BRINGS A RICH HISTORY TO LOS ANGELES The last great melting pot

By Toni Reavis

Y

ou have to remember, the whole sport was in a state of upheaval at the time. What had been for decades little more than a quirky pastime practiced by small bands of iconoclasts in hushed rhythms on back roads had suddenly transformed into the hottest new lifestyle trend in the nation.

Jim Fixx's The Complete Book of Running heralded the new craze in 1977, promising to “change your

life� in the process. But unlike the national crazes of old, like the Hoola Hoop or the Twist, Fixx argued that running would never diminish in popularity.

And true to the Fixx forecast, the sport continued to expand rapidly as the postwar Baby Boom generation came hard upon the onset of their long held off maturity.

Rather than sit-ins to protest war, the Boomers rose to their feet, setting off a running boom that lured more and more converts into mass com-

munions of fitness at major marathons and local runs across the nation. 'I didn't think I could do it. Then I did do it. What else don't I think I can do?' became running's epiphany to millions of aspiring athletes on their own personal roads to Damascus.

In the Los Angeles basin the Los Angeles Marathon had a long and impressive history of its own. Besides its three Olympic Marathons - the men's races in 1932 and 1984, and the inaugural women's

Olympic Marathon in `84 there had also been the Western Hemisphere Marathon staged in Culver City since 1948. Through the years the Western Hemisphere Marathon established many a tradition the sport now takes for granted, including the inclusion of women and wheelchair racers. What's more, Western Hemisphere saw four women's world records set on its flat, fast course, including history's first sub-2:50 by Cheryl Bridges who today is best known as Olympian Shalane Flanagan's mom.

Western Hemisphere also hosted the 1964 U.S. Men's Olympic Trials Marathon.

WOMEN'S MARATHON WORLD RECORDS IN CULVER CITY 3:37:07

Merry Lepper

USA December 16, 1963

2:49:40

Cheryl Bridges

USA December 5, 1971

2:46:36

Michiko Gorman

USA December 2, 1973

2:43:54.5 Jacqueline Hansen USA December 1, 1974

As initial Los Angeles Marathon president Bill Burke told the L.A. Times: "The Western Hemisphere Marathon was one of the marathons we studied. You SEE HISTORY PAGE 44

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

43

HISTORY FROM PAGE 43

can't judge a race by numbers alone, they have an identity. We tried to incorporate the community style and get the local civic leaders involved. We copied all those things. We just did it on a bigger scale."

From an international perspective, the new City of Los Angeles Marathon was a late but welcome entrant onto the marathon calendar, completing the running boom's western expansion. Boston, the Granddaddy of them all, had begun its long run in the spring of 1897, the year after the first modern Olympic Games were staged in Athens, where the marathon event was first introduced to the world.

New York City began its own four-laps-of-Central-Park tour in 1970, before expanding to the mega five-borough experience in the Bicentennial year of 1976. Chicago then joined the marathon fraternity in 1977, while London inaugurated its own 42.2 kilometer event in 1981.

The growth of these bigcity events, as well as the galvanizing influence of the critically and financially successful 1984 Los Angeles Olympics under the guidance of Peter Uerberroth planted the seed for a truly world-class marathon in L.A. American Joan Benoit's emotional gold medal victory in the first Women's Olympic Marathon, run from Santa Monica to the Coliseum, created a generation of fans, and became one of the lasting memories of the Games in L.A. Yet it wasn't until the Los Angeles City Council put out bids that the idea of a major

44

marathon in the City of Angels began to cohere.

Under the leadership of Dr. Bill Burke, who had been Commissioner of Tennis for the L.A. Games, and his deputy, Marie Patrick, a former teacher and tennis promoter, the inaugural City of Los Angeles Marathon came off like a charm on March 9, 1986. With 10,787 registered entrants lining up on Figueroa at Exhibition adjacent to the Memorial Coliseum, L.A. instantly announced its arrival as a major player with the largest first time marathon field ever assembled (a title since eclipsed).

Oregon's Ric Sayre (2:12:59), Stanford grad Nancy Ditz (2:36:27) and Orange County's Bob Molinatti (wheelchair, 2:23:10) took home the inaugural crowns, while KCOP channel 13 took a huge risk by taking on its first ever live sporting event coverage, and knocking the coverage out of the park, which led to a run of 16 years as the home of live marathon coverage. Today, after one year on KCAL9 and seven years with KNBC4, KTLA is the official Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon broadcast partner.

