Watching Faith run the LA Marathon

[RobinFinderson]

Faith will run the LA Marathon on Monday. Little Robin and I are excited for her and can't wait to cheer her on. It will be a marathon of firsts for all of us. It is Faith's first marathon, and it will be the first time I have attended one.

So I want to know about watching a marathon. We want to give Faith all the support we can. Plus, I want to photograph the marathon. What advice do any of you have for non-running family support?

I'm thinking Little Robin and I might bring our bikes, so we can pedal from spot to spot along the route and capture as much of the excitement as we can. Would that be possible in a major metropolitan marathon?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[marsupial]

How old is the wee Robin? I think he needs to hold a big sign with her picture on it that says "My mom is faster than your mom." Also good, "Eat my mom's dust!"

[cowboy]

A couple of things:

1) make sure you coordinate with her beforehand so she knows where you'll be and she can be watching for you.

2) know her pace so you have a good idea of when she'll be there. Remember that it sometimes takes 20 minutes just to get across the starting line, so start watching for her about twenty minutes before you thing she'll get there, and keep watching for thirty to forty minutes afterward (up to an hour later if you are watching past the 15 mile mark.)

3) have her wear something bright and unusual so you can pick her out easily. A bright green visor, orange singlet, something like that. Most runners have white singlets and dark shorts, and it is near impossible to distinguish them.

4) If you are only hitting one location, try for the 18-24 mile area. That's when she'll need the most support. If you are hitting two locations, catch her between 5 and 8 and then hit 18-24. That will give you enough time to get there.

Give her my best. Marathons are awesome, but that first one is a little scary. Reasure her that she'll do fine. Oh, and if possible, have her chip times texted to your cell phone so you can get a better idea of where she's at.

[Teenage Dirtbag]

That sounds fun. I would love to shadow my wife during a long race, but she has zero interest in running one. But she has always been really good about coming down and supporting me on the course. It's always a good pick me up.

I think cowboy has great ideas, and I love marsupial's sign ideas. I would just add that if you tell Faith that you're going to be at a certain place, make sure you are there. She may be telling herself to keep going so she can see you guys, and if you're not there, it will be deflating.

Tell her good luck from the Dirtbag!

[TripletDaddy]

I have no idea about the race route, but it sounds like you guys are going to have a fun day on Monday. Enjoy!

Where does it end? Coliseum?

[cowboy]

A couple of things:

1) make sure you coordinate with her beforehand so she knows where you'll be and she can be watching for you.

2) know her pace so you have a good idea of when she'll be there. Remember that it sometimes takes 20 minutes just to get across the starting line, so start watching for her about twenty minutes before you thing she'll get there, and keep watching for thirty to forty minutes afterward (up to an hour later if you are watching past the 15 mile mark.)

3) have her wear something bright and unusual so you can pick her out easily. A bright green visor, orange singlet, something like that. Most runners have white singlets and dark shorts, and it is near impossible to distinguish them.

4) If you are only hitting one location, try for the 18-24 mile area. That's when she'll need the most support. If you are hitting two locations, catch her between 5 and 8 and then hit 18-24. That will give you enough time to get there.

Give her my best. Marathons are awesome, but that first one is a little scary. Reasure her that she'll do fine. Oh, and if possible, have her chip times texted to your cell phone so you can get a better idea of where she's at.

Some more thoughts:

Take a couple of lawn chairs and get there early. Crowds for big races are big, and you'll want a front row seat. Make friends with the other spectators and cheer their people on; when Faith comes, she'll enjoy having them cheer for her. Also, take a large sign, a bell, or something that will help her pick you out of the crowd early.

[RobinFinderson]

These all sound like great ideas. Faith will have a bright lime green singlet emblazoned with the words, "Students Run LA," which is a city-wide program that she advises for at her school, so she should stand out.

Little Robin turned 10 last week.

The official LA Marathon Site has more information for spectators. It includes maps of the route with ideal viewing locations. It also has info on how to receive text alerts about a runner's progress. That is a cool idea.

The route begins and ends downtown, but goes around Expo Park and the Coliseum. HERE is a map link.

Thanks for the advice, y'all. I hope to be able to report with photos soon.

[TripletDaddy]

If it goes through Expo Park/Coliseum, please take advantage by purchasing a delicious $1 popsicle from one of the many hispanic ice cream vendors pushing their carts around the rose garden and its environs. My rec: coconut, pineapple, or strawberry. But coconut is the best. YUM!

[Coach McGuirk]

On some of my half's my wife has actually shown up in multiple locations. It is always fun to see the fam. I don't know if that is possible with the LA route. Though the time texts help coordinate this successfully.

