2026 Los Angeles Marathon Almost Didn't Happen for Me

Описание: Two weeks before the race, I wasn’t even sure I could run.

After dealing with a groin injury following the Surf City Marathon, my preparation for the Los Angeles Marathon looked very different this year. Instead of chasing a personal record, the goal became much simpler: just make it to the finish line.

Race morning didn’t help either. Daylight savings time, parking chaos in Century City, and shuttle delays meant I didn’t reach the start at Dodger Stadium until minutes before the race began. I ended up starting nearly half an hour after the gun.

Add in a heat wave, and it quickly became clear this was not going to be a fast day.

So I changed my mindset.

Walk the hills. Run easy on the flats. Leave the ego behind.

After running this marathon for 10 years, I leaned on my experience with the course — from Hollywood Boulevard to Rodeo Drive — and focused on racing smart and staying healthy.

I also reflect on the importance of safety in endurance sports, especially in difficult conditions like heat. Marathons should challenge us, but they should also remind us to respect our bodies and take care of each other as runners.

In the end, this became my slowest marathon finish… but also one of the ones I’m most proud of.

Sometimes the best races aren’t about the time on the clock.

Sometimes they’re about gratitude, resilience, and simply being able to run.

#marathon #marathontraining #marathonrunner #losangelesmarathon #losangeles

Epidemic Sounds:
Closing time by Andreas Boldt
Blond (Instrumental) by First Timer
Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Josef Falkensköld
Sort it output by Another Notion
Wolf at Your Door by Rain Jewels
Sinking Deep by OTE
Running Back (Instrumental Version) by CLNGR

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:30 16 Mile Long Run
01:36 Lunch at Kirari West
02:28 LA Marathon Expo
06:29 Shoes and Flatlay
07:54 Diastrous Race Morning
10:58 Los Angeles Marathon
20:41 Finish Line
22:26 Reflection