Barbara Bates-Jensen at the LA finish line
I ran the LA marathon, my first marathon. I started, I finished, and no injuries (except for a couple of nasty looking toenails). My time: 4:38. I thought the course was great (of course having never run a marathon, my opinion is not completely based on a lot of experience!). A bit hilly in the beginning, running uphill to start threw me a little (dodger stadium part}. I thought the route was fun, I loved running thru areas that are usually car-locked and impossible to drive like rodeo drive, sunset blvd in Hollywood and thru downtown. Coming down ocean ave. towards the final 26 mile marker was just excellent the crowds were amazing! The hill at the VA was steep (I had to walk it as I was determined to run across the finish but even my walking was faster than some who were running it). I was just so excited to have accomplished this that I am still walking on air (ok not walking so fast now). Will see you all in a couple of weeks (may take a couple of weeks before I can get these toes into shoes again).

2010 Los Angeles Marathon
By Cyrus Davis
Sunday, March 21st, marked the 25th anniversary of the running of the Los Angeles Marathon. 25,000 people accepted the challenge to try out the new "stadium to the sea" course. The 25,000 person sellout crowd was another first for LA Marathon lore. My theory is that by announcing the cap at 25K, it encouraged more people to sign-up. Past winner Kenyan Wesley Korir (pronounced "career"), who now trains in Louisville Kentucky, was in town for his honeymoon (married his college sweetheart) successfully defended his title. Traffic was a nightmare both in and out of Santa Monica on both Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday morning, traffic backed-up leading into Dodger Stadium so runners started exiting their vehicles and jogging up to Dodger Stadium which was totally unnecessary and foolish for two reasons: all runners had a timing chip and the race would not start before all of the official shuttle buses transporting, runners from Santa Monica to Dodger stadium, arrived. As it turned out, the race started at 7:47 am, approximately a 25 minute delay. Hint for next year, take the Stadium way exit off of the Golden State 5 freeway, traffic reports indicated it was wide-open. Pre-race Saturday evening brought heavy fog and cold temperatures of 57 degrees to Santa Monica along with a bomb scare that closed the pier. Imagine my surprise after leaving a balmy 88 degrees in the San Gabriel Valley! Race day Sunday turned out to be a near perfect day for running with a slight marine layer over Santa Monica as runners approached the ocean.

Here are some sobering facts: the female elite runners averaged 150 miles a week doing training. The men elite held an average sub-5 minute pace of 4:56 for the entire 26.2 miles. As for the famous entertainment along the route, I loved the first gospel choir around mile 5, singing the Edwin Hawkins classic, "Oh Happy Day." My personal entertainment contribution was to greet all "legacy runners" (runners who have run all 25 marathons) including our own Scott Cline, as I saw them on the course.

My overall time was: 5:13. My major mistake my not using my Succeed tablets electrolyte replacement tables which resulted in a salt deficiency. I had to switch to my 13 min per mile, recovery pace after mile 15. For me personally, the toughest part of the race was the last uphill climb through the VA at mile 21. After the race, I met a 19 year female, who had 10 marathons under her belt (started running when she was 9) who beat my time by 3 minutes. The scenic course came with an extra added benefit, in which runners were allocated both sides of the street for the majority of the race after mile 2. The first mile is a loop around Dodger's stadium. From a logistic point, I arranged for pre-paid parking at the Ocean View Hotel, yards away from the finish line between Broadway and Santa Monica Blvd). at a cost of $15.

The pre-race expo was held on the parking lot of Dodger stadium. Holding it in a series of tents provided a lot more room than previously inside the LA Convention Center. It also allowed for better groupings of vendors. The official marathon guide was more interesting as it could focus on the scenic landmarks. The goodie bag included nice discounts at SM eateries (10%) and clothing stores Gap etc. at 30%). There is an "official" LA marathon museum that was put together by an individual who has been collecting memorabilia for the last 25 years. I particularly enjoyed the congratulations email from the LA Marathon organization. My biggest disappointment was the $50 charge for 25-year anniversary poster. My biggest surprise was the very nice 25-anniversary finishers' medal. A "oh happy day" it was indeed.

About one year ago, right before my 49th birthday, I decided that it was time I started taking care of myself. Most of our kids were off in college and we had one more at home who was a Sophomore in High School and never home so this was a good time to concentrate on ME. I joined Weight Watchers and started to walk to help the weight loss. I soon discovered how much I enjoyed walking. Early mornings, you would find me at the Arcadia High School track walking briskly and listening to the birds wake up. It was a wonderful way to start the day!

