Zombie Kid's Running Blog: Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation 5K/10K Run

Hello!
Well it's been a while since I entered a race so when I received a discount code for the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation 5K/10K run I jumped on it. The Dodgers are red hot this season and part of the race entry was a Dodgers T-shirt. The race took place at Dodger Stadium on Sunday October 1st. I ran the 10K.

The run was sponsored by New Balance and the Dodgers Foundation. The Dodgers Foundation was formed in 1995 to serve the education and athletic needs of Los Angeles residents.
Packet pick-up was at Dodger Stadium the day before the race and on race day. To avoid any crowds I went the day before. Also there were discounts offered on select Dodgers gear in their gift shop and concessions were open so you could carbo load on Dodger Dogs. I have to say that the baseball shaped bib numbers were probably the best I've ever seen.
I was up at 4:30 AM on race day and hit the road at 5:30 AM. No traffic on the freeway so I flew there fast, getting to the stadium at 5:50 AM I was turned away by security. I was told I was "way too early" for the race. My race was starting at 7:00 AM and I was 70 minutes early. So I pulled into a dirt lot next to the entrance and parked next to some other runners. At 6 AM the stadium gates opened and everyone was allowed to park. Everyone drove up to the gate at the same time creating a massive traffic jam. Suddenly it dawned on me...

In Los Angeles if there isn't a traffic jam, damn it, they'll create one!

Parked my car and headed in to the start area. I had plenty of time to loosen up.
I was wearing a new pair of an old shoe, the Brooks Ghost 9. The Ghost 10 is out now so the price of the 9 was reduced. I got them in zombie green. They are very comfortable and I really like the large toe-box.

The run started at 7:AM. If you are familiar with the Dodger Stadium area you'll know that it is built in a very hilly area of the city. That's why there are beautiful views from the stadium.

It was overcast, about 65 degrees. Perfect weather for running. The course ran through the parking lot and then out of the parking lot around Elysian Park and the Los Angeles Police Academy. The course was very similar to another run that the Dodgers sponsored back in the late 80's through the 90's called The Dodgers Home Run.

The entire run was uphill and then downhill. A lot of the runners were Dodgers fans wearing Dodgers hats and shirts. I finished the run in 51:14. Crossing the finish line former Dodger Kenny Landreaux slapped me a high-five. Definitely not my best run but on this course I don't think anyone did their best. After I finished I got a bottle of water and a banana and sat at down next to George Costanza's parking spot at the stadium. I guess he's no longer working for the Yankees.

I thought part of the course would include a run through the stadium but since the Dodgers are now in the playoffs they may have changed it. But they did let everyone walk inside the stadium around the warning track.