#33 - Running Above LA, The Griffith Park Trail Marathon

I know it may seem that I live a privileged, adventurous, jet-setting life of a running enthusiast without a care in the world, but that is not the case at all, what I do have is a very supportive husband, stubborn ambition, and dollar-stretching creativity, but not a bottomless budget. In fact, the life of a visual effects driven family is anything but safe, and secure. Marion works as a freelancer, a very in demand freelancer thankfully, but jobs go for months at a time, not years, and in early March of this year we needed to re-think a few things, and my racing schedule needed an overhaul. Unfortunately, that meant I would not be running the Whidbey Island marathon in Washington in mid-April, which was a bummer because I was looking  forward to visiting with my step brother Jeff, and his adorable gaggle of little girls; another time for sure. Instead what I needed to find was a race within driving distance, verses flying distance. Thankfully, I did not need to search for long until I found the perfect “hometown” race that would offer up a whole new kind of challenge, racing two marathons within three weeks. Oh, and one more thing, this one was a trail marathon, yee-haw! Marathon #33 would be the Griffith Park Trail Marathon on Saturday, March 29^th.

I was not nervous about the trail aspect of this race because I had already conquered the North Face trail marathon in the Marin Headlands back in December, and that course was an annihilator of the soul, so if I could survive that race, I had faith I could survive any other trail race for the rest of my running days. However, I needed to consider that my legs would not be fully recovered from the LA marathon, running a trail marathon so close was not wise, but I wanted to do it, it fit the bill, literally, and once again I was excited to run around and above my gorgeous Los Angeles. Also, I had an ace up my sleeve, my best friend Hadara was my coach, and I knew if I placed my care in her hands she would get me to another starting line refreshed and ready to rock.

When race morning came along I was excited, and relieved not to have to worry about a specific time to hit, because trail runs generally take much longer than a road race, this race I could relax and just let myself enjoy the day and see where I shook out. The starting line was buzzing in the dark pre-dawn hours with a breed of runner that is more jovial then most, and little nuttier too, the Ultra runner. This was not an Ultra marathon, actually the course did go a little over 26.2 miles, still this was advertised as a marathon, but that did not stop the Ultra runners from coming out and mingling among us mortals, I felt like an amateur, and eavesdropped on stories that made me weep with admiration, and took it as a sign that this was going to be a brilliant day.

The first seven miles were tough, lots of up, up, down, and down even steeper around twisty bends of loose sandy dirt native to the chaparral landscape within Griffith Park. I was keeping a decent pace even though I didn’t pay attention to my watch, I felt good, and was hanging with a few shaggy lookin’ yet swift-footed dudes, so I knew I was doing alright. We hit a long ten mile stretch of virtual flat land as we wound our way around the park, and the Los Angeles Zoo, which was fine, but I wish I would have researched the course better, I would have picked up my pace along that stretch.

Luckily, my intuition was correct about needing to conserve energy because the last seven miles of the course tossed us into the hills again, and wow, that was a treat. It was much more up, up, and up, then down. I think mile eighteen was the first time in my running life when I felt truly pressed against the mat, being suffocated and taunted by nature to tap out, give up, and walk. I was on a sheer single track rocky tail on the back Siberia-esque section of the park, I knew other runners were around me, somewhere, but I felt alone, and needed to punch this course in the mouth, so I just cranked slowly up the hill, crested the top, opened up my stride and giggled on my way down the other side, silly trails.

I was spit back into civilization abruptly around mile twenty-one when I took a right turn down a fire road and was among other runners, day hikers, and horses. Sweet. This was a very exposed part of the course, and the day was heating up, I had my Camelback on, so I was okay water wise, but I knew I needed to finish soon and take a nice long swig of electrolyte infused sports drink, my focus shifted from “running on trails is so fun, and pretty”, to “get to the finish line, asap.”

The next five miles or so were a mix of cheers with fellow runners, and dodging big and small dogs off leash, and annoyed families being dragged out to nature to spend time together instead of mind-numbing hours on the couch, ah Los Angeles. I felt inspired and annoyed by my fellow Angeleno’s zest for the outdoors, there were no barriers keeping the crowds from the course like there were on Hollywood Blvd. just a few weeks before, today I needed to “share the trail”, so I leapt and darted around everyone as safely as possible and ran down the hill to the finish as fast I could.  

I was all alone for the last mile or so into the finish shoot, there were slight cheers, and enthusiasm from the crowd as I crossed the line, but it was by far the most low-key finish line I had ever run across, but I appreciated its understated integrity. Also, it was cool that the race director came up to me and thanked me for bringing my Camelback, suddenly I felt like I was part of the Trail Runners gang, and not just a spoiled road runner whining about the flavor of the free Gatorade handed out at the aid stations, but a real runner ready for anything the trails and that saucy minx Mother Nature threw at me, plus I earned a belt buckle.

