go watch a marathon!
a short little plea to watch a big race
The Los Angeles Marathon is this Sunday and I am very excited this time around to just cheer everyone on and not run it. I have very complicated feelings about the LA Marathon, specifically that the course is an absolute disgrace to the city and people of Los Angeles. The last 8 miles are all the same and the course ends in Century City. There is nothing less anti-climatic than crossing that finish line after running, sweating and crying your way through 26.2 miles and being surrounded by the most dismal of buildings (talent agencies). I loved my first marathon so much and ending parallel to the Santa Monica pier had a lot to do with that. I cried that entire last mile and I’ll never forget that feeling of seeing the finish sign hanging across Ocean Avenue. But my second marathon that ended in Century City, I cried that last mile for opposite reasons- I was tired of the race and just wanted it to be over. There were no euphoric tears, just a push to find my ride out of there as fast as possible.
Putting aside my feelings about running the race, I do still think that if you have the time you absolutely should get your butt out of bed as early as possible Sunday morning, grab a coffee and cheer on the runners. It’s inspiring, you will cry and your support means so much. There are so many stranger’s faces etched into my brain forever that cheered me on through my big races that really gave me the strength to keep going. I know marathons are mostly disruptive to non-runner’s Sunday morning’s routines but it’s well worth it to see people from all over the world and in different life stages all running the course.
I do get a hint of jealousy whenever I see the road closure signs for the marathon displayed on the exit ramps of the highways or the running centric ads lining Sunset Blvd. I love running and I know it’s not for everyone, but it’s been my most consistent activity I’ve done to level out my feelings and enjoy some alone time. I go through periods where I don’t want to run but mostly that love always comes back to me, which is why I’m excited to watch the LA Marathon this Sunday because I’ve been feeling very blah about running these days (even though I’m trying to run the NYC marathon this year so hopefully Sundays kicks me back into gear).
So go watch the LA Marathon if you live in Los Angeles or go watch the next marathon that happens close to you! This past November I went to New York to watch my friend run the NYC marathon and I cried the second my eyes saw the first runner. New York does put LA to shame when it comes to marathon day, and this is the only NYC vs LA battle I will willingly participate in. New York has the advantage of a staggered start so the marathon takes place all day, whereas LA starts at exactly 7am and is mostly over by noon. New York also treats it as a holiday where everyone is out cheering and drinking in the street, even if they don’t have any friends or loved ones running. I spent almost the whole day watching the race, cheering on my friend, meeting some new people along the route and convincing myself it’s my time to run this race. Maybe watching a marathon will inspire you to run a marathon (or big race) and with my full chest I will say that anyone can run a marathon if they want to run a marathon. I can’t convince you to run one, but if you decide you want to- you will finish that race. All it takes is blah blah… determination. I’m serious.