L.A.
Marathon relaxes, motivates CSULB student
By
Ryan Kobane
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
The Los Angeles Marathon has a long tradition of uniting Angelinos and bringing
out the competitive spirit in thousands of people. Cal State Long Beach student
Katie DeBoer embodies the spirit of the L.A. Marathon and is looking forward
to competing.
DeBoer will attempt to attack the 26.2-mile run that weaves through Los Angeles.
DeBoer grew up in Mission Viejo, and is currently majoring in journalism. She
does not run for the track team, but she does have a runner’s mentality.
“
I feel that running has always been more of a relaxing and meditating activity,” Deboer
said.
Starting in November, DeBoer spent five days a week running at least four miles.
Since then, the training has become more strength and endurance oriented. When
Jan. 1 rolled around, DeBoer began to add two miles to her runs every week
and began weight training for extra leg and upper body strength.
Her favorite time to run is before sunrise. Before students even stagger out
of bed for their first class, DeBoer has already ran half a marathon. All of
this running and weight lifting would be ruined by the normal diet of any college
student, but DeBoer really does not worry much about diet.
“
I eat pretty much anything I want except soda, cakes and junk food,” she
said. “I eat a lot of organic food, but come on, a Twinkie doesn’t
hurt every once and a while.”
The L.A. Marathon goes through historic areas such as Beverly Hills and Downtown
Los Angeles, while Randy Newman sings “I Love L.A.” on the starting
line and gospel singers perform on Vermont Avenue.
DeBoer is not a rookie at the marathon; she has put her body through this once
before. In 2004 she ran in 98 degree weather and found out what it meant to “hit
the wall.”
“
During mile 17, I just couldn’t run anymore, so I mostly speed walked
the rest of the way to the finish line,” she said.
“
It wasn’t that my lungs couldn’t handle it, it’s that I sprained
my left foot.”
But she finished, and is now back to try it all over again. However, this time
she has a fully loaded iPod, something she did not have during her first attempt.
DeBoer may seem crazy for going through all this work and training just to
have her body tested and pushed to complete exhaustion, but she uses her time
running as a way to escape.
“
I can let out steam, think out my thoughts, figure out my problems, and well,
I really get a lot done when I run,” she said.
Running 26.2 miles may seem impossible, but DeBoer relaxes and takes the challenge
in stride. The night before the race DeBoer “carbo loads,” eating
pasta and bread until she can barely walk. In the morning she will only eat
a banana, bagel and drink water. This routine will give her body the maximum
amount of energy it can handle, energy she will need for the marathon.
DeBoer wants to finish the race in less than six hours — a goal she thinks
she can obtain.
DeBoer said her family is very encouraging.
“
Basically, my family and friends think I am crazy, but they have always been
supportive of everything that I do,” she said. “I mean when I told
them I was running the marathon again they rolled their eyes, but they know
how I get when I have the drive to get something done.”
Katie will be running March 19, rain or shine. Fans and spectators are more
than welcome to go out and root on the runners, pass out Gatorade and orange
slices and enjoy the festivities all day long.
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