In a larger context, the running industry had been hopeful that a major marathon in LA would help hold Boston's feet to the fire, as the venerable old marathon had regressed by not offering prize money in the face of a new professionalism that was overturning the old order of amateurism in the Olympic sporting world.

In just two years, from 1983 to 1985, Boston had seen its lead pack reduced from 84 sub-2:20 performances to just two . Thus, just as Chicago's

arrival on the scene in 1977 began to challenge New York for marathon supremacy in the fall by 1982, so, too, was L.A. being looked upon as the springtime competitor that would help spur Boston into the modern era.

But beyond what the Los Angeles Marathon came to represent to the outer world, it has been the value of its presence at home that has created its most lasting legacy. In 1987, six students at Boyle Heights High School in East Los Angeles enrolled in a marathon training program offered by teacher Harry Shabazian. Students Run L.A. (SRLA) has since become the moral heart of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon. In its nearly three decades, SRLA has produced a success rate few could have imagined possible when it first began.

To date, more than 95% of the students who start the marathon via SRLA finish.

What's more, 95% of the seniors who run the marathon graduate from high school, with a full 90% of SRLA graduating seniors planning to attend college.

This healing unity of human effort has marked the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon as much, if not more than its sporting side. Through its many course changes and several ownerships (stories in themselves), the event has proven to be a unifying savior for a city all too often searching in vain for a center. It seems that every time the city has found itself in a time of need, whether after fire, flood or civil unrest, the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon has come up on the calendar to return

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

hope and lend a sense of community.

Time and time again, the simple act of thousands of people lacing up a pair of running shoes, putting on a pair of shorts and a singlet, pinning a race number on their chest, and channeling them 26.2 miles from point A to point B (since 2010 on the iconic “Stadium to the Sea� course) has simultaneously stripped away all the biases and differences that heretofore had come to define them. Amidst the rollicking throngs that annually meet to run through the most diverse megalopolis in America, neither a Democrat nor Republican could you identify, Christian or heathen, Muslim or Jew. Instead the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, like every major City marathon before it, had discovered that by challenging people with a task at the far end of their capability, yet still within their grasp, it could transcend the hard lines of religion, politics, and economic station, and in so doing set the once vaunted American melting pot back to boil. That is quite a recipe to pull off in today's world of identity politics and Us versus Them encampments. But the very simple act of running has proven capable of this assimilation, while the city of Los Angeles and its people have responded enthusiastically as if in answer to a call from their own better angels.

Toni Reavis has broadcast each of L.A.'s 30 marathons.

Again this year he will join KTLA on Marathon Sunday.

STUDENTS RUN LA D

ayana still remembers her first practice with Students Run L.A. In 7th grade at the time, she wasn’t sure she was worthy of a spot on the team and she knew it would take a huge commitment to be successful.

Now, though, as the Torres High School senior reflects on the last five years, she realizes how far she’s come as a member of SRLA, a regional nonprofit organization that uses running as a tool for youth development.

“I can now look back and see how my teammates have improved and done what others thought unimaginable for them,” she said. “Every individual in this team has grown in so many ways and they have conquered many goals that only makes me be thankful to have such an amazing team with a positive spirit.”

Dayana is one of thousands of teenagers and preteens participating in the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon with Students Run L.A.. Founded in 1989, the organization operates at 174 schools and community groups like the Southern California Indian Center and Police Activities Leagues.

As participants rack up the miles — they covered more than 1.9 million miles during the 2014-15 school year alone — they learn discipline, perseverance and dedication.

The vast majority of SRLA participants are Hispanic and go to L.A. Unified schools, according to Christine Pajak, the organization’s develop-

ment director. About half of them attend sites where most students qualify for discounted lunch programs.

But, she said, there’s no typical student runner.

“That’s what makes it a great program,” she said.

“SLRA welcomes everybody: class presidents, honor roll students, kids who are struggling at the back of the class. We have fast kids, slow kids, kids struggling with their weight. That’s really what this program is about: bringing people together to support one another and achieve the same goal and celebrating each other’s accomplishments and the struggle to get there.”

