I planned for my drive out to Long Beach for the expo/packet pick-up to arrive at about 10 am. I parked at the usual City Place parking lot C on 3rd St. From there, I walked down the promenade and made my way over to the usual entrance to the Long Beach Convention Center just to the southeast of the Terrace Theater. However when I got there it was blocked off by temporary metal barriers. I didn't realize that you had to head through the parking structure in order to get to the security/COVID check line. Unfortunately, I overheard one of the security guys telling a couple of guys to go around to the other side of the convention center on Pine Ave for the entrance. I assumed that they were attending the same expo, so I ended up following them over the Rainbow Bridge to the other side only to find out that it was for another event. So I backtracked and finally followed other runners to the end of the security line.
Parking garage ticket
Security check was easy since I only had my cellphone and house keys to put in the bin before going through the metal detector. Then I showed my CrowdPass QR code to the guy checking for COVID credentials. Sad to say that the QR code was never checked nor my ID. All he did was scroll my screen up and down to make sure it wasn't a screenshot capture. After passing that "check", they put a bright green "verified" bracelet on my wrist.
Security/COVID vaccination check
COVID vaccination verified
The expo was entirely outside of the convention center even though the website said that it would be in hall C. I first looked for my name on the participant name banner. They sorted the names by first name which threw off a lot of people. Then I went through the vendor booths. QURE was giving out sample water bottles, but only if you enter their race day drawing to win a 3 month supply of QURE water. Following them on Instagram gives you extra chances to win. I also picked up a sample bottle of X2 endurance drink and a Super Coffee on my way to the race packet pick-up in the back. After getting my bib and race shirt, I moved on to the Beach Bum booth. I received a 10th year medal and a long sleeve Beach Bum shirt. I'm not sure why they gave me the medal as I did not run the virtual race in 2020. Also it was a bit of a bummer to find out that they were no longer recognizing 10 year Beach Bums with a plaque at the lighthouse benches. At this point, I was out of hands, so I visited the nearby booth for the Law Offices of Joshua Cohen Slatkin just to get their tote bag for which I needed to sign up for their newsletter. On my way out, I picked up a sample bottle of Koia smoothie. I also said a quick hi to my friend that I haven't seen in a while. Per the usual, he was working at the Kool n Fit muscle therapy spray booth. I asked if he was going to be spraying legs at the usual spot at around mile 10. Unfortunately, not this year.
Participant name wall
Found my name
Race shirt
Back of race shirt
Beach bum shirt
Beach Bum year 10
Expo haul
Aquarium of the Pacific coupon
After getting back to my car, I placed my order on Toast for lunch at The Vox Kitchen. I've been wanting to try this place out for quite some time. Fortunately, Fountain Valley was pretty much along the way home. The place was pretty packed when I showed up just a few minutes before the noon scheduled pick-up time. Seemed like they have a pretty well-oiled operation here. My food was ready and there was pretty much no wait except waiting for the customer ahead of me to complete his transaction. My order was for a tray of their famed garlic noodles with filet mignon and the pear salad. Their food might be on the pricier end, but boy was it good!
The Vox Kitchen
Pear salad
Party tray of garlic noodle with filet mignon
Man, I don't know what it was that I ate for dinner, but I had some massive explosive diarrhea later that evening. It took a few extended toilet sessions before "everyone got off of the bus!" That usually only happens if I eat way too many fresh garlics. Needless to say, I did not get much sleep... definitely, not optimal for a marathon in the morning!
Sunday 10/10
My GI system felt like a train wreck as I got ready to head to the race. I left the house around 4 am as the race was scheduled to start at 6 am. This year, they weren't selling race day parking at the expo, but I still planned to park in the same parking structure, City Place parking lot C. The daily max would be $12. From there, I walked over to the Hyatt Regency to wait for the start of the race as well as to use their nice restroom. I bumped into my friend who had the same idea. At about 5:15 am, I started walking over to the start line at Shoreline Dr, right in front of the Marina Green Park. Getting to the start line was a bit different as they still had the barriers up from the Grand Prix race 2 weeks ago. That Indycar race was held this year in late September as opposed to their usual April date due to COVID. Prior to getting inside the start corral, I took a couple of pre-race photos with my fellow Marathon Maniacs and Half Fanatics.
Start line
Marathon Maniacs
More Marathon Maniacs
Starting corral
The race was delayed until about 6:15 am before we were released. I went into this race just hoping to have enough energy to cover the distance. I was feeling quite empty. So for that first mile, I did not shoot out like a bat out of hell. I made sure to not clock a single mile faster than 9 minutes. Normally that first mile is under 8 minutes as I burn off that anxious energy. I ran the first 8 miles, averaging about 9:30 min/mile. Per the usual, I started to struggle while running on the unforgiving beach bike path. From that point on, I had to start taking a short walk break every time I reached a mile marker.
I ran with this guy from the bay area for a little bit as we approached Cal State Long Beach. We started chatting with each other since I was wearing my Dodgers shirt and he was a Giants fan. He was struggling since he had run the SF Marathon last month. Misery loves company as we struggled together through that hilly section through the campus.
Nice shirt
I was glad to have finished the loop through Cal State Long Beach, but my legs started to cramp up as I reached mile 20. I kept hoping that I had enough to complete the final 10k. As I was headed west along Anaheim St just north of the Recreation Park Golf Course nearing mile 22, I spotted a fellow Marathon Maniac, John Williams. I met him back at the Nike Run Hit Remix 5 miler back in 2006. I would keep seeing him at almost every marathon in Southern California! His name was very easy to remember.
John Williams
Along the final stretch down Ocean Blvd, I was caught and overtaken by the 4:55 pace group. My friend, Andrew, was one of the pacers. I tried to keep up with them, but the leg cramps were creeping in and prevented me from sustaining any continuous running. I kept having to take walk breaks.
Finish line
Finish: 4:55:50
Click here for my Garmin data.
After getting my finisher medal, a bottle of QURE water, and a chocolate milk, I briefly caught up with my pacer friend. I told him that I should've just run with them. I then took the usual official post race photo with my medal and started heading out. On the way out, I came across a runner that had finished the half marathon and was holding a WWE championship belt. I just had to stop to take a pic. I didn't stick around the finish area too long as I was feeling pretty wrecked. I stopped in at the Hyatt Regency to drink the chocolate milk and get cleaned up a little bit in their lobby restroom.
Finisher medal and post race drinks
WWE Championship belt!
As I was walking back to my car, I ran into a couple of my good runner/Dodger friends along the promenade. We caught up a bit. Turns out that they also prefer to park in the same parking structure. After I dropped off my stuff in the car, I went over to the ticket kiosk to pay for parking. I'm guessing that my parking ticket was tied to the license plate, as I didn't have to enter anything for the gate arm to be raised.
On the way home, I decided to head over to the Ono Hawaiian BBQ in Anaheim, however my mind might have been on cruise control. I ended up getting on the 405 South instead of 22 East. After that unplanned detour, I got back on the 22 and exited on Harbor Blvd. Driving through Anaheim always makes me feel a little sad as there are no longer any half marathons at Disneyland. Those were some of my favorite races. I sure hope that one day they would return. Once I got there, I used my remaining coupon to get the kalbi plate for 50% off with the purchase of a Hawaiian Sun drink. I noticed that on the restaurant windows, they were promoting 20% off your order if you placed your order online. Maybe next time! This felt like the perfect recovery meal after finishing a marathon.
Ono Hawaiian BBQ
Kalbi plate at 50% off using coupon
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