La Expo Day

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My mom cracks me up. Her English is not very good, so her way of working on it is reading every sign she sees and trying to translate it. This often results in fun stuff, like today:

We spent the better part of the morning at the LA Marathon expo where, obviously, the words “LA Marathon” were splattered all over the place:So after a while, my mom goes: “La Marathon. Why do they call it La Marathon, is it like The Marathon?”

Besides her eagerness to learn, my mom takes awesome (and particularly flattering) photos of her daughter:Anyway, we tried not to spend too long at La Expo: just pick up my number, play every single raffle there was, try every single sample… in and out, really:The entrance area was like a 2007 flashback for me: the year I last picked up a race bib for the New York City Marathon. The two races share a sponsor (ASICS) and color scheme (orange/ blue), but also: there were a ton of vendors set up in a huge barn-like space. Oh wait, that’s what all big marathon expos are like?

For this race, as seems to be trendy these days, Asics launched a limited edition shoe — and yes, it was green. Obviously, no one listened to me when I said it should be purple:When you play spin-the-wheel, beanbag toss, mini-basketball and whathaveyou, it really helps to be little, blond and cute: they give you prizes whether you win or not. (In our case: a hand towel, a reusable shopping bag, temporary tattoos, and a whole lot of candy that I lost – aw shucks.)

Mom’s loot:I can’t say I’m crazy about the T-shirt’s color. I understand they wanted it green, but this sickly-looking color is bound to disagree with most people’s complexions. Which doesn’t mean I’m not going to wear it, of course.

When we were done with the expo, we got in the car to drive back to Santa Monica. No offense, but that part of Downtown LA doesn’t strike me as the funnest place to hang out with your little kid. (We did come here a couple of years ago to see a Lakers game, though.)We went to the Santa Monica Pier: home to an old-old roller coaster and Ferris wheel, the official end of Route 66 (since 2009, ha!) and right next to a pretty huge beach:[can you tell I’m obsessed with this Instagram filter? Isn’t it super annoying?]

Before we knew it, it was time to carbo load again (and take an extra-long nap after that, because really, this was just an embarrassingly large plate of spaghetti and I ate almost all of it):

In all, on what is supposed to be a stay-off-your-feet day, we ended up walking for more than five miles. Oops? Tomorrow: wake up call at 4 a.m., coffee and banana, shuttle to Dodgers Stadium at 5 and then: we run!

Your turn: What is your pre-race ritual? Pre-race breakfast?

10 thoughts on “La Expo Day

    • March 1, 2014 at 10:18 am
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      Good luck!! And enjoy La Marathon LOL 😀

      Reply
  • Pingback: Los Angeles Marathon Review, Part 1: Before the Off… | Confessions of a Caffeinated Mother Runner

  • March 17, 2013 at 4:53 am
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    You’re at the stadium now–I’m thinking about you today (and flashing back to our New York corral time!). Have and amazing race! Run, Aleks, Run!

    Reply
    • March 17, 2013 at 3:39 pm
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      Aah, I wish you were there! I missed the company those first 13-14 miles – not to mention went out too fast as a result and paid for it later. Of course, the question now is which marathon to pick next?

      Reply
  • March 16, 2013 at 8:52 pm
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    For me, breakfast is usually a couple bites of whatever I can find. Last week it was a couple spoonful of peanut butter. 🙂 Sometimes, it’s a banana or granola bar in the car.
    Good luck, Aleks! I’m so excited for you!

    Reply
  • March 16, 2013 at 7:41 pm
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    I love that story about your mom and La Marathon…it makes me smile. I’m prefacing all my future races with “La”…La Hope Run, La Color Me Rad. Much more sophisticated. Have a great run!!

    Reply
    • March 16, 2013 at 8:37 pm
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      Haha! Thanks, and yes – it’s very la-la-la, all this running 🙂

      Reply
  • March 16, 2013 at 7:40 pm
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    If you can take your little man to see the endeavor shuttle at the California science centre, it’s amazing!! Good luck tomorrow!!

    Reply
    • March 16, 2013 at 8:39 pm
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      Thanks for the tip! We may do this tomorrow afternoon (or rather, dad and son may do this while I rest my heavy legs)!

      Reply

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