Students in the program receive guidance from teachers and other volunteers who devote hours before school, after school and on weekends to prepare kids for the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon. Because of the organization’s longevity, many participants have

had older siblings or cousins take part. So, when the adult volunteers recruit at the beginning of each school year, many youngsters are already familiar with the program and eager to participate.

“The impact is greatest because our leaders run alongside our students,” Pajak said. “Running breaks down barriers between teachers and students.

Relationships develop that really last a lifetime, not only between the teachers and students but among the students themselves. There’s a sense of overcoming such a large obstacle together and bonding that students really feel the support and learn how to overcome other obstacles in life. It gives them a great sense of achievement that propels them to do more. They have the self belief to do more than they ever thought was possible.”

If SRLA’s track record is any indication, students like

Dayana have bright futures.

Last year, 99 percent of the 740 seniors who completed the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon graduated from high school. In addition, 95 percent of them planned to attend college in the fall.

Over the last 27 years, more than 57,000 students have benefited from the mentoring and coaching they received through Students Run L.A. And as one final act of encouragement, the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon has waived over 5.5 million dollars in combined race fees for the participants.

After all, Dayana said, it takes a community to succeed.

“As the races get longer there are more things that we as a team encounter,” she said. “It has not been quite easy for everyone because we have all faced a challenge that I feel has brought us closer and transformed my teammates into my family.”

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

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2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS—MARATHON: Two Years and 26.2 Miles

By Barbara Huebner

O

n January 29, 2014, the City of Los Angeles was awarded the 2016 U.S Olympic Team Trials— Marathon for both men and women. At the time, it seemed a long way off.

The time has arrived, so … Welcome! On Saturday, February 13, the best marathon runners in the country will take to the streets of Los Angeles, battling for the right to represent the U.S. in the Olympic Games this summer.

“For the past two years, we’ve been working hand-inhand with the City of Los Angeles and our many partners and supporters to deliver the city’s biggest running weekend since the Olympic Games captured our hearts in 1984,” said Tracey Russell, Chief Executive of Conqur Endurance Group, the local organizing committee for these Trials. “We’re proud and honored to have set the stage for the best distance runners in the country to show Los Angeles, America, and the world what they’re all about.”

The top three men and women will earn spots on Team USA for Rio. The list of favorites is led by defending champions and #1 qualifiers Meb Keflezighi and Shalane Flanagan, both of whom are Olympic medalists—Meb in the marathon (silver, 2004) and Shalane at 10,000 meters (bronze, 2008)—and looking to make their fourth Olympic teams.

But the glory isn’t all at the front of the pack: For 48

many of the 375 or so athletes out there on Saturday, February 13, just qualifying to participate in these Trials is a mind-boggling victory over obstacles that ranged from the everyday to the extraordinary. From a labor-and-delivery nurse, Ph.D. candidates, a CFO, a bridge engineer, or the woman who actually finished a marathon on crutches, the Road to Los Angeles has seldom been a cakewalk.

“I have had many nights where I have to get my training in after I've gotten everything done at 2200 [10 p.m.] or later,” says Kerry Calway, an active duty military intelligence officer with the U.S. Army.

“When I was deployed to Iraq, I would hit the treadmill literally in the middle of the night.”

Calway, ranked #137 on the qualifying list with a time of 2:42:16, is also the mother of two—including a daughter born just last April.

Her story is just one among many from the record field of 457 qualifiers, including 246 women and 211 men.

(Runners could qualify by completing a marathon in or under 2:19 for men and 2:45 for women, or a halfmarathon in or under 1:05 for men and 1:15 for women between August 1, 2013, and January 17, 2016.) The athletes will begin the race at LA Live, do a 2.2-mile loop through Downtown Los Angeles, then proceed to four loops of a 6-mile course that will take them down Figueroa through the USC campus and past the LA Memorial Coliseum—fittingly, where Joan Benoit won the

RACE DAY SCHEDULE 8:00 am

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“The U.S. Olympic Committee is pleased to be returning to Los Angeles with this amazing event,” said Scott Blackmun, Chief Executive of the USOC, when the city was awarded the Trials. “As the host of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, Los Angeles has a tremendous Olympic legacy and L.A.’s status as a global center of sport and culture make it an exceptional host for the Olympic Trials.”

