2015 Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

October 25

Replacement for my canceled Vancouver race weekend. I somehow forgot to register for the Vancouver races, and did not want to take a chance that they would sell out before I got there. With Los Angeles just a few hours from my home, I could get there early Saturday and sign up. If I couldn't get in, then at least I would have a nice weekend, since I would be visiting my daughter at UC Irvine. I also signed up for RnR San Antonio, just in case.

Saturday Expo

I did this race for the first time last year, so I was familiar with the Los Angeles Convention Center. There are several parking lots, so I made sure to park on the side where the Expo was located. Expo opened at 9 am, and I got there around 9:30. A quick change into Elvis in the Restroom, and then off to the Solutions desk to get a Comp Entry Code using my Tour Pass. The web site states:

"You will need to complete registration for each race you wish to run using your TourPass before online registration closes (typically the Sunday before the event date) or the event selling out. You will not be able to use your TourPass to complete a registration at the Health & Fitness Expo for that event."

I posted my dilemma to social media, and some of the other racers noted that they can make exception at the Expo. With the registration complete, and bib in hand, there was a great sense of relief. At the Expo, I talked with one of the organizers of the Heavy Medals, and he said he could likely pick up my medal after the race. Heavy medal eligibility is based off the registration, so since I official registered, the LA race should count. I had some time to go for another Toyota test drive, still as Elvis. The Toyota people are also touring with RnR, and they know me pretty well by now, since this will be my third time. I'm racking up the $10 certificates for use in Las Vegas.

Traffic in LA got pretty busy later in the morning. The drive from downtown LA to Irvine seems to take forever, only 40 miles away. Late lunch at 2 pm with my daughter who is attending UC Irvine, then back off to Pasadena to check into the hotel. Light dinner since I was still full from lunch. 250 miles of driving, similar to last year.

Sunday Half

Free street parking on Sundays in downtown LA, but the RnR website does not state this. "There is NO FREE PARKING for participants or spectators; standard parking rates will apply. All parking lots in the area are privately owned and fees will range from $10.00 to $20.00 (cash only)." I wasn't sure how early I needed to get there to secure a spot, so I was aimed for 4 am (race starts at 7). I set my alarm for 2 am, but ended up waking up at 12:45. Still lying awake at 1:30, I decided to get ready and left before 3 am. There was plenty of parking available, and I parked a few blocks from the start. I got there so early, I set my alarm for 5:15, and I took a nap in car. At 5 am, a few people arrived, but still plenty of parking spots available. I headed over to the start area to use the Porta-Potti. Always nice to be the first one to use it and unwrap the TP. A few other runners around the start, but not many. More arrived at 6am, and I posted to InstaGram that I was at the start. I didn't bother with the Gear Check, and carried my sandals with me. Another Elvis (one that I know) arrived, and we chatted for a bit. Photo requests were honored. Some of my RnR runners arrived, and we started to assemble into the corrals. Race started just before sunrise, select the picture to see a wider angle with the sunrise sky. Plenty of porta-potties available (short or non-existent lines), and right in the corrals, so convenient compared to Denver last weekend.

The first mile felt kind of weird, maybe I ran too much in my Xero Sandals earlier in the week. The asphalt in LA started slightly rough, but I didn't remember much about the surface from last year, except that there wasn't anything super rough that I couldn't work around. I slowed down a bit, and my feet felt better. I was a little worried about my glass cut earlier in the week, so another reason to have my sandals as backup. Last year, I was injured, so I didn't really get to look around much. I did remember that the LA coliseum had public restrooms open at mile 3, which I used. The double out and back course was nice to see other runners. I saw a group of Elvi behind me, and hoped they would catch up so that I could run with them. I did not examine the course changes from last year, so when we started up a hill, I knew something was different. Last year, we when through the 2nd Street tunnel, this year we went over the hill instead. Not sure which I prefer. The clouds were nice, and blocked the sun the entire race. Not as many costumes compared to last year. The Whittier Blvd Bridge (mile 9) over the LA river was repaved from last year. I do remember that was quite a challenge have to run the painted line to remain comfortable. My legs were getting quite a workout due to the rougher surface, but at least there was relief for several sections, unlike Seattle.

The last half mile, you could see the finish line. I didn't have enough energy in my legs to even attempt a sprint. I looked up at the clock, and saw 2:54, not a great time (had to be adjusted for chip), but I knew I was under 3 hours. Luckily, photographer Luke Munnell for Women's Running caught me into the finish. The finish area on Flower Street wasn't too rough, but when we turned the corner on to 11th street, I had to put on my sandals. The Gear Check was around the corner, not too far, but I was glad I had my sandals with me. The Heavy Medal booth was on my way back to my car, and I was able to obtain my Headliner 9 medal.

Just a few blocks to my car, then off to Pasadena to shower at the hotel. Refuel gas, then lunch at Red Robin for some of my traditional post race beef intake. Driving back was hard, as the lack of sleep last night, and the race, made me sleepy. At least the traffic from Irvine back home was light. Not as an exciting weekend as Vancouver could have been, but still a fun weekend seeing my running friends.