EXPO DAY - Smoke from Saddleridge fire hasn't reached the Peninsula...yet. I hope it does not blow this way on race day
I arrive at the Long Beach Convention Center, site of the Jet Blue Long Beach Marathon Health and Fitness Expo
...to pick up my my bib! Yes, I am running a marathon, Long Beach's 35th. My second marathon was Long Beach's 25th, 10 years ago! Of course I am wearing the finisher's shirt from that race right now!
I was a little caught off guard by the "pick any line" signs. Usually bib numbers are assigned based a mix of registration order and/or seeding, but Long Beach opts for one where they merely pair a bib with a registrant by scanning QR codes (I received one via e-mail just the other day). This system certainly moves things along quickly because there are no lines.
Participants in this weekend's events try to find their name on the wall
Good thing I am not trying to do this first thing in the morning...this would give me a headache
I found myself!
I guess you can call this the point of no return :p I am having the hardest time taking selfies these days...so many of my shots are blurry. In this particular case, the background and my finger are perfectly sharp, but apparently my head is moving.
Interesting...Jaguar is using this venue to promote I-PACE, their all-electric "SUV". If people criticize the Model X for being too small to be considered an SUV, they obviously haven't seen this Jag.
It's a nice looking vehicle, but it seems smaller than Valerie's Model 3
How long it will take traditional manufacturers to ditch unnecessary front grills?
The interior is nice, but busy...I have gotten spoiled by Tesla minimalism
I get a previewing of the finisher's medal from Sunday's race
The Expo is actually inside The Pacific Ballroom...I tried to enter the Convention Center from an entrance along the walkway closest to Pine Avenue, but those doors were locked.
Apartments on Ocean Blvd overlooking Shoreline Drive
Marathon runners staying at the Westin should have a far easier time than I will arriving for the scheduled 6am start
ICB (International CityBank) was the title sponsor of the 25th Long Beach Marathon
Not exactly an ideal time to take a photograph of the Long Beach Performing Arts Center
I head back down the Promenade to where I parked
A lot of food options along this walkway
I was curious to read these stats, but figured I could just snap a pic and check later...oh well
Hmmm...I remember seeing a lot of posts from Pete as he ate down the menu at a Dog Haus in Pasadena. This has definite potential as a post-race meal stop, conveniently located cross the street from where I parked...
