LA Big 5K 2013
Mar. 23rd, 2013 12:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
runthiswayhttp://www.lamarathon.com/event/la-5k/
Overview:If you've ever wanted to partake in the excitement of the Los Angeles Marathon--without actually doing those 26 miles--the LA Big 5K might be for you. This race, considered a warm-up for the Marathon, is run by the same organizers and uses the same start line. It is a shining example of how to piggyback a 5K on a larger event and make everyone happy. The organizers clearly did their best to make sure that the Big 5K was a singular, special race, rather than something that was just tacked on to the Marathon. For instance, the 5K had its own special logo and design scheme.
When: March 16, 2013
Where: Dodger Stadium
Why: I'm honestly not sure who the main charity was this year. There were many official causes with whom runners could align themselves, ranging from Girls on the Run to the American Cancer Society to Kitten Rescue.
Course access: The Metro 2 and 4 buses stopped at Sunset and Innes, and from there it was about a 10 minute walk to the stadium. Like last year, they didn't have good signs directing people entering the stadium parking lots!
____
Number of Participants: 3602
Pre-race: Packet pickup was at the expo at the L.A. Convention Center. Runners were allowed to either pick up their packet on Friday at the Expo or on Saturday morning before the race. There were drink and food stations available before the race, as well.
Course: A loop around Elysian Park and back to Dodgers Stadium. There were a few challenging hills, a really beautiful lane lined with palm trees and a lot of wide open roads. The 5K used the same start line as the LA Marathon (just a day earlier!).
Runners: A very diverse group with lots of serious runners, families, young children, and novices. Some folks were there with fundraising teams and wore matching shirts. A lot of runners were using the 5K as a warmup for the Los Angeles Marathon the next day, so they were all business. Since the race was held the day before St. Patrick's Day, there were many people in green, including some who went whole hog with costumes, shamrock socks, leprechaun hats and bright wigs.
There were less dogs on the course this year, and I was grateful for that.
Chip timing: Yes, via chronotrack chip attached to the bib. They had mile markers but the only clock was at the finish line.
Shirt: Blue short-sleeved T-shirt with the race logo.
Swag: Finishers received a square medal on a blue ribbon. The medal was specifically designed for the 5K and had the LA Marathon logo on the bottom, indicated the latter's involvement with the former. There was also a swag bag at the finish line - this was departure from last year, and a nice surprise. The bag included a baseball cap, a towel, some water, a special LA Big 5K bracelet, and a bottle of water.
Expo: The Marathon expo was fairly extensive, with vendors, photo op stations, food trucks and freebie distributors. However, some of the vendors could learn to be respectful to all guests. I attended the expo with a friend who was overweight - and totally "fit and fat" and a runner herself - and I was amazed by the way vendors treated her vs. the way they treated me. Some examples:
a. The Long Beach marathon guy who not only ignored her but spoke over her head to the crowd.
b. The Smartfood vendors who happily gave me several bags of chips but gave her only one - with a scowl.
c. The numerous race reps who didn't even look up from their phones when she approached them.
Everyone deserves to have respect. Everyone, thin or fat, can be a runner. Being nasty to the heavy people does one thing: it makes you lose a customer. My friend was actually interested in the Long Beach marathon, but after being dissed by their rep, she decided to sign up for Rock N' Roll instead.
Would I Run This Race Again: Sure. Now that I've done the race twice I don't think I have an interest in repeating it, but it's a perfectly good course and a lot of fun.
Overview:If you've ever wanted to partake in the excitement of the Los Angeles Marathon--without actually doing those 26 miles--the LA Big 5K might be for you. This race, considered a warm-up for the Marathon, is run by the same organizers and uses the same start line. It is a shining example of how to piggyback a 5K on a larger event and make everyone happy. The organizers clearly did their best to make sure that the Big 5K was a singular, special race, rather than something that was just tacked on to the Marathon. For instance, the 5K had its own special logo and design scheme.
When: March 16, 2013
Where: Dodger Stadium
Why: I'm honestly not sure who the main charity was this year. There were many official causes with whom runners could align themselves, ranging from Girls on the Run to the American Cancer Society to Kitten Rescue.
Course access: The Metro 2 and 4 buses stopped at Sunset and Innes, and from there it was about a 10 minute walk to the stadium. Like last year, they didn't have good signs directing people entering the stadium parking lots!
____
Number of Participants: 3602
Pre-race: Packet pickup was at the expo at the L.A. Convention Center. Runners were allowed to either pick up their packet on Friday at the Expo or on Saturday morning before the race. There were drink and food stations available before the race, as well.
Course: A loop around Elysian Park and back to Dodgers Stadium. There were a few challenging hills, a really beautiful lane lined with palm trees and a lot of wide open roads. The 5K used the same start line as the LA Marathon (just a day earlier!).
Runners: A very diverse group with lots of serious runners, families, young children, and novices. Some folks were there with fundraising teams and wore matching shirts. A lot of runners were using the 5K as a warmup for the Los Angeles Marathon the next day, so they were all business. Since the race was held the day before St. Patrick's Day, there were many people in green, including some who went whole hog with costumes, shamrock socks, leprechaun hats and bright wigs.
There were less dogs on the course this year, and I was grateful for that.
Chip timing: Yes, via chronotrack chip attached to the bib. They had mile markers but the only clock was at the finish line.
Shirt: Blue short-sleeved T-shirt with the race logo.
Swag: Finishers received a square medal on a blue ribbon. The medal was specifically designed for the 5K and had the LA Marathon logo on the bottom, indicated the latter's involvement with the former. There was also a swag bag at the finish line - this was departure from last year, and a nice surprise. The bag included a baseball cap, a towel, some water, a special LA Big 5K bracelet, and a bottle of water.
Expo: The Marathon expo was fairly extensive, with vendors, photo op stations, food trucks and freebie distributors. However, some of the vendors could learn to be respectful to all guests. I attended the expo with a friend who was overweight - and totally "fit and fat" and a runner herself - and I was amazed by the way vendors treated her vs. the way they treated me. Some examples:
a. The Long Beach marathon guy who not only ignored her but spoke over her head to the crowd.
b. The Smartfood vendors who happily gave me several bags of chips but gave her only one - with a scowl.
c. The numerous race reps who didn't even look up from their phones when she approached them.
Everyone deserves to have respect. Everyone, thin or fat, can be a runner. Being nasty to the heavy people does one thing: it makes you lose a customer. My friend was actually interested in the Long Beach marathon, but after being dissed by their rep, she decided to sign up for Rock N' Roll instead.