Celebrating Public Health Week: My LA Marathon 2023 Experience

April 3-9, 2023 marks the National Public Health Week , a time to raise awareness about the importance of embracing a culture of health. As part of this celebration, I want to share my experience running the LA Marathon 2023 on Sunday March 19, 2023.

The LA Marathon is an annual 26.2-mile race that takes place in Los Angeles, California. It attracts runners from all over the world and is known for its scenic route. The race starts at Dodger Stadium and traverses through iconic landmarks including LA City Hall , Olvera Street , Little Tokyo , Echo Park Lake , the Hollywood Walk of Fame , Chateau Marmot , Rodeo Drive and culminates along Historic Route 66 at Century City . Along the way, runners pass through a variety of neighborhoods, each with its unique atmosphere and support from cheering spectators. The route is challenging but also rewarding, as runners get to see the diverse and intriguing landscape of Los Angeles.

Back in December of last year, my teenage son Alex and I decided to run the LA Marathon together as a way to challenge ourselves physically and bond as father and son. We trained for about three months, gradually increasing our mileage from 3 miles to 15 miles one month before the race. We mostly trained along the historic Victoria Avenue in Riverside, Ca.

On race day, Alex and I woke up early and made our way to the starting line via Uber from Century City to Dodger Stadium. The atmosphere was electric, with over 20 thousand runners ready to take on the challenge. The sound of the starting gun signaled the beginning of our adventure. We made a pact that Alex didn't have to wait for me, so from the very start, he took off and I didn't see him at all during the race.

At mile one, I hit my first wall due to a minor calf injury I developed while training about a month before the race. It was so painful that I could not even walk. I was resigned and ready to drop out of the race. I sat on the sidewalk for who knows how long while hundreds of runners passed me by. When the pain finally receded a bit, I started to walk an assessed my situation. I took a couple of Advil pills to further mitigate the pain and eventually I began to trot. Miraculously, the pain went away and never came back, I was able to get back into the race and completed the task in 6 hours and 33 minutes.

Here are the lessons I learned from my experience:

1. If you buy a pair of new running shoes, make sure to get them and use them a whole lot a few months before the race. Alex bought new shoes about 6 weeks before the race and ended up at the finish line with a major blister on the side of his right ankle.
2. Once you master your running routine, do not change anything. About a month before the race, we changed our regular route to another location to include a more varied terrain. As a result of it, I got a minor calf injury while running uphill.
3. Always carry water with you during training. When running over 6 miles, incorporate food intake such as energy gels.

Running the LA Marathon was an amazing experience that challenged us physically and brought Alex and I closer together. It also reminded us of the importance of public health in promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles. As we celebrate Public Health Week, let us continue to support and promote initiatives that improve the health and well-being of our communities. I am grateful for the inspiration that many individuals provided me with by just mentioning their participation in running competitions. They include Kathleen Hamilton, Patricia Verwiel , Mitchell Silver, FAICP, Hon. ASLA , David Salazar, FAICP , Michelle Lieberman , Andrew Flores, AICP , Silvia Paz and Wendy Hetherington . I dedicate this post to my late friend Rick Willson, FAICP who was an avid runner and who ran the LA Marathon several times.

#publicheatlhweek #publichealth #lamarathon #losangeles American Public Health Association