Fitness Files: Staying cool (hopefully) at L.A. Marathon

Readers, I’m telling you first.

Nobody else knows — not family, not running friends.

The idea took root last week. I kept it to myself. I didn’t want advice, admonitions or encouragement.

Here it is: I just paid $200 to run the L.A. Marathon on March 15.

Readers who stuck with me through last year’s 52 weeks of hard training for the marathon might remember my Daily Pilot commentaries describing a tumble on the Back Bay, the pain in my foot, grueling 50-mile weeks, a tough volunteer coach and supportive running partners.

I promised readers a first-place medal in my 70th year. I figured being the “baby” in the 70- to 74-year-old female class gave me a good chance.

As L.A. Marathon 2014 loomed, I checked temperatures with alarm: 80-plus degrees predicted. I am a cool weather runner.

Marathon-day heat is a killer. I ran the Chicago Marathon, 10-10-10, in stifling 90-degree heat and humidity. At mile 20, leg cramps hobbled me. Demoralized, I walked in.

By contrast, I completed my fastest marathon, OC 2006, under an overcast sky and light rain. I’m energized by cool air but wilt under hot sun.

Last year, in spite of excellent training and perfect race-day support from running friends who took care of transportation and pacing, heat burned down from a fiery sun and radiated up from steaming asphalt. About mile 20, leg cramps struck, nearly toppling me over on my nose.

Disappointed beyond imagination, I walked in. I’m still affected by memories of that wild card: weather.

I almost forgot to say that I brought home the first place promised to Pilot readers — but only after another runner who “jumped in” to run less than half the race was found out and removed from first.

Back to recent history. Since last spring, I watched my running friends follow rigorous marathon training plans and complete 20-mile weekend workouts.

I rejoiced that I did not have to be part of that. I reveled in coming home after a mere eight miles, or skipping a workout for brunch with friends or an overnighter with my new granddaughter.

But here I am, unable to let L.A. go by without being there.

So I tested my legs.

Wednesday, I ran 18 miles. Tired but not sore!

Saturday, I ran 19 miles. Not even too tired.

Yesterday, I ran 20 miles. Felt fine.

I haven’t discussed pace. I’m really slow — 12- to 15-minute miles.

So who cares? I promise to finish. Nobody’s got money on me. My normal conditioning and few long runs show that I can complete 20 miles.

The last six are always excruciating, but that is what endurance athletes agree to. We triumph over, or push forward, or muddle through the parts that hurt.

Readers, you heard it first: L.A. Marathon, 2015.

Wish me cool, overcast weather.

Newport Beach resident CARRIE LUGER SLAYBACK is a retired teacher who ran the Los Angeles Marathon at age 70, winning first place in her age group. Her blog is lazyracer@blogspot.com.