A day of milestones: Celebrating the 40th L.A. Marathon
LOS ANGELES, Calif. —On Sunday, March 16, the McCourt Foundation hosted the annual Los Angeles Marathon which gathered many members within the community and throughout the world.
As the full field marathon was moments away from beginning, the buzz of agile runners and attentive onlookers prevailed. Dodger Stadium had been filled with both foot and automotive traffic as early as 5 a.m., stoking ecstatic anticipation that broke loose around 7 a.m. as the main waves of runners were let off after an enthusiastic countdown.
Before sunrise, over 25,000 runners ventured upon their journey towards Culver City. Some appeared to be unrested through their sluggish posture and quiet demeanor, whilst most made their energized optimism evident through their chants and clapping.
Before 8:30 a.m., the Top 10 in both pro-women and men, open-women and men surpassed the halfway point in West Hollywood. By 9:08 a.m. the first pro-man, Matt Ritchman, 25, from Elburn, Illinois, finished with a time of 2:07:56; Ritchman is the first American to win the L.A. Marathon in 31 years.
By 9:14 a.m. the first pro-woman, Tejinesh Gebisa Tulu, 30, from Kenya, finished with a 2:30:14 running time. By 9:26 a.m. the first open-man, Jayson Wilia, 26, from California, finished with a time of 2:46:49. Finally, by 9:47 a.m. the first open-woman, Noe Hernandez, 51, from Utah, finished with a time of 2:51:39. The Top 10 in both pro and open categories were finished well before 10 a.m.
Near the finish line, both sides of Santa Monica Boulevard were profuse with outspoken onlookers waving their signs of encouragement and loudly clanking their cowbells. They spilled onto the tracks and tightly circled incoming runners to such an extent that the staff of the Marathon had to push them back for safety.
One couldn’t move an inch without stepping onto another’s shoe or pushing up against another’s chest. Flags from various countries could also be seen waving in the air, displaying the immense diversity present.
The Avenue of the Stars had much more space and much less chaos, as newly accomplished runners could be seen slowly strolling about, sitting upon the sides of the road, withdrawing themselves for momentary relaxation. But as more runners began to finish, the avenue swelled.
Families and friends could be seen slipping through tightly packed crowds in search of their dear ones. There was a collective embrace that could be seen through full-faced smiles, heard through words of courtesy and encouragement. There was an embedded appreciation and awareness which everyone displayed so amicably, showing that those who felt this communal embrace most were runners themselves.
“This is my third L.A. Marathon in a row and I haven’t seen such a big turnout until now. The marathon is always a spectacle, but this is just something else. It's quite refreshing, to be honest. I just feel much more supported. I’m glad to see so many come together purely out of comradery. This is definitely what we need as a city, as a county,” said marathon runner Fernando Rodriguez after the race.
Many runners shared that same sentiment after the race. Jasmine Hernandez, a Marathon runner, spoke about why this race is so important for her.
“I believe it’s the time and place of it. Recently there has been a long streak of disappointment, a long streak of stress, fear and anger. We all see it, everyday. It can weigh heavy on our minds and affect more than what’s visible, it rots us almost. All that negativity. This Marathon is the exact opposite. It is a joy that we can all share, it is uplifting and allows you to shift focus to what really matters, people.”