I felt like I matured a lot during that race because I planned around a “life” hiccup and still finished marathon #33 on schedule, in fact ahead of schedule. I placed 7^th overall female, and 2^nd in my age group in 4:31 hours, not too shabby considering I ran a marathon less than a month earlier. Plus, I fell in love with trails that day, even though I am not built for them, I knew trail races would play a big role in my running future; they are a fun and challenging romp among friends and inner demons, my favorite kind of race.

#32 - Los Angeles Marathon, Again...

There is something special about walking among thousands of like-minded people before dawn at one of the most iconic locations in the country that gets me really excited, and makes me feel completely at ease. This was how I felt on the morning of March 9^th, 2014 at Dodger Stadium milling around the starting line of my 32^nd marathon, the LA Marathon. This would be the second time I raced LA, the first time was only my second marathon ever back in 2003, and I had never really wanted to run it again because the course was abysmal at best, but about four or five years ago they changed the course to be a point to point, starting at Dodger Stadium high above downtown, and finishing right above the beach in Santa Monica. We would now be running through Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Westwood all the way to the finish, it was a true tour of LA, a work of staggering genius, and since I had spent years driving over every single inch of it, now it was time for me to run over all of it.

I lucked out because I was seeded in the B corral which was near the starting line, just behind the super-fast elite runners, which meant I did not have to battle thousands of runners to find my place and pace early, like I did during my first go-around in ’03, this time I was running quickly and freely right from the gun, yee-haw! 

It is a fact that you may never meet another human being more in love with her home town than I am of Los Angeles. I love the people, we are not all snobs and jerks, the traffic is constant, but the side streets are plentiful, and a little creativity and patience pay off huge when driving around town. I have lived in Venice, West Hollywood, Playa Del Rey, North Hollywood, and now Granada Hills, plus I grew up in outlying Claremont to the east, and Palos Verdes to the south, so I know my way around my beloved city, and I am the first to show outsiders how amazing she really is, just ask for a tour, I will make the time. In fact, one of the silliest jobs I ever had was as a driver for a visiting music executive from New York, she didn’t want to deal with driving herself around LA traffic, but couldn’t afford a limo  driver, so this red head in a Civic fit the bill just fine. Obviously, this was BU, Before Uber.

I was especially excited for this race because since it was as local as a race would ever be, Marion would be able to cheer me on at the halfway point, just past mile 13 on the Sunset strip, and he would be there at the finish line to drive me home, yay. I hope we will be able to run this race together one of these years, I think he has it in him for sure.

The sky was absolutely stunning just before the start; all 20,000+ of us runners were in for a glorious day. The first five or so miles flew by in a flash, we thundered downhill from Dodger’s Stadium down through China town, and around downtown up a sheer steep hill right next to the Disney Performing Arts Center, which I was slightly prepared for, but it was tough. Then we trucked over a couple of freeway passes and ran up and down some rolling hills into Los Feliz and Silverlake where hipsters spilled out from the cafes drinking their espresso’s and looking befuddled at the great stampede swarming their beloved Los Feliz boulevard. I can honestly say that I was happier to be running a marathon than sitting outside on a patio wishing I was out there stomping my feet.

I felt wonderful, it was around mile 10 or so, I was not cooking my legs too much, we were starting to run along Hollywood Blvd when my heart felt a flutter, oh, how I love this street. I have been in love with movies and movie-making since I was ten years old, and I have had a laser focus on becoming a producer ever since, so I have always felt butterflies in my belly when I am on Hollywood Boulevard. However, this Sunday was even cooler than most, because the Oscars were just a week before, and we ran right by Dolby Theatre, Jordan Catalano’s tresses were just a week out of my reach. 

Unfortunately, right after mile 12ish, as we ran down to Sunset, I started to feel a little off. Nothing crazy, just slower, and slightly off my pace. Then, I saw Marion jumping around in his Chargers jersey just past Crescent Heights on the north side of Sunset and my heart and legs sprang back to life. He was taking photos, and yelling and screaming my name, it was wonderful, and exactly what I needed.

The next four or five miles took us down through Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, I felt so fancy, then on out toward the Westside along Wilshire Blvd. This was a neat part of the course because for at least 100-200 yards we were flanked on both sides by cheerleading squads from local high schools. I was feeling pretty good, those girls definitely boosted my spirits, but the day was heating up pretty quickly. The water stations were plentiful and consistent along the course, except when we entered the VA property around mile 20 in Westwood. This was a long, exposed stretch of the course with an annoying hill thrown in for good measure to really test our grit, which I respect, but was not too fond of at that point in the day. I was suddenly the most popular girls around because I gave a few of my salt tabs to a once speedy guy who stopped dead in his tracks in exhaustion right in front of me just before that nasty hill, he said “thank you,” but his searing, sweaty eyes said "you just saved my life, girl."