Best of all, the entire country will get the chance to see for itself, because for the first time in history the Olympic Trials

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

Marathon will be broadcast live, for three hours on NBC. With its unprecedented coverage, said Russell, “NBC will provide another opportunity to demonstrate to the world exactly why Los Angeles is quickly becoming the capital of premier endurance sports in the United States.”

Barbara Huebner is the founder and principal of Starting Line Media. She covered the Boston Marathon for 22 years and went on to win the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for a special section on the nuclear arms race.

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Q&A: EXPERT ADVICE Race commentator Deena Kastor reflects on the 2016 Marathon Q: WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST ABOUT COVERING SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON? A: I like covering the Los Angeles Marathon because I get to visit in studio with Toni Reavis and Derrin Horton for six hours all the while talking about a sport we love and an event that highlights champions, an amazing city and inspiring stories.

Q: IS ANY SECTION OF THE COURSE PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING FOR RUNNERS A: The 20 mile mark is a critical stage of the race as far as runners knowing whether the marathon gods are on their side. Take this critical benchmark and add the largest incline on the course and it makes for a challenging mental and physical game for every runner on the course. Arriving in Los Feliz which is a trendy spot, but it is the first time runners see the HOLLYWOOD sign makes this spot a special experience on the course.

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST SECTION OF THE COURSE FOR SPECTATORS? A: Spectators have a great time on Sunset Blvd because they can sip hot coffee in a

50

trendy café until the runners come by. San Vicente is exciting because you can see that the leaders are established, but it’s also where the runners need them most and the spectators can feel the appreciation.

Q: IS THERE A COMMON MISTAKE THAT YOU SEE RUNNERS MAKE? A: A common mistake is going out too hard. The downhill coming out of Dodger Stadium is a steep one and you don’t put time in the bank but need to focus on running lightly and slowly find your rhythm when the course flattens.

Q: HOW HAS THE RACE EVOLVED IN THE TIME YOU’VE BEEN COVERING IT? A: The Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, under CEO Tracey Russell, has become one of the greatest marathons in the world. The race itself showcases the very best of Los Angeles, has had great sponsors over the past few years and this year has the special touch of hosting the Olympic Marathon Trials.

The bidding to host these trials was very competitive but Los Angeles committed to hosting the best Olympic Marathon Trials to date!

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST POST-RACE ADVICE? A: The best post race advice is to rest. Runners need to let their body and mind repair and rejuvenate. Take a vacation!

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

Q: WHAT LOS ANGELES EXPERIENCE SHOULD RUNNERS HAVE BEFORE LEAVING TOWN? A: Visitors MUST Stroll the beaches, eat at Gjusta in Venice beach (but go there hungry), catch a live performance, run through Griffith Park and go to the observatory, get a selfie with the Hollywood sign in the background.

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A LIFE-CHANGING MARATHON Chuck Gold suffered cardiac arrest miles before finish line

C

huck Gold is no stranger to the sport of running.

He first got involved through a work group in 1979, doing 5 and 10 kilometer races. He ran his first marathon in 1993, and went on to finish 15 more, including the esteemed Boston Marathon three times. He’s built the exercise into his routine, covering hundreds of miles on neighborhood runs before work most mornings.

Still, it’s safe to say that this year’s Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon will be unlike any running event he’s ever experienced.

Last year, Gold didn’t finish the race. Feeling good as he mentally prepared himself for the final five miles of the course, he called his wife’s cellphone as he passed the 21-mile marker and told her he’d see her soon. But as he continued down San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood, he started feeling woozy. He decided to stop and take a knee.

“The next thing I knew, I was in an ambulance,” he said. “I had suffered a cardiac arrest.”

Luckily for Gold, firefighter paramedics were close by when he collapsed and used an automated external defibrillator to stabilize his heart.

Gold underwent extensive testing at the hospital over the next several days and was determined to have a myocardial bridge, a congenital defect that causes the compression of a blood vessel in the heart during

54

each heartbeat.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 1.3 million Americans have congenital heart defects. And at least eight of every 1,000 babies are born with heart defects each year in the United States, amounting to approximately 40,000 children annually.

Congenital heart defects can increase patients’ risk for other medical conditions, including pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmias, infective endocarditis, anticoagulation and congestive heart failure, according to the heart association.

