Los Angeles Marathon

On May 25th 2009 thousands of people will stand amidst balloons and banners, waiting for the bang of a starter’s gun. Thousands more, watching on TV from the comfort of their living room sofas, will wonder what possessed these seemingly normal people to drag themselves out of bed not long after daybreak and head for the streets of LA. To run, jog, or walk 26.2 miles in temperatures that may well exceed 80 degrees. But the smiles on the faces of those at the downtown finishing line, as they are decked out in medals and mylar blankets, will suggest that the experience was worth every blister, every ache, every blackened toenail it took to get there.

Miles 1 – 12

You’re feeling great. You’ve trained, hydrated yourself and loaded up on carbs the day before. The crowd is cheering you on, and the temptation may be to run a little too fast at this point. But you might want to hold back; you have a long way to go and the key is pacing yourself.

Miles 12 – 20

This is when the going gets tougher. You might want to swallow an advil or nibble on that energy bar you’ve been carrying in your pocket. Make sure you’re drinking plenty at the watering stations, especially if the weather is hot.

Miles 20 – 26

You’re almost there, right? Twenty miles down and only six to go! But beware, ‘only’ six miles can be grueling when you’re hungry, sore and fatigued. You don’t want to start sprinting at mile twenty thinking the finish is just around the corner. The Last 385 Yards. Savor the roar of the spectators as you near the coveted finish line. You’ll need to stretch, eat, drink, take a warm bath and apply ice packs after it’s all over. But for now, this is your moment. Enjoy it…you’re finally there!

Image via Wikipedia