Ethiopian Markos Geneti won a soaked 2011 Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday with a speedy 2:06:35 finish. Geneti won $125,000.00 for finishing first and winning the gender challenge. The women were spotted 17 minutes.
Remarkably Geneti had never run a marathon before. The 26 year-old Ethiopian complained of a side stitch throughout but none of it seemed to matter as he set a record for the fastest California marathon time….ever!
Defending champion Wesley Korir finished back in 4th place with a 2:13:23 finish.
Korir hit a massive wall at mile 21 and thought he was done, for good, “”First of all, I’d like to thank God that I’m still alive,” said Korir, smiling. “I thought it was the end of my life.”
I ran the Los Angeles Marathon for the first time last year. It was the 25th anniversary running of the marathon in Los Angeles (outside of the Olympic games).
Last year was also the first year for the ‘Stadium to Sea’ course that takes runners from baseball’s Dodger Stadium, throughout all of the high points and tourist attractions of Los Angeles, to a beautiful finish at the beach in Santa Monica.
I’ve returned to run the L.A. Marathon again this year and thought I’d quickly list 10 of my most favorite things about the Los Angeles Marathon.
10 Best Things About the Los Angeles Marathon
Getting to stretch and get loose before the race on the outfield grass of Dodger Stadium
Skipping the long porta-potty lines to pee on the Chavez Ravine hillside
Following the tweets of the L.A. Marathon @lamarathon throughout the year
Running down Hollywood Boulevard by Grauman’s (Mann’s) Chinese Theater where thousands of movie premieres have taken place over the past 100 years
Struggling down Sunset Boulevard thinking of all of the celebrities and great rockstars that have had just as much difficulty making it up and down this strip in the wee hours of the morning
Sprinting down Rodeo Drive
The opportunity to run with all of the local kids and citizens of Los Angeles who train all year just to run this race.
Finishing at the Santa Monica beach near the boardwalk & pier
The finisher’s medal is always top notch (see the 2011 version).
The crowd support throughout all the different areas of Los Angeles is top notch and extremely encouraging throughout the entire 26.2 miles. The crowd the last half mile before the finish line in Santa Monica makes you feel as if you were finishing an Olympic marathon with the gold.
Best of luck to all of those running the Los Angeles Marathon this year and for years to come!