And although these kinds of heart defects are sometimes diagnosed during infancy or before birth, some might not be noticed until later in childhood or adulthood.

“I had been dodging bullets for 61 years,” Gold said.

During surgery, doctors implanted an internal defibrillator to regulate Gold’s heart rhythm.

As he regained strength, Gold learned more about long-term heart health. But he became particularly interested in doctors’ answers to one question: Could he run again?

He was instructed to start slow and monitor his heart rate. They told him he probably shouldn’t attempt marathons or set lofty speed goals but that he could still enjoy the sport he loves.

Just three weeks after landing in the hospital, Gold returned to the spot where he collapsed on San Vicente

CHUCK GOLD AND LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF RALPH TERRAZAS

Boulevard and completed the rest of the marathon course.

Meanwhile, Gold was motivated by the ordeal to educate himself, raise awareness and inspire others. He started paying more attention to his diet, and he had his kids take electrocardiogram tests to make sure they didn’t have similar heart defects.

“If there’s a history, it’s good to be aware of it,” he said. “If you have the knowledge, you can live your life accordingly. ... I’ve had friends say, ‘Don’t you wish you just skipped this race?’ I say, ‘Absolutely not.’ It was the best outcome. If this hadn’t happened, I would’ve continued to push it and I would’ve been off on some 15-mile trail run and there would’ve been no help.”

Gold also reached out to the Los Angeles Fire Department to thank Chief Ralph Terrazas and the first responders who helped to save his life.

“Our crew reacted in seconds and helped turn

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

tragedy into joy, proving once again that that early cardiac defibrillation saves lives,” Terrazas said at a press conference a couple months later. “I am thrilled to be able to shake Chuck’s hand ... and look forward to seeing him out on the course again next year.”

But Terrazas won’t just see Gold on the course — he’ll be on it as well to split the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon with Gold as a two-man relay team. Terrazas will run the first half and Gold will run the second half, passing the spot where he collapsed during last year’s race.

“I expect to have a big smile on my face, and this time I’m going to cross the finish line,” he said. “All of the emotional aspects, I’ve already processed. So I can enjoy a day of running. I’m grateful for it. I’ll be truly grateful to run the race ...

This is the bonus round for me. I haven’t got a thing to be complaining about anymore.”

2016 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Arrival Times Mile/Location

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7:31

8:18

8:20

9:11

9:30

10:09

10:48

11:27

18

7:42

7:35

8:24

8:25

9:19

9:40

10:21

11:02

11:43

19

7:46

7:38

8:29

8:30

9:27

9:49

10:32

11:15

11:59

7:50

7:42

8:35

8:35

9:35

9:58

10:44

11:29

12:15

21

7:54

7:45

8:40

8:40

9:43

10:07

10:55

11:43

1:04

22

7:58

7:49

8:46

8:45

9:51

10:16

11:06

11:57

1:20

23

8:02

7:52

8:51

8:50

9:59

10:25

11:18

12:10

1:36

24

8:06

7:56

8:57

8:55

10:07

10:35

11:29

12:24

1:52

25

8:10

7:59

9:02

9:00

10:15

10:44

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1:11

2:08

26

8:14

8:03

9:08

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10:23

10:53

11:52

1:24

2:24

26.2

8:45

8:27

9:32

9:32

10:57

11:27

12:27

1:28

2:27

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

56

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

Enjoy Your Stay At the Finish Line

88/night

$ email:

reservations@seaviewhotel.com

310.393.6711 | 1760 Ocean Avenue | Santa Monica, CA

seaviewhotel.com

Through grants, awards, and youth programming, The Foundation for Global Sports Development brings the joy of sport to children all over the world.

www.GlobalSportsDevelopment.org 2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

57

A LANDMARK RACE Stadium to the Sea incorporates LA Landmarks DODGER STADIUM Sitting atop its perch in ChĂĄvez Ravine, Dodger Stadium appears to preside over Downtown Los Angeles. Construction began on the stadium in 1959 and it opened in 1962 after the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to L.A. The third oldest baseball stadium still in use today, it was also the home of the California Angels until 1965.

Dodger Stadium seats more people than any other baseball stadium in the country.

