Category: Los Angeles Marathon

Los Angeles Marathon

Los Angeles Marathon 2012: The Expo

Posted on
Share

My wife, Alice and me

On Friday, March 16, Alice and I headed out to Los Angeles Dodger Stadium in Elysian Park, California to pick up our 2012 Los Angeles Marathon racing bib, t-shirt and goodie bag. Traffic wasn’t bad and we made it there a little before 10 AM. This was the appointed time to meet up with our Los Angeles Roadrunner and Los Angeles Running Club friends.

As we made our way to the I-5 from the 101, the request came out for Starbucks. Normally, I am enthusiastic but was anxious to get to the Expo – so I was a little ambivalent. Alice thought I was maybe getting sick.

We found a Starbucks on Glendale Blvd and after navigating the horrendous parking lot, we went in. Of course, I instantly went to the restroom, but soon returned to the coffee ordering line. Behind me though was standing someone who looked familiar to me.

My running friends know I am always commenting on other runners and walkers in Santa Monica and Venice that they are either movie or television actors and actresses. I even have some hits like former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, his soon to be ex-wife Maria Shriver (they were not together), professional poker player Alan Cunningham.

Who was this fellow behind me in the Starbucks line?

Can you recognize him?



The actor’s name is Allan Ruck and he has been on a number of shows, including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Star Trek, Spin City and Persons Unknown.

I said, I know I have seen your work, but I am sorry that I cannot place you. He said that his most famous run was on Spin City quite a few years ago and that he wasn’t doing too much lately. But, he said his wife was (Mireille Enos) and asked me if I had seen “The Killing” on AMC. I lied a little and said I had, but maybe had seen it in ads and just in passing.

After moving from the line and obtaining my coffee, I moved over the the cream and sweetener area and he introduced himself as Allan and said I should check out “The Killing” and that the word is that his wife’s series is even better in season two which is starting in April.

I thought to myself, that I have all day tomorrow to rest up before the Los Angeles Marathon and would check it out On Demand or Online. Little did I know what a great show, “The Killing” is and that his wife was nominated for an Emmy as best actress.

We left Starbucks, arrived at Dodger Stadium and met up with friends Nancy and Tara:

Nancy, Tara and Alice

Our running friend Mary also joined us:

Alice, Mary and Nancy

We stopped to find our names on the Honda Marathon Cars:

Tara finds her name

Found my name too

Next, off to get our racing bibs:

Mission accomplished:

Nancy and her bib

Alice, Nancy, Tara and Mary

You receive a free t-shirt with running the marathon, but there is an obligatory stop at the official marathon store:

After shopping, we saw some other LA Roadrunner friends:

Patricia and Jaime

We then all walked around the Expo some, ate some pretzels and then departed for a nice carbohydrate rich lunch at Taix French Restaurant. We even had birthday cake for Tara who celebrated her birthday earlier in the week.

Tara and I would note that while racing on Sunday, we would pass the restaurant again!

Walking around the Expo

We all left, departed from home and I prepared on Saturday to have a nice relaxing day doing absolutely nothing, besides drinking Gatorade and eating carbohydrate rich foods.

It was not to be….

On early Saturday morning, I received a text from my daughter’s husband, Nathan, her water had broken and they were preparing to deliver my first grandson, James Phillip soon.

We hastily made our way to San Diego.

My new Grandson, James Phillip Kased and Grandpa Greg

Alice drove back to Thousand Oaks, we went to bed and prepared to race the Los Angeles Marathon in a few hours = the next post.
Share
Los Angeles Marathon

Video: Support @Flap – Gregory Flap Cole in the Los Angeles Marathon

Posted on
Share

Here I am finishing the 2011 Los Angeles Marathon in the rain

Please support me in my seventh Los Angeles Marathon.

Check out this video from ASICS, a Los Angeles Marathon sponsor:

Never run a marathon alone, thanks to the Asics ‘support your marathoner’ program

So, how can you support me at the Los Angeles Marathon?

  • Go here to the ASICS Support Your Marathoner Website.
  • Search for me under Friends Find runners: Gregory Cole, Los Angeles Marathon Bib Number 12852.
  • Upload your text, Photo, or Video onto their website.
  • Your submission will be displayed on the large video screens throughout the race on ASICS’ large video displays.

And, thank you!

If you don’t want, to go to the ASICS site, please send me a text or a photo text on Marathon Day, Sunday, March 18 DIRECTLY. You know where to find my mobile number.

The race will begin around 7:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time.

Race Day tracking will be here starting on the 13th and you can sign up here.

Thanks again…..
Share
Health

Video: Why Run the Los Angeles Marathon?

Posted on
Share

Because it is there? Nope….

The 2012 Los Angeles Marathon will be another celebration of a healthy lifestyle for me.

And, I thank God every day for the ability to participate in this event.

The LA Marathon course is pretty cool as well – Dodger Stadium to the Sea in Santa Monica.

March 18th is fast approaching and I am really getting excited.

Share
Los Angeles Marathon

Los Angeles Marathon 2012: Support Your Marathoner

Posted on
Share

Never run a marathon alone, thanks to the Asics ‘support your marathoner’ program

This is a neat endeavor by ASICS who are the new sponsors of the Los Angeles Marathon. Watch the video above and you will get an idea about the program which was started last Fall at the New York City Marathon.

So, how can you support me at the Los Angeles Marathon?

  • Go here to the ASICS Support Your Marathoner Website.
  • Search for me under Friends Find runners: Gregory Cole, Los Angeles Marathon Bib Number 12852.
  • Upload your text, Photo, or Video onto their website.
  • Your submission will be displayed on the large video screens throughout the race on ASICS’ large video displays.

And, thank you!

Share
Los Angeles Marathon

Los Angeles Roadrunners Run/Walk 5 at Dodger Stadium – February 4, 2012

Posted on
Share

Los Angeles Dodger Stadium and the congregating Los Angeles Roadrunners

The training for the Los Angeles Marathon on March 18th this week was HILL training – meaning running the hills around Dodger Stadium. The course was a little over 5K and Run/Walk 5 ran the course three times, reversing the order each time.

Here is head pace leader Walt’s blog piece on the run.

Now, for my photos:

Director of Training of the LA Roadrunners, Rod Dixon (see his first place finish in the New York City Marathon below)

Tara, my running partner and I separated and I ran with the main group for 2- 5K cycles and met up with her for a two mile walk around Dodger Stadium.

Tara and me

Here is my wife, Alice and me prior to the run ( I ran with her for the first two cycles):

After running, sometimes you feel you have the world (or at least downtown Los Angeles) in your own palms:

Here are Joel and Minerva who met at run/Walk 5 last LA Marathon season and now run together. Who says there is NO love in running?

After running, the group headed over to Walt’s office where we enjoyed bagels, eggs, sausages and good company.

Walt and Alice

Did I mention the bagels?

No cream cheese for me though, Minerva

Nancy, one of the Ronnie’s Diner gang and R/W 5 Pace Leader

Mary who is REALLY smiling because she was working with a former U.S. Senator last week. Mary is also a Ronnie’s gang member and R/W 5 Pace Leader

Here are some more photos and the rest, I promise, I will post on Flickr, Picasa and Facebook.

Kristi

Tara and Maria Elena

Back to the beach (Venice Beach and Santa Monica) next Saturday and a 20 mile long run. March 18th is fast approaching.
Share