Earlier than I start: the Los Angeles Angels 5K is rarely a full 5k course. I consider it’s a couple of tenth of a mile quick 12 months after 12 months. You lose GPS whereas operating contained in the stadium, so that you by no means actually know. This 12 months, I had about 12 seconds of “zero motion” logged on my watch and one other stretch at a ten–11 minute tempo whereas it tried to seek out sign.
It wouldn’t be nice for me to sit down right here and fake I ran a 5K in 18:48…that’s doing myself a disservice and setting myself up for disappointment after I don’t run that quick once more. To not put a damper on the race, as a result of it’s nonetheless enjoyable however it’s quick. Anyway…
Earlier than the Los Angeles Angels 5K:
Because of Juneteenth and taking Friday off, I had a pleasant, stress-free few days earlier than the race. I additionally received to go away so much sooner than I might if I had been working. Whereas Orange County and Anaheim are “solely” a two-hour drive from my home with out visitors, I by no means drive there with out visitors…it may well take over three hours, if not three and a half. So it was good to not be getting there late. We even made a rapid cease on the Reptile Zoo to carry some snakes.
I slept fairly effectively the night time earlier than, and we received to the Los Angeles Angels 5K begin round 6:50 a.m. It will get actually backed up when you arrive after 7, so I attempt to get there early. I did a 3-mile warm-up and lined up on the entrance. I’ve made the error of beginning too far again at this race, and it turns right into a cluster attempting to not get run over.
Los Angeles Angels 5K Race:
The Los Angeles Angels 5K is rarely a full 5K. I all the time estimate it’s between 3.0 and three.05 miles. Plus, it goes by way of Angels Stadium, so GPS turns into unreliable…so you actually don’t know. This 12 months, I made a decision to manually mark it and see what occurred.
Instantly after the beginning, it was chaos. Because it’s a 3,000+ particular person 5K with extra baseball followers than runners, many individuals don’t perceive the best way to self-seed and line up too far ahead. The primary mile loops across the stadium with a number of turns…it’s not a quick course. I manually marked my watch at mile 1 and it mentioned 5:39. I do know that’s not proper. I truly ran round a 6:09.
Surprisingly, I used to be in first place at that time, however I knew there have been quick girls within the race. One lady handed me simply after mile 1 and by no means seemed again. I knew I wasn’t catching her. The second mile takes you into the stadium, the place you fully lose GPS. It’s a cool expertise operating by way of the stadium, but in addition difficult. It’s one big flip, and my watch mentioned I ran a “7:09” second mile. It additionally advised me I wasn’t transferring in a single half and operating a ten:40 tempo in one other. One other lady handed me within the stadium and I discovered myself in third however not too far behind second.
I hit the mile 2 marker at 5:43. My guess is I ran it in about 6:20, however who is aware of? The ultimate mile takes you again across the car parking zone and onto the warning observe. I handed the second-place lady simply earlier than hitting the warning observe. It’s mentally powerful as a result of as soon as you allow the observe, you’ll be able to see the end line from practically a 3rd of a mile away. I simply centered on the end and saved pushing. My watch recorded a 6:03 mile, which was a full mile from the final guide mark.
I crossed the end line in 18:48, second lady total.
Los Angeles Angels 5K Ideas:
I’ve a love/hate relationship with the Los Angeles Angels 5K. I appear to run effectively right here and it’s actually enjoyable, however I by no means fairly know the way effectively. Was it a 19:20 5K? 19:30? I genuinely consider I ran someplace between 19:20–19:25, however we’ll by no means know. And actually, typically it’s good to not depend on your watch a lot. Both method, I ran my quickest ever on this course and completed because the second lady…my highest place end but.
You possibly can see Strava right here and all race recaps right here.
Questions for You:
Have you ever ever run a 5K in a stadium?
What’s your favourite 5K?