DODGER STADIUM

CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS

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2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

OLVERA STREET Situated on the site of the original Los Angeles settlement, Olvera Street takes its name from Agustin Olvera, the first judge in Los Angeles County. Today it acts as a thriving Mexican marketplace where tourists and shoppers alike find brightly colored piĂąatas, sombreros and pottery in addition to the smells of Mexican cuisine. But Olvera has had a rocky history since its establishment as the central plaza for the early settlement. With the expansion of L.A., it lay forgotten by the 1920s and became a gateway to downtown for Mexican immigrants. Its revitalization began in 1926 when the city agreed to save the Avilla Adobe, the oldest home in L.A., from demolition. Since then, it has grown into a bustling tourist attraction and historic site.

SEE LANDMARK PAGE 59

LANDMARK

WEST HOLLYWOOD

FROM PAGE 58

“On behalf of the City of West Hollywood, I’m overjoyed to welcome the thousands of participants who will take part in this year’s marathon.

West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip is the halfway point of the marathon route — runners from all over the world will enjoy a Valentine’sDay view of some of West Hollywood’s most iconic hotspots as they pound the pavement toward the finish line!”

CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS Towering over Downtown Los Angeles, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels steeps the community in cultural and religious significance, serving as the archdiocese of more than four million Catholics. Visible from the Hollywood Freeway and located on an elevated section of the old Bunker Hill, the cathedral marks the location of the Archbishop’s celebration honoring the major liturgies of the year. The cathedral is rich in cultural diversity and holds Sunday mass in 42 different languages.

Inside, visitors are brought to awe by the beautifully colored stained glass depicting religious figures outlined by vivid gold, burgundy and royal blue tones. With further exploration, the main church contains smaller wings colored by art pieces and paintings.

HOLLYWOOD SIGN 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 mid-1900s. In the early 1940s, the

HOLLYWOOD SIGN

Hollywoodland real estate development went under and by 1949 the “land” had been removed.

TCL CHINESE THEATER Located along the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame, TCL 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 bears 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 30foot high dragon carved from stone. The theater was declared a historic-cultural landmark in 1968.

SEE LANDMARK PAGE 60

Lindsey Horvath Mayor

MAYOR LINDSEY HORVATH

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

59

BEVERLY HILLS

BEVERLY HILLS CITY HALL

LANDMARK FROM PAGE 59

CHATEAU MARMONT HOTEL Modeled after Chateau d’Amboise in the French Loire Valley, the Chateau Marmont Hotel has brought a little French class to the city of L.A. It opened in 1927 as an apartment house, but high rents and the Great Depression kept business away. When it reopened as a hotel in 1931, it saw an influx in celebrity clientele. Famous guests have included Jim Morrison of The Doors, who hurt his back during a stay at the hotel after dangling from a drainpipe, Greta Garbo and members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Members of the band Led Zepplin once drove their motorcycles through the lobby of the hotel, leaving a considerable amount of damage.

itself as a hot spot for the Los Angeles music scene early on, even hosting a live band on its opening night. During the 60s, the Whisky helped popularize the go-go dance craze that shook the nation, hiring go-go dancers and DJs to perform. It also launched the career of many L.A. bands, including Love and The Doors. Because of its music role, the Whisky has been immortalized in a variety of songs, such as Motley Crue’s “Down at the Whisky.” The Whisky learned to reinvent

itself as go-go dancing evolved into the new wave and punk trends of the 70s.

But it fell on hard times in the early 80s as punk began to die out. To save face, it closed as a club and turned into a venue with rentable space.

BEVERLY HILLS CITY HALL The Beverly Hills City Hall has presided over the city since 1932 when architect William Gage created the building in the Spanish Renaissance style. But when it showed signs of age in the

Julian A. Gold M.D. Mayor

MAYOR JULIAN A. GOLD M.D.

WHISKY A GO GO Billed as a discotheque when it opened in 1964, the Whisky A Go Go established CHATEAU MARMONT HOTEL

60

“Our community welcomes the marathon athletes each year with open arms. We want the thousands of runners to experience Beverly Hills as one of the high points of their 26-mile journey and, we hope, come back and stay a little longer next time. ”

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

LANDMARK FROM PAGE 60

early 1980s, Beverly Hills embarked on a renovation project to bring it up to safety and earthquake codes.

Ensuring the preservation of the green- and gold-tiled dome and marble floors, the renovation also increased the office space. The architectural style has since inspired the design for the Beverly Hills Civic Center.

