I set out this weekend with one question to be answered: can I get through a local race weekend with only the use of my legs and public transportation?
I started my day by walking down to the bus stop and taking the bus over to the Pomona Transit Center. From there I was able to get on the Silver Streak bus into Downtown Los Angeles without having to wait.
286: Home to Pomona Transit Center: $1.25
Silver Streak: Pomona Transit Center to Union Station: $2.45
From Union Station, it was a fairly lengthy and uphill trek up to the Los Angeles Fire Department's Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center for the race expo. I noticed that once I walked through Chinatown, there really wasn't another pedestrian in sight. There were no sidewalks near the training center so that might have been a factor.
LAFD Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center
I liked this new venue for the expo. It was much more appropriate than having it at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. This was only the second year of this race and it's already one that I would like to run each year indefinitely. The race supports a great cause. I would like to continue to honor those that put their lives on the line each day as well as to remember those that gave their lives protecting and serving their community.
I bumped into some of the usual suspects at the expo, one being Alberto, the barefoot runner. He was actually wearing some footwear! I picked up my bib, race shirt, and a coin to put on my finisher medal. There were 5 coins to choose from: LAPD, LA Sheriff, 1st Responder, LA County Fire, and LAFD. I went with the LAPD coin. We were told in an email that we can collect them all by running the race for 5 years. I then proceeded to check out the booths. Before heading out, I got a small German shepherd stuffed animal in exchange for giving a $10 donation to the LAPD bomb detection K-9 unit.
Leaving the expo, I headed down to Pershing Square to catch the number 16 bus headed over to The Grove. This time I took the overpass from Stadium Way over to Yale St before cutting over to Broadway. I turned on 5th St to get to Pershing Square. I took the bus over to 3rd and Martel Ave which dropped me off pretty much right in front of my hotel for the weekend, the Park Plaza Lodge Hotel.
16: Pershing Square to 3rd/Martel: $1.75
It was a breeze checking into my room. I was given a room on the second floor just over the driveway into the hotel. As I was unloading my bag, I just was able to catch the tail end of the NYRR Millrose Games. I got to watch the 800m race and the Wanamaker Mile. I didn't recognize any of the runners this year, but it was still exciting to watch.
Millrose Games 800m
I then made my way over to The Grove to eat a late lunch. It turned out to be a mistake. I don't come here often, but apparently The Grove is always a zoo no matter the time of the day. It looked like there might have been a celebrity sighting or appearance at Nordstrom since there was a large crowd of young girls lined up for something. Once I made it inside, I first looked to see if I could grab something quick to eat at The Cheesecake Factory. There was a wait to get a table and the bar section was completely full. I walked around to check out my options and ended up at La Piazza. The bar section was empty, so I found a small table. Service was incredibly slow. The waiter was definitely ignoring me after getting my drink order. I'm going to guess it was because I ordered an iced tea instead of alcohol. I was probably determined by him to be a low tip customer. I know how it works, but don't make it that obvious by stopping at all of the other tables in front of my face. When he finally decided to stop by my table, I ordered my meal. Thank goodness it actually didn't take too long for it to come out. I ordered the orecchiete zucchine e gamberi. It had great flavors, but the portion was incredibly tiny. If you're hungry, be sure to order something else or you'll still be hungry after eating this plate.
Orecchiete zucchine e gamberi
After I settled the bill, I walked back to my hotel. I went through the race packet. I really liked this year's race shirt. It had a nice color scheme and a simple clean design. It was also a cotton t-shirt. I have no more need for yet another polyester tech shirt! I thought that the coin for the medal was a nice touch. It was definitely unique to any of the medals that I've received for my past races.
Race shirt
LAPD coin side 1
LAPD coin side 2
I laid out my running gear and just vegged out in the room watching some TV. About 3 hrs later, I headed back out to grab some dinner. I decided to just check out the restaurant next door. It was called, Fiddler's Bistro. It was pretty busy even though it was almost 8 pm. A couple had just finished their meal. After they left, the small table was quickly cleared and cleaned for me. From looking over the menu and some of the reviews on Yelp, I decided to go with their lamb burger. I've had my share of burgers including lamb burgers and this was one of the best, if not the best that I've ever eaten! I got mine cooked medium and with french fries. I should've eaten my other meal here!
Flat runner
Lamb burger
Sunday 2/12
The race was scheduled to start at 7 am. I got ready and at about 6 am, I jogged over to the starting area. I could feel the soreness still in the left ankle even though I had given it a whole week off. There was a little bit of a chill in the air, so I had my mylar blanket with me. I milled around and bumped into one of my friends. When the race start drew near, I made my way closer to the front, but not too close. There were groups doing the law enforcement challenge and they took most of the room in that first wave. Some of us individual runners were able to get past them from the left side once the race started.
End of Watch Memorial Wall
It's Jen!
Start
I've dealt with a few injuries (mostly left foot, right hip) for all of 2016. I ran as slow as a 2:24:49 for the half marathon. It felt so much better that I'm now headed in the right direction and able to run a 1:52:52 in this half marathon. I tried to give myself a chance for a 1:45 with more conservative pacing early on, but the lack of endurance showed up at mile 9. The first 10k was mostly uphill and I had very little left in the legs to take advantage of the downhill sections heading back to the finish line. My legs were a bit wobbly when I crossed the finish line.
Finish
Finish: 1:52:52
Click here for my Garmin data.
No matter how fast I run, I always want to run faster. However I still lack the practice of running at a faster pace. My body already knows how to run at a slower pace, I just have to train it to get comfortable moving at a faster pace. I also have to be patient in building up the speed as my legs are still not at 100%.
After I picked up a bunch of post race drinks, a banana, and a Fig Bar, I stared walking back to my room. I got cleaned up and watched a little bit of TV while packing up. It was pretty cool that there was a deputy from the LA County Sheriff's Department that ran the half marathon in full uniform!
Medal and post race goodies
Jenna Underwood-Nunez
I checked out and crossed the street to catch the number 16 bus back into Downtown LA.
16: 3rd/Cochran to 6th/Broadway: $1.75
After getting off of the bus at 6th and Broadway, I made my way up to Little Tokyo to eat lunch. I decided to check out Suehiro which was located a couple of doors over to the right from the ever so popular Daikokuya. As usual, there was a long line of people waiting to get in. It felt pretty good to walk past that crowd and go into Suehiro without having to wait a couple of hours to get a seat. After looking over their menu, I ordered their chicken katsudon and gyoza. The katsudon was pretty standard and the gyoza was one of the better ones that I've eaten. Good stuff.
Gyoza
Chicken katsudon
After I settled my bill, I made the walk over to Union Station to catch the Silver Streak bus home. Along the way, I stopped by the Little Tokyo Metro Gold Line station to reload my TAP card. I have found the Silver Streak bus line to be very convenient. It was quick with very few stops. I had to wait a bit at the Pomona Transit Station for the 286 bus for my final leg home.
Silver Streak: Union Station to Pomona Transit Center: $2.45
286: Pomona Transit Center to home: $1.25
Total transportation cost: $10.90
I believe I could've saved a little more by purchasing a transfer going from the Foothill Transit line over to the LA Metro line, but it was already fairly cheap paying full price.
Yes, I could get by without a car. However it made me realize the size of LA County and how our public transportation system is incredibly lacking!
