After running, or more as I barely survive, my first half marathon approximately a decade ago in Las Vegas, I didn't feel like participating in a long distance race.
That was until Nike was organizing the Nike after Dark Tour, a series of women's races designed to celebrate women and encourage them to enter the sport. The Los Angeles Half Marathon, the only stop of the tour in the United States, was scheduled to include a concert with the rapper of Grammy Doechii at the end of the 13.1 mile race. Since Nike has built a reputation for healing great and culture experiences, I thought this would be the perfect way to get my retirement of the years. In addition, several of my friends participated, so it was a good time.
After training for several weeks in parks and tracks around Los Angeles, I arrived at the pavement along with almost 15,000 participants, 43% of which were marathoner media for the first time, on Saturday night in the Sofi Stadium in Inglewood. The event caused a lot of online talks, not all positive, with some runners calling the disorganized race and a marketing event attended to the influential ones. As for me, I experienced several maximums during the energy event, but also some moments of frustration and confusion. This is how the night spent, from the departure line (and the trip to get there) to the end of high octane concerts.
Before the race: getting to the exit line was a marathon in itself
Knowing that thousands of people were expected to participate in the event, I chose to arrive at the Sofi stadium approximately an early hour and a half to avoid traffic. In retrospect, it should have arrived even before. Several streets were blocked due to the race, but once I found the parking lot, it was easy for me to find a place, much easier than it was in the recent concert of Kendrick Lamar and Sza a few weeks before. (While the registration for the race began at $ 150, the parking lot was fortunately free for those who secured a place in advance).
After experiencing long lines and one hour of delayed start, the runners meet in their pens assigned to prepare for the 13.1 mile race.
I followed a herd of people towards the entrance where we went through a security control point, then a control line of the bag, which took about 30 minutes to pass. Then, I ran to find my friends and waited in another line, this time for the Porta-Potties, which took about 40 minutes.
The start line, finally
At this time, there were only about 10 minutes until the race time and I still needed to stretch, so my group ran to the initial pens. Initially, the race was scheduled to start at 6:30 pm, but a master of ceremonies announced that it was going back at 6:45 pm, this made me nervous because the concert was scheduled for 9:30 pm, so this meant that it would have less than three hours to finish if I wanted to see the program.
In the weeks before the Marathon, some participants resorted to social networks to express their concerns about Nike's change in four hours, as indicated in the registration form, three hours. In a thread publication, a corridor said: “If the whole purpose of this event was to recover the race by giving women a space to feel safe running at night, why would you not be inclusive with the runners of all steps?”
In response to feedback, Nike finally established the course of the course in three hours and 17 minutes, allowing an average mile of 15 minutes per mile, according to a Nike spokesman. The brand added a shorter course option, which was nine miles, so the participants could still cross the finish line, receive a medal (a silver necklace with a giant Nike Swoosh) and enjoy the concert.
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Despite confusion, people were amplified. “I am in this phase of my life where I really want to show myself that I can do difficult things,” said Ayanna Fox, 29, of Chino Hills, about why I wanted to participate.
Misty García, 17, a high school student in Venice, said: “I felt that this particular career was very interesting because it was going to be mainly women and it is about women's empowerment, so I love it.”
While the “360” of Charli XCX played on the speakers, Nike's coaches along with the Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and the advanced Olympic Anna Cockrell, promoted the crowd when each pen took off. This was the point where my nerves began to enter because I was anxious to start. Around 7:05 pm, a smoke explosion appeared. It was finally in operation.
Host Elisa Hernández, from the left, Diljeet Taylor, Anna Cockrell and Jordan Chiles on the Nike after Dark tour in the
Miles 1-7: The emotion of activations, DJs and chest fans
The first seven miles were the most stimulating for me. I felt strong and sure of my rhythm. And for my legs, this stretch was a soft navigation. Hundreds of people were cheering from the cost and holding signals with statements such as “running better than our government”, “Hot girls run half marathons” and “hurry up so we can drink.” The drivers along the highway were touching the horn. The DJ played optimistic and hip-hop music. The USC band acted. Between the score of six and seven miles, we pass through a tunnel full of flashing red lights and bubble machines. The energy was electric.
Supporters encourage and maintain signs while runners embark on the Nike after the dark marathon in Los Angeles
Several brands, such as Flamingo, Honey Stinger (who delivered free energy gels and energy snacks) and Beats By Dre had activations throughout the course. There was even a recovery station with sofas, bathrooms and snacks.
Miles 8-10: the pain enters
Just before Mile 8, my headphones died and that was when the hills began to reach me. I felt that I was running through a sharp roller coaster. Without music, I was forced to talk to me in the final stretch. But it was in these trenches that I noticed several sweet moments of community attention: a volunteer who passed out Bengoy Cream, a group of friends who held a woman while limping, the runners shouted at their countries of origin and stirred their flags as a result of the ice raids that were happening in our city at this time. It was a beautiful reminder of the best we are like people when we support each other.
Supporters record and encourage when runners embark on the Nike Women's half marathon at the Sofi stadium in Inglewood.
Around mile 10, I saw Chris Bennett, Nike's global chief coach, giving high five and encouraging people to advance. (He even ran with the last group of runners and helped them through the finish line).
The final mile, was it?
When I approached the end, I felt bambled because there were at least two massive arches that looked like the finish line, but they were not really. He still had a long way to go. I could have cried with joy when I finally got to the end. I recorded three hours and three minutes, which pleased me because my only objectives were to finish, have fun and get to the concert. The winner was Sofia Camacho, a drag artist and Nike Run coach based in New York, who recorded an hour, 15 minutes and 25 seconds.
Hundreds of followers border the course when the runners embark on the Nike After Dark tour in Los Angeles.
After grabbing my medal, I walked as fast as my stadium limbs hurt. The walk felt tortuous because we had to climb multiple stairs games, then travel through a catwalk that was approximately 10 levels that felt endless until we reached the bottom where the stage was. Some people stopped seeing the program simply because they did not have the energy to lower.
The Grand Final: Doechii brings energy
When I got there, I was disappointed to see that Doechii was already in his two final songs of his 30 -minute set, but the energy was so high that I quickly forgot and enjoyed the moment while I could. The program ended just before 10:40 pm, while some people were still running, including one of my friends who lost the program and could not get a couple of Barbie Pink Nike's slides and socks that were fainting.
The night ends and, nevertheless, the walk continues
After the show, we were told that we left the stadium, fortunately there was a mechanical staircase, but I still had to gather energy to return to the entrance to the other side of the stadium to be able to recover my belongings from the bag control area. My legs were finished when I got to my car.
In addition to some logistics problems and long waiting times, I enjoyed participating in the Nike After Dark tour. The course was challenging but feasible, and running along with thousands of women and allies of various ages and background at night he felt empowering. The runners received a ton of gifts, particularly in the Babero truck in The Grove, which included a Dri-Fit shirt and milk makeup.
As someone who normally avoids cardio in my training sessions, this race has inspired me to continue hitting the pavement and exploring this beautiful city on foot. And who knows, could register in another career.
The runners take off the female half marathon, which began at the Sofi stadium in Inglewood.
