19 March 2017 marked the 32nd edition of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, and I was one of the privileged persons selected by Skechers to run it.
Nearly 24,000 participants from all 50 states and 63 countries participated in the race.
We had a welcome reception where we met international runners as well as the COO/CFO of Skechers USA, David Weinberg (left), Jeffrey Weinberg (right) Marketing Manager of Skechers USA, as well as the good folks behind the organization.
Some of the representatives – international runners from 64 countries worldwide
One day before the marathon, we attended the Expo. The race itself is only half the fun. Featuring interactive exhibits, live entertainment, the Official Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Merchandise Store, product trials and all things marathon, the Health & Fitness Expo is one of the highlights of race weekend!
Skechers Performance – plenty of shopping opportunities, of limited edition merchandise
The Expo (held at the Los Angeles Convention Center) annually hosts over 120 exhibitors featuring brand-new designs in running gear and shoes, as well as the latest developments in sports, fitness, and nutrition. In addition, the Expo is the home of Participant Packet Pick-Up for all marathon runners. The two-day Health & Fitness Expo is free and open to the public.
Limited edition kicks.. irresistible!
Photo moment on the feature wall – could not find my name, as there were just too many
Queueing to get taped, before the race
Picking up my bib before the race
On the day of the marathon, we were shuttled at 5am to Dodger Stadium. There we were met with VIP treatment – breakfast at the VIP suite before the race, and plenty of photo opportunities.
Early morning photo at Dodger Stadium, moments before the gun went off and we were off!
Dodger Stadium, packed with close to 24,000 runners..
In the end, out of 24,000 participants, only 20,000 completed the race. The Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon’s, Stadium to the Sea course was challenging as it was beautifully distracting. The course was undulating with many slopes to conquer. Luckily, my weekend training sessions involved undulating terrain so I was prepared!
Elvis was out running the LA Marathon too!
From Dodger Stadium across Los Angeles to a scenic finish just steps from the Santa Monica Pier.. I stopped to take photos with all the participants and bands who put on a fantastic show for the runners. How could I possibly ignore them? It was a super well organized event and one to remember.
The cut off time for the marathon was 6 hours 30 minutes, and I completed it in 5 hours 27 minutes. This is not a personal record but then, not every single race is ALWAYS about a personal record. Some races are just meant to be enjoyed. That on the back of just having a baby (I started training for this marathon 3 months post partum), well, I have to say I am pretty pleased with my accomplishment!
Some other race statistics :
Kenyans Elisha Barno and Hellen Jepkurgat won the men’s and women’s fields with times of 2:11:52 and 2:34:23, respectively
Eight runners set official Guinness World Records while recording the fastest-ever marathon time dressed in costumes ranging from a tennis player, a boxer, a swimmer and a flamingo.
The LA Chargers fielded a 13-person relay team comprised of players, staff and fans including General Manager Tom Telesco, linebacker Denzel Perryman and Charger Girls, who passed a football as a baton as each team member ran a leg of the race.
Celebrities took on the “Stadium to the Sea” course, including actor Zach Gilford (known for playing Matt Saracen on “Friday Night Lights”), singer Jordin Sparks, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Rebecca Soni and FOX Sports TV host Charissa Thompson.
No comments yet.