Finishing the LA Marathon

Gysel Parajon (MM8995, HF18751, DA3751) – Happy Belated Medal Monday and St Patrick’s Day from Maniac #8995, Fanatic #18751, Double Agent #3751! Yesterday’s race marked my 65th lifetime marathon, (68th long distance run if I include my ultras), as well as my 13th LA Marathon!! And what a day race day it was, from parking, the shuttle ride to the start, through the race, the finish, and seeing friends plus making new ones!
I slept better than before at other races, the parking situation was like a dream, and the bus ride to the start line at Dodger Stadium was equally amazing due to the driver. Normally parking in Century City by the finish line is a congestion nightmare but I decided to make a few different turns and was fortunate to find some great parking! And I seemingly chose a bus with the best possible driver who maneuvered his way around the traffic by Dodger Stadium like a pro and I told him so!
The race in itself was like a gigantic party. It was the most fun I have had at the LA Marathon since they changed the course for the worse after the pandemic. (It used to finish in Santa Monica, but since 2021 it now has an out and back portion from mile 18 to the finish in Century City). I am not a big fan of this course change but it’s my hometown race so I run it every year in hopes of beating my old finishing times. It usually kicks my butt but this time it felt different.
In my last post I said that this race would be a training run for an upcoming ultra in a few weeks and I tried my best to treat it so. I reminded myself to take it slow, walk the hills, keep myself cool by dowsing myself water, and focus on my breathing but of course my mountain lungs had me going at a good clip the first 10 miles and then I slowed down. But, I kept going despite the fact that it was day 2 of my menses and my heaviest day, (which ladies don’t talk about much but we should), and in the last few miles realized I was running faster than in the last few years on this course so I pushed myself and I ran my fastest time since 2017!! I am pretty ecstatic about this and feel encouraged that I can achieve the goals I have set for myself.
Thank you to the race organizers, the volunteers, fellow runners, friends and family for making this race day a great one!!
I kept thinking throughout the race that I need to start planning my 100th marathon for sometime in the next year or couple years… 😃