The Official Blog of the LA Marathon
September 1, 2010
Rod vs Pre, 1975
I’m getting ready to shoot some more video with Rod Dixon. While speaking with him on the phone today, he started regaling me with tales of his races against Prefontaine. So I dug up this clip of Rod going head-to-head with Pre, John Walker and Filbert Bayi at the 1975 LA Times Mile. This is great entertainment, and not only because of the fu manchu mustaches and flowing long hair. Why don’t we bring back this sort of race? With US distance running stronger than it’s been in years, I’ll bet people would come out to watch the top stars duking it out on an indoor track in LA.
Peter
September 1, 2010
Ask the Race Director – 42,195 Meters and things that make you go hummm!!
About the only person who has a stride a meter long is Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man. But he usually only races for 100 meters and at 6’ 5” his stride just walking down the street is longer than you and me. But, if you run the Honda LA Marathon this March you’re gonna make close to 50,000 steps. That’s a lot of strides.
So what can we do to make your strides better? Here’s some things we’ve done in the past to make race day better, and a request to allof you on how we can make 2011 even better for everyone.
- Your bib: We were the first marathon in the United States to put your name, or nickname on your bib. Why all other races don’t do it, still confounds me. We’ve heard from hundreds and hundreds of runners over the past ten years who tell us that having the spectators along the course scream their name in encouragement is worth so much to their race day experience. So yes, we’ll do it again. But, don’t forget the deadline to have your name or nickname on your bib is January 1. And just to make legal happy, we reserve the right to edit any name or nickname.
- Timing: What’s the first US Marathon to use Chip Timing? The LA Marathon. Next question on today’s show: what US marathon was the first to use the “B” tag timing system where the timing chip was imbedded in your bib and it was recyclable? Yes, the 2010 LA Marathon. So no more weaving your chip through your shoelaces, and no stopping after the finish to have a volunteer clip off the timing chip. I’ve seen a few tired runners take a tumble during that process.
- Entertainment: Thanks to a couple of staffers who came up with the idea of placing all our high school cheerleaders in one continuous section (Cheer Alley in Century City) to yell and scream their support for your efforts. We love ‘em and hope you do to. And as much as I’ve heard from many of you who are not real enamored of the 1st Street Challenge, we must thank Ginger Williams for placing the Taiko Drummers at the top of the hill across from Disney Hall. Many people said the energy of the drummers helped them crest that hill.
- Mile marks: We’ve always had course clocks at every mile, but this year we added big inflatable’s that we could erect at exactly the mile mark. No more looking for trees or street lights to hang mile mark banners that might be hundreds of feet away from the exact mile mark. We built them really big so everyone could see them many blocks in advance of the mile mark. We only put up 17 of the mile mark inflatable’s for 2010, but we’ll have them for all the mile marks in 2011.
And, yes we’ve heard the comments that the Taiko performers remind folks of the tempo drummers in the slave ship segments from the award winning movie Ben Hur.
In closing, we’d love to hear any ideas you have to improve on yours and everyone’s race day experience. So send them onto to info@lamarathon.com and we’ll consider them for race day in 2011. Thanks for listening.
Nick Curl
August 31, 2010
Making Your Miles More Meaningful – Official Charity Program
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much…” Helen Keller
This year the Official Charity Program has set a goal of raising $ 4 million dollars, which is $2 million more than was raised last year. Together we can do this! Why not run for a charity this year.
It’s not hard to get started and the Honda LA Marathon presented by K-Swiss has 65 Official Charities that you can choose from, http://www.lamarathon.com/charities/. Also running for charity is a great way to get involved with your community and do something for a great cause.
Did you know only 1% of the population annually runs a marathon? You could become a member of this elite group with an amazing accomplishment and the sense that you did something even more important than getting in good shape.
Once you’ve chosen a charity to run/walk for they will support you all the way to the finish line. The charities have a proven track record of helping their runners stay focused and energized while training and fundraising. Your progress will be marked with many victories along the way: milestones passed, friendships started and discoveries made. And you won’t lack for inspiration, either. Your amazing journey will help raise millions of dollars in support of the charity of your choice.
