Shape_Malaysia__June_2017
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The Skechers LA marathon<br />
is known for runners with<br />
costumes such as this.<br />
Skechers USA COO/ CFO David Weinberg,<br />
(left) and Skechers USA marketing manager<br />
Jeffrey Weinberg (right) with Mei .<br />
Race day<br />
On 19 March <strong>2017</strong> - the marathon<br />
day, we were shuttled to the Dodger<br />
Stadium at 5am. We had breakfast at<br />
the VIP Starlight suite. There were also<br />
plenty of photo opportunities. The<br />
‘Stadium to the Sea’ course of the race<br />
was challenging as it was beautiful and<br />
distracting. The course was undulating<br />
with many slopes to conquer. Luckily,<br />
my weekend training sessions involved<br />
undulating terrains so I was prepared.<br />
I found my relaxed phase as I eased<br />
into the 10km mark. At 21km, I was<br />
still relaxed and there were a few<br />
other runners at that pace so we<br />
stuck together. I also stopped to take<br />
photos of the performances that were<br />
organised to keep the runners going.<br />
The final 5km were the toughest but<br />
I pushed myself to finish strong. I didn’t<br />
worry about competitiveness this time.<br />
Since I started training for this marathon<br />
just three months after delivery, I was<br />
pleased with my accomplishment!<br />
I pictured my husband and daughter<br />
waiting for me at the finish line, and that<br />
spurred me on.<br />
It was a super well-organised<br />
event and one to remember! The<br />
cut off time for the marathon was<br />
6 hours and 30 minutes - I did it in<br />
5 hours and 27 minutes. It wasn’t<br />
a personal record but not every race is<br />
about a personal record. Some races<br />
are to be enjoyed. Eight athletes<br />
set official Guinness World record<br />
for the fastest ever time running<br />
a marathon dressed in costumes.<br />
To make the historic moments more<br />
memorable, a Guinness World Records<br />
adjudicator was on-site to provide<br />
record-breakers with on-the-day<br />
verification. The event also played host<br />
to the city’s newest professional sports<br />
team, the LA Chargers. A 13-person<br />
relay team, including general manager<br />
Tom Telesco, linebacker Denzel<br />
Perryman and Charger Girls, passed<br />
a football as a baton as each member<br />
ran a leg of the race. Perryman ran<br />
the final leg alongside Asher Stewart,<br />
a young athlete from Angel City Sports,<br />
the Paralympic Sports movement in<br />
Southern California.<br />
This marathon goes down in<br />
history as one of the best organised<br />
marathons I have run to date!<br />
SHAPE.COM.MY JUNE <strong>2017</strong> 29
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