The New Years Race started in downtown Los Angeles at 7pm. We arrived downtown just before 5 and visited with one of Brooklyn’s friends at her hotel a few blocks from the start line. We got dressed and ready for the race (watched the first quarter of the Saints game) and made our way down to the streets just after 6 o’clock. After gear check and few pre race photos, I said my goodbyes and went find some space to stretch and warm up before taking my place in Corral 1 at the starting line.

I knew before hand that the course was a bit hilly, but I was not expecting what was to come. The race kicked off and we were on our way through the streets of LA. In the first mile we ran past City Hall and the Plaza Olvera running down Broadway Ave and over to Main Street running over Highway 101. The first 2 miles featured several small rolling hills, but as we ran away from town we began a steady ascent that lasted until Mile 5! During this time we ran up Stadium Way and into the Parking lot of Dodger Stadium (a race highlight for me) before immediately turning left and leaving the stadium and making our way through Elysian Park.

The run through the park was difficult. The roadway was slanted and the only flat part was broken up asphalt with dirt and gravel down. I ran on holding a really great average pace of around 8:00/miles. After leaving the park we ran back into the Dodger Stadium parking lot and in mile 7 turned into the stadium and ran a lap around the warning track. Similar to the Disneyland Half with the lap around Angels Stadium I was ecstatic to be running around the stadium.

Normally I would have stopped to take pictures, but after crossing the halfway point I started to pay attention to my watch and piece together a game plan for the back half of the race. I knew that after leaving the stadium it was back along the same course that I had already ran and knew what was to come as far as elevation changes go. So at Mile 8 I passed the gates of Dodger Stadium and started to pick up the pace to a 7:30ish/mile. As I left the stadium I passed by Brooklyn, her mom, and their friends entering the stadium and yelled as I passed by.

I ran back along course that I came in on with the intention of picking up the pace for the final 5k. At Mile 10 I started to separate myself from the others around me and as I entered the Broadway Corridor at Mile 11 I was all alone and running at a 6:30/mile pace. I pushed into a sprint for the final mile and crossed the finish line at a new Personal Record of 1:35:01! To make the finish even better, after crossing the line I immediately pulled out my phone just in time to see the final score post of the Saints, Eagles wild card play off game. A new PR and a Saints postseason win!

After the race I changed clothes, drank a chocolate milk, and made my way to the post race party across from the Staples Center while I waited for Brooklyn and her mom to come across the line. Once they made it through we enjoyed the festivities for a little while before heading back to the hotel to gather our belongings and head to In-N-Out Burger for post race refuel and make our way home.