So go ahead and get into the spirit of the run. Get enthusiastic about the chances of improving the situation for your chosen cause. Talk it up with friends and family. Get them into it. Get their names on pledge sheets. Get their cooperation in the form of volunteering to help with your training course support, if they’d rather not run. Count them IN! All donations will be gratefully accepted.
Remember, running for a charity is not about finishing first or at lightning speed but simply covering the miles and reaching the finish line which translates into the attainment of your marathon and fundraising and life goals!
Ginger Williams
August 30, 2010
Tips from Coach Rod – Work out with your family
Summer is a great time for the outdoors, it’s also the perfect time to get into shape, and at this time of the year, conditions are excellent for exercising. With kids getting back into their new school schedules it’s more convenient for families to fit in a regular daily or every other day ‘family work out’. Get outside on the cooler evenings for bicycling, walking, running, jogging, playing tennis or any other outdoor activity.
It is often said, “The family that plays together stays together”, and along the way moms and dads and the children get fitter and healthier.
Running and jogging with the family is becoming a sight I see more and more in the community, it’s great to see parents encouraging their kids to exercise and once a family makes a habit of being active together, the routine and fun will generate consistency for exercise and physical activity. Parents get motivated because they see themselves as they want to become, role models for their children. And healthy exercise quickly becomes part of life for young children.
As a parent myself, I made the rule that we would leave the television off at least one day a week and I believed this encouraged the children to participate in some form of physical activity or outdoor play. Running or jogging should be fun and only run at the child’s ability. I encourage you to take walks often (this is a good time to communicate about school, or concerns the child may have) and don’t forget to let them choose the course or jogging circuit, as well as when to jog and when to walk.
When you are finished why not have a celebration with a healthy BBQ? So much is written today about eating healthy and avoiding those “bad foods” and to balance the choices of having kids healthy and happy. Well, I know too well that those ‘bad foods’ often taste good and are fun to have, just not all the time! Most people know that eating healthy wholesome foods, takes a little more preparation time to put on the table, but that is what being a parent is all about, making choices, not on your own behalf, but on behalf of another. It’s difficult being a parent today, especially with the demands from children, feeding your kids well balanced and healthy meals is a challenge, especially in today’s fast food culture. It’s gotten harder because restaurants and food marketers are putting our children in danger! Parents can have an influence and impact on children’s health and future, simply by making a handful of smart choices, and as a parent, you are already good at that in part, most of the time, making choices for your children. Celebrate family exercise- physical exercise at ‘BBQ family time’, a great time to bring to the table, healthy and delicious salads and low fat foods for your family. Start with just once a week and see some changes.
Have a great week.
Rod Dixon
August 25, 2010
Ask the Race Director – LA Roadrunners
Turn off the computer and get out of the house
Whatever motivation you use to get off the couch and back on the roads is the right one. I recently ended a habit I’ve struggled with over the years, and the secret for me was only focusing on not doing that habit today! Not a new concept, but one that can help end a bad habit, or perhaps start a new one. So turn the PDA or computer off, stand up, grab your house keys, and get out of the house. Spend 30 minutes walking in your neighborhood, or around the local park, or walk up to the mall and back. Start the good habit today. And when you’re done, you’ve made the commitment to create a new habit today that can change your life for the better.
As for tomorrow and next week, we’ve got a program that can help you get out of the house, and keep you motivated. We meet every Saturday morning, almost 2,000 of us, and we’re all trying to do better for that one day. And during the week, we’ll provide you a schedule that keeps you going.
The LA Roadrunners is arguably one of the best marathon training programs in the US. The program starts on September 11 with locations in Venice and Chino Hills and provides training schedules for advanced, intermediate and beginners! There are 3 distinct styles: Run, Run/Walk and Walk, and within those styles there are 20 separate pace groups, so I’m sure there’s one just right for you.
So sign up today www.laroadrunners.com and begin the journey of a lifetime, and all you need to do is start today. We’ll help you tomorrow and for the next 30 weeks.
Nick Curl
COUNTDOWN
199
DAYS
SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2011