Once we excited the VA, literally just inches off of their property was a water station staffed with energetic volunteers anxious to cool us off and cheer us on to the finish, Hallelujah! The last 4-5 miles was along the famously filmed San Vicente Blvd. It was a little up and down most of the way, but I was able to open my stride with a mile to go and just rejoice that this race almost over, I ran it much faster than I expected to, 3:25, and really had a blast the whole day, yet another great bonding experience with my lovely Los Angeles.

Okay, this is nuts, a few weeks after the race I received an email that since I placed in the top twenty of my age group I would receive a free Nutri-Bullet Sport blender. What? The What?! This is one of the perks about running in a HUGE, big money sponsored event, which is a rarity for me, but I was thrilled at the prize nonetheless. I will definitely run the LA marathon again, and strongly recommend it to every runner out there, it is an honest course, gives a true tour of the many cultures that make up Los Angeles, and finishes at the beach, what more could we ask for?

#31 - Honkers marathon - It's All Coming Together...

 I chose the Honkers marathon in Anaheim California as marathon #31 because its timing slipped in nicely with my aggressive schedule, it was small, only about 100 people ran it the first year, and the race director had just finished her quest to run 50 marathons by the time she turned 50, so obviously I felt we were kindred spirits. The name Honkers comes from the Canada geese, aka., “Honkers”, that set up home along the Santa Ana River Trail during the winter. 

The race took place on Sunday January 12^th, 2014, and I had a slightly ramped up challenge that day because it was Hannah’s first club volleyball tournament of the season, and I really wanted to watch a least one of her matches, so it would have to be a quick clean up after the race and fast drive east to Ontario to watch her bump and set her way to greatness.

I left our house at 4:30A in order to make the 6:00A registration, and 7:00 start time; the freeways were clear at such an early hour, a fleeting and cherished feeling as a SoCal native. I met the race Director a few minutes before the start, she was standing with her two “twenty something” children, she was excited that I chose Honkers to be one of my 35 marathons, and wished me luck as we all made our way up to the starting line.

I was hyped up for too many reasons to mention, but on the top of my list was that this would be my first marathon wearing my Smash Fast n’ Loud triathlon top hot off the rack of my old coach and constant hero, Hillary Biscay’s fashion line. I knew I looked amazing, and hoped that added confidence would give me an edge over my not so dazzling dressed competition; I am sure these girls were fast, but I won “best dressed” hands down. 

The marathoners were mixed in with the half marathoners so I was not sure who my exact competition really was, but I blasted off of the line quicker than usual, and it felt wonderful. My last race was the trail marathon in San Francisco, which was epic, but not fast at all, so this was a real treat to be able to open my stride up and rip it from the start.

I held my pace steady at 7:15minute miles until mile 10ish, and then I started to slow down a bit. The upside was that my energy was up, I had finally figured out a solid fueling plan, after 30 marathons I cracked the code, but I could only hang on to that pace for so long, not even a million Clif Blocks could keep the needle hanging over the red line much longer. At this point I was in 2nd place I believe, but I was a little annoyed when a super-gangly white as porcelain skinned lady running like Rachel in that classic Friends episode zoomed past me wearing shoes the size and shape of cinder blocks and arms and legs flailing all around her like a helicopter. Oh well, I thought, you go girl!

The course wound its way up the bike path for miles, I would like to say there were plenty of water stops, but there were few, and they were VERY far between. I zoned out a bit listening to the buzzing traffic coming from the 5 freeway just off the course, then snapped back into reality around mile 18 when it hit me, I am going to finish in the top 3 today. I was smiling when I passed volunteers, and clapped in awe and sincere respect when the leader passed me at the mile 21 turn around, girlfriend was petite, toned, and at least a decade older than me, and she was movin’!

I passed a couple guys on the last stretch of the bike path mainly because I had more experience than they did, chances are homeboy in the green Umbro shorts had not run half a dozen marathons in the last 6 months, but guess who did? That is what this race was for me, recognition that all of the lessons I had learned from my first 30 marathons were paying off in my 31^st.  I ate one Cliff Block every 4 miles starting at mile 5, and then ate a gel at mile 21, and felt strong the whole day. I chased down who I could chase down because I was patient, and knew even from a distance that my pace was faster, and I would catch up and pass them before the finish line.

I felt cool and calculated the whole morning, but leapt out of my sleek façade when I rounded the last corner and finished in 3:23, a very respectable time considering the wear and tear of my legs at that point in my schedule. I placed 3^rd overall female, and was congratulated by the race director quickly after I crossed the line. She asked me for feedback, I told her more water stations were needed along the bike path, there was no need to sugar coat it, if I thought it was dry out there, I am sure most of the other runners did, too.

I am not sure if I will ever run the Honkers marathon again, but I am very glad I did. In case you were wondering, I did make it to Hannah’s volleyball tournament, I am sure I was not the sweetest smelling spectator in the stands, but I was there, and thrilled to see her set off the season.