[Teenage Dirtbag]

These all sound like great ideas. Faith will have a bright lime green singlet emblazoned with the words, "Students Run LA," which is a city-wide program that she advises for at her school, so she should stand out.

I remember reading an article about SRLA in Runner's World a couple of years back. This article followed 5 or 6 of the kids, and I think all but 1 made it through the whole training program. One of the kids turned out to be an exceptional runner, finishing the marathon in just over 3 hours, IIRC.

I'd love to hear a race report, if she feels like posting it afterwards.

[pelagius]

Despite my personal anti-running stance (I will admit that I do enjoy watching my wife race (not marathon's, shorter stuff)) I did want to wish Faith good luck .

[faith]

Thank you all for being so supportive of me running my first marathon. I am a bit nervous but also super excited. I have never been particularly athletic. I only decided in September that I wanted to start running and at the time didn’t even really consider the marathon a realistic goal. I joined Student Run LA as a “friend” to help support the few female student runners, and to help me get in better shape. As I have participated in the various SRLA races, I have come to love running. I have lots to learn about running, and hopefully some of you can educate me. Just a month ago, shortly after running my 18 mile race, I discovered that I was running flat-footed, only because this random person at my school track told me. So, for the past month, I have been trying to run on the tips of my toes more, and it has been a big adjustment ( I felt so stupid that I didn’t know that there was a specific method to running). During a practice run two weeks ago, I injured my foot on a metal ramp that went flying into it. Luckily, there were no fractures, only a deep contusion. Between ignorance, illness and injury, I don’t feel quite as prepared as I would like to be. Yet, I still believe I can complete the marathon, and I am really excited to participate in it. I am also excited because I feel like this is only the beginning of my running future. I feel like I have transformed into a healthier, happier person. I am lucky that Robin has been such a sweetheart in encouraging me to run. I am hoping to pull him into running - Once school ends, we plan on running every day together. I want him to experience the natural runner’s high that I often feel.

[Teenage Dirtbag]

Just a month ago, shortly after running my 18 mile race, I discovered that I was running flat-footed, only because this random person at my school track told me. So, for the past month, I have been trying to run on the tips of my toes more, and it has been a big adjustment ( I felt so stupid that I didn’t know that there was a specific method to running).

Oooh, be careful here. Making changes to your natural gait is typically not a good idea, and could eventually lead to other biomechanical problems. Trying to change your natural footstrike could put all kinds of pressure on your knees. Running on your toes sounds very tiring, too.

What that person may have been telling you is that you overpronate, which is common amongst runners with flat feet. This is when your feet roll inward too much, and is easily corrected with the proper pair of motion control shoes. If you haven't yet, you should go to a good running store and have them tape you while you run on a treadmill. They can get you in the right pair of shoes.

Anyway, good luck in the race. SRLA sounds like a great program. Let us know how it goes. If you feel like it, stick around the finish line and watch others finish for a little while. I think a marathon finish line is one of the most inspirational places you can go. Some people are laughing, some are crying, some are pumping their fist...everybody has a story. It's great.

Edit: I should also add, it's not just people with flat feet that overpronate. I have normal arches and I do it. Other than that, I really have no idea what that person meant telling you you run flat footed.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Good luck Faith. And post more!

[ewth8tr]

Thank you all for being so supportive of me running my first marathon. I am a bit nervous but also super excited. I have never been particularly athletic. I only decided in September that I wanted to start running and at the time didn’t even really consider the marathon a realistic goal. I joined Student Run LA as a “friend” to help support the few female student runners, and to help me get in better shape. As I have participated in the various SRLA races, I have come to love running. I have lots to learn about running, and hopefully some of you can educate me. Just a month ago, shortly after running my 18 mile race, I discovered that I was running flat-footed, only because this random person at my school track told me. So, for the past month, I have been trying to run on the tips of my toes more, and it has been a big adjustment ( I felt so stupid that I didn’t know that there was a specific method to running). During a practice run two weeks ago, I injured my foot on a metal ramp that went flying into it. Luckily, there were no fractures, only a deep contusion. Between ignorance, illness and injury, I don’t feel quite as prepared as I would like to be. Yet, I still believe I can complete the marathon, and I am really excited to participate in it. I am also excited because I feel like this is only the beginning of my running future. I feel like I have transformed into a healthier, happier person. I am lucky that Robin has been such a sweetheart in encouraging me to run. I am hoping to pull him into running - Once school ends, we plan on running every day together. I want him to experience the natural runner’s high that I often feel.

Congrats on your finish, from the looks of it, it was a great day for a marathon with lower temperatures.