ROUTE 66 This famous highway was established in 1926 and originally ran from Chicago to Los Angeles, passing through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The route was traversed as a path for migrants who traveled west during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s and towns built up along the road to cater to these travelers. It was then popularized by the Nat King Cole Trio song “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66.” The road was removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985 but various portions have been designated national scenic byways. In 2009, the Santa Monica Pier

SANTA MONICA

“This Valentine’s Day, 25,000 courageous runners will fall in love with our beautiful city on the Pacific Ocean.

We hope they stick around and enjoy Santa Monica’s vibrant downtown and perhaps a ride on a Breeze Bike as a cool down!”

Tony Vazquez Mayor

SANTA MONICA PIER

became the official end of Route 66, even though it originally ended at the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic boulevards.

SANTA MONICA PIER The Santa Monica Pier has a storied history as a worldfamous tourist attraction.

When first built in 1909, it was meant to be a municipal pier to carry sewage to the water.

It wasn’t until 1916

that a shorter pleasure pier was built. In 1922 the famed carousel was added. During its heyday, the pier was home to the La Monica Ballroom and a variety of rides and attractions. When the city took control of the pier in 1953, many Santa Monicans feared this foreshadowed its demise. In the 1970s, citizens organized to preserve the pier from being converted into a resort hotel and the city eventually rescinded its decision.

Tourists can still find the carousel and amusement park situated atop the pier, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2009.

MAYOR TONY VAZQUEZ

ROUTE 66

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

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SAN FRAN

SERIES

26TH MILE Students learning healthy habits

T

housands of children are lined up outside Dodger Stadium, waiting for their cue to start running. For weeks, they’ve been training while learning the ins and outs of exercise, nutrition and physical fitness. They’re ready to go.

But these students aren’t participating in the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon itself. Rather, they’re out to complete the last portion of a 26.2-mile journey they began nine weeks earlier.

The students are part of the inaugural cohort of the 26th Mile program, an initiative in the Los Angeles Unified School District that uses running as a tool to promote healthy habits.

They run 26.2 miles over the course of about two months, including the final mile at Dodger Stadium on the morning of Feb. 7.

The celebration of youth fitness kicks off a week of festivities leading up to the main event, which this year ushers thousands of people from the iconic baseball stadium to Downtown Santa Monica on Feb. 14.

The 26th Mile program falls under the umbrella of Beyond The Bell, a branch of LAUSD that provides afterschool activities involving academics, recreation and enrichment. These activities offer “a unique, wholesome experience for students” in environments where they’re engaged and encouraged to reach their potential, accord-

64

ing to the school district’s description.

LAUSD officials say recreational activities like the 26th Mile program “promote the development of a positive self image, physical fitness, body awareness, sportsmanship, leadership skills, teamwork, character building, cooperative social skills, and a desire to make recreation an integral and important part of [students’] daily lives.”

Indeed, organizers see the 26th Mile program as having long-term impacts on overall student health, a major issue facing educators, health care professionals and public health officials as they attempt to combat high rates of childhood obesity.

“Part of the goal is to instill in our students the importance of a healthy lifestyle and exercise,” said Isaure Blandin, youth development program coordinator for Beyond The Bell.

“And when we’re instilling it in them, they extend it to their families and continue that lifestyle for the rest of their lives.”

The idea of running a marathon, even over the course of two months, sounds daunting to some students at the start of the program. Over time, though, they realize that it’s an attainable goal.

“It’s a process,” Beyond The Bell regional director Jimmy Santos said. “We can do it if we do it in chunks. It

may sound huge, but through the nine-week span of training with our coaches and making sure they’re working on good nutrition, they all feel great the last mile.”

More than 20,000 students in grades K-8 are taking part in the 26th Mile program at more than 170 sites in LAUSD, which offers the running curriculum mostly to children who are already on the district’s rosters for the grant-funded youth development activities. Santos said about 5,000 of the participating students in grades 2-8 were invited to run their final mile at Dodger Stadium.

During the nine weeks of training, students are exposed to lifelong lessons in health and wellness.

Each 45-minute session includes stretching, warmups, cardiovascular exercise, cool-down activities and education about physi-

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

cal fitness and eating balanced meals.