One day, while watching the LA Marathon on television, I mentioned to my husband Mark, your Vice President, that I would like to make the LA Marathon my goal for next year. Several weeks later, he told me that he had mailed the check in for the two of us to walk the Marathon - and that is when my training began. Mark became my coach and would make weekly charts for me stating how many miles a day I should walk. I was doing 15-minute miles on the track and 18 minute miles long distance. I even started jogging!! After all my training, I had no doubt that I would finish the marathon.

As the days for the Marathon drew nearer, it was raining and cold so I figured I would be doing a 17-18 minute pace and told my family what time to look for me at the finish. Little did I know that the weather gods had other ideas!!

Mark and I arrived at the Bonaventure Hotel bright and early and very excited - or I should say, I was very excited - Mark was too busy packing up his Camel back, measuring the powdered Gatorade, counting out the salt pills and the glucose tablets, making sure the ass-gaskets and toilet paper was on hand, and putting the mole skin and glide, sunscreen, and other necessities into baggies. I knew, upon looking at his supplies that I was ready for the AC 100!!

After the Marathon, Mark asked me what my favorite thing was about walking it and I had to say the beginning. The crowd was so energetic and exciting - singing I LOVE LA and waving to Mohammed Ali was unbelievable. Apparently, the gun went off because I could hear cheering and see the balloon arch go up - but wasn't sure until 10 minutes after the cheers died down and we started to move. All the training, and we were walking baby steps. I looked at Mark and asked when we would actually be able to stride and he just laughed. "Be patient" he said. "And remember, you need to stop trying to run - you are a walker". Sure enough, the excitement had gotten to me and I was trying to run along with the crowd. Thank goodness for my coach (pack-mule?), because the entire time he made sure that I was pacing myself and not getting over-tired or dehydrated.

The first ten miles went so quickly that I felt that this Marathon was a "piece of cake". The crowds cheering, plenty of water and Gatorade, and the bands and cheerleaders made it so much fun! The only problem was the grueling sun, hot asphalt, and no shade or clouds to be seen. I am not a hot weather person - guess I'll never do Badwater - and felt myself beginning to wilt. Mark said that my 17-minute mile pace was too fast for the weather and how I was feeling and told me to slow down to a 20 minute pace. That helped a lot - and so did the ice in my hat and the hoses sprayed on me. I began to notice around mile 14 that the street sweepers were catching up to us. I wanted to walk faster and keep them behind me but it just wasn't possible. As the police officers told us to move to the sidewalk and the street sweepers paced with us - I started to feel defeated. I knew then that my pace was not going to pick up and I wasn't going to be able to get done in 8.5 hours. We were being told to move to the sidewalk on the right of the street, but the portapotties were often on the left so whenever we needed them we had to cross the street.

At every red light, we had to constantly move so we didn't stand too long on one foot. As we continued to walk, we notice pieces of oranges, banana peels, and lots of paper cups on the ground but no aid stations left for us lone walkers. There were plenty of good Samaritans who sat at their card tables handing out water they bought at Costco and some even cut up oranges for us. I have to say here that it was really the "good Samaritans" that got the slow walkers through it. I couldn't thank them enough for the ice, sun block, water, and beautiful smiles. After mile 13, when we walked up a steep hill at the top was Mark's father and sister. It felt so good to see someone we loved waiting for us with hugs and encouraging words.

As we walked we soon had a group of people pacing with us. We began to help and encourage each other to get to the end. Every time the LA Marathon van would drive by and ask if we wanted a ride we would all tell them to keep going - we were NOT giving up.

The walk up Olympic Boulevard was the most difficult one. Downtown LA just never got closer. Mark - who was so fantastic along the way, telling us to drink, giving us Glucose tablets, taking our pictures and just being our own personal cheerleader - really kicked into action. He kept us going with his excitement over achieving our first medals and the completion of the Marathon. As we passed the Staple Center, we kept our eyes on him as he continued to encourage us. We were so grateful to him and extremely annoyed at his peppiness at Mile 25 - how can ANYONE walk this far and bounce around like that!

As we saw the light at the finish line, Mark asked me if I wanted him to run ahead across the finish line and take my picture. My first competitive thought was - "What - have him beat my time?" Then I just laughed at myself and told him that it was a great idea. He ran across the finish line and took pictures of our group crossing the finish line, getting the medal and wearing the Mylar blanket. Then we walked up four flights of stairs to the parking ramp - but that's another story!

To summarize my thoughts about this Marathon - I am so glad and proud to have done it. It took a year of hard preparation of turning myself from an over weight couch potato into an "athlete" and it was well worth it. I was upset that the aid stations shut down after 6 hours and the walkers were left to their own devices - there was also no food at the finish line and I practically had to fight for a Mylar blanket. So, I guess that next time I do a Marathon - I better run it!! Hey Mark, want to coach me for my first 5 K?