Coaches ask kids about fruit and vegetable intake and teach them about protein, fat, sugar and other information found on nutrition labels. The students are encouraged to accompany their families to the grocery store and share their knowledge.

By the time the students line up for the final mile of their long-term marathon, they’ve developed skills that organizers hope benefit them years into the future.

As a reward for their accomplishments, Blandin said, they receive medals at the end.

“But it’s all about making sure the kids understand the process so it doesn’t end with the program,” Santos said. “The goal is, ‘Hey, they did it for nine weeks. Why not continue it throughout the year?’”

THE 2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON IS BEING RUN IN PART TO SUPPORT THESE CHARITIES 26.2 with DONNA The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer

CRE Outreach

National Psoriasis Foundation

Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America

Operation Gratitude

Epilepsy Foundation

Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Pencils of Promise

Every Mother Counts

ALS Association Golden West Chapter

Penny Lane Centers

Family Assistance Program

ALS Association Orange County Chapter

Project HOPE

Food Forward

Public Counsel

ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Forte Animal Rescue

Race 4 Veronika's Place

Fulfillment Fund

Reading to Kids

Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles

Girl Up / UN Foundation

Rebuilding Together

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County

Rotary Club of Los Angeles

Good Neighbors USA

Rover Rescue

American Institute for Cancer Research Angel City Pit Bulls

Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research

Runwell, The Linda Quirk Foundation

ARC

Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission

spcaLA

Asian American Drug Abuse Program, Inc. (AADAP)

Hospices of Hope

Special Olympics Southern California

Hostelling International USA

Strength United

Athletes for a Cure - Prostate Cancer Foundation

Imerman Angels

Students Off And Running - SOAR

InsideOUT Writers

Students Run LA

Back on My Feet Greater Los Angeles

Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research

Team Jack Foundation

Basset Hound Rescue of Southern California

International Medical Corps

AIDS Project Los Angeles / TEAM TO END AIDS (T2)

Autism Speaks

Beit T'Shuvah Best Buddies California Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles

International Myeloma Foundation Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health

P.S. ARTS

Team Parkinson Team Red, White & Blue Team World Vision Teen Cancer America The Bili Project

Junior League of Los Angeles

The Dream Center

Khalili Foundation

The Friends4Michael Foundation

Kitten Rescue

The Pablove Foundation

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Team In Training)

ThinkCure!

Camp Kesem Celiac Disease Foundation

Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club

UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

Children's Bureau City of Hope- Hope, Sweat & Cures

Los Angeles River Revitalization Corp

UDLA (Unification of Disabled Latin Americans)

City Year Los Angeles

Lupus LA

Union Rescue Mission

Coalition for Engaged Education

Magic Bus USA

Urban Compass

Communities In Schools of Los Angeles

Mending Kids

Water Buffalo Club

Concern Foundation

Mobile Film Classroom

Wendy Walk

Corazon de Vida Foundation

Movember Foundation

Westside German Shepherd Rescue

Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation

National Kidney Foundation

Youth Policy Institute

Blind Children's Center Blind Start of America Bright Pink

Train 4 Autism

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

65

By The Numbers 4 Cities

3,500

on ‘Stadium to the Sea’ course

Band-Aids

50 States Represented

5,400 Ibuprofen tablets

54 Countries Represented

103 Official Charities

6,000 Volunteers

25,500

50 Bands, 600+ cheerleaders, 80 Charity Cheer Zones

2:25:38 Fastest Women’s Course Time in 2010 by Edna Kiplagat of Kenya

625,257 Total entrants (1986-2015)

Bagels

503,435

33,000 Bananas

Total finishers (1986-2015)

401 Feet

55,500

2:06:35

course elevation decrease

of Water

3200+ Students Run LA members

700 Portable Toilets

Gallons 1,325,000 Cups

10 Medical Stations

66

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

Course record in 2011

by Markos Geneti of Ethiopia

1986 Inaugural Los Angeles Marathon

Congratulations! You just ran 26.2 miles...

Now we’ll set the pace

Downtown Santa Monica has hundreds of restaurants and lounges offering the freshest food and craftiest cocktails.

Kick back, take in the view and enjoy a cold one. You deserve it.

DowntownSM.com DowntownSantaMonica

@DTSantaMonica

DTSantaMonica

2016 SKECHERS PERFORMANCE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

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