I ran the Nike After Dark Tour in L.A. Here’s what went down.

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I ran the Nike After Dark Tour in L.A. Here’s what went down.

After having run – or more as just a survivor – my first half -marathon about ten years ago in Las Vegas, I no longer want to participate in a long distance race.

It was until I learned that Nike welcomed the Nike After Dark Tour, a series of female races designed to celebrate women and encourage them to enter sport. The half -marathon of the – The only stop of the tour in the United States – was to include a concert with the rapper winner of a Grammy Doechii at the end of the 13.1 miles race. Since Nike has built a reputation for organizing fresh experiences from culture, I thought it would be the ideal way for me to get my retirement for several years. In addition, several of my friends participated, so it was necessarily a good time.

After training for several weeks in the parks and tracks around Los Angeles, I hit the sidewalk alongside nearly 15,000 participants – 43% of whom were first half -marathoners – Saturday evening at the Sofi stadium in Inglewood. The event sparked a lot of online chatter – not all positive – with some runners calling disorganized race and a marketing event addressed to influencers. As for me, I lived several peaks during the energetic event, but also some moments of frustration and confusion. Here is how the night went, from the starting line (and from the trip to get there) in the concert final in Hautocytane.

PRE-COURSE: Access to the starting line was a marathon in itself

Knowing that thousands of people had to participate in the event, I chose to go to the Sofi stadium about an hour and a half earlier to avoid traffic. With hindsight, I should have arrived even earlier. Several streets were blocked due to the race, but once I found the parking lot, it was easy for me to find a place – much easier than it was during the recent concert of Kendrick Lamar and Sza a few weeks ago. (While registration for the race started at $ 150, parking was fortunately free for those who obtained a place in advance.)

People gather in their corrals assigned to the Sofi stadium before the Nike after a dark half-marathon.

I followed a herd of people to the entrance where we had a security checkpoint, then a bag control line, which took about 30 minutes to pass. Subsequently, I rushed outside to find my friends and I waited in another line – this time for the potties – which took about 40 minutes.

The starting line, finally

At that time, there was only about 10 minutes before the race and I had to stretch, so my group ran to the departure corrals. The race was initially starting at 6.30 p.m., but a master of ceremonies announced that he was postponed at 6.45 p.m., that made me nervous because the concert was fixed at 9:30 p.m., so it meant that I would have less than three hours to finish if I wanted to take the show.

In the weeks preceding the marathon, some participants went to social networks to express their concerns about Nike who changed his course time from four hours – as he indicated on the registration form – at three hours. In a thread post, a runner said: “If the goal of this event was to recover the race by giving women a space to feel safe during the course of the night, then why would you not be inclusive for the runners of all not?”

In response to feedback, Nike finally set the course of the course at three hours and 17 minutes, allowing an average mile of 15 minutes per Mile, according to a spokesperson for Nike. The brand added a shorter course option, which was nine miles, so that participants can always cross the finish line, receive a medal (a silver necklace with a giant nike swoosh) and enjoy the concert.

Despite confusion, people were ample. “I am in this phase of my life where I really want to prove to myself that I can do difficult things,” said Ayanna Fox, 29, of Chino Hills, on the reasons she wanted to participate.

Misty Garcia, 17, a high school student, said: “I had the impression that this particular breed was so interesting because it would be mainly women and it is the empowerment of women, so I love it.”

While the “360” of Charli XCX played on the speakers, the coaches of Nike as well as the Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and the Olympic Empressor Anna Cockrell, excited the crowd while each corral took off. It was the point where my nerves started to go into play because I was impatient to start. Around 7:05 p.m., an explosion of smoke broke out. I was finally gone and run.

Miles 1-7: excitation of activations, DJs and applause fans

The first seven miles were the most exhilarating for me. I felt strong and confident about my pace. And for my legs, this section was gently. Hundreds of people applauded the sidelines and brandished panels with statements like “You Run better than our government”, “Hot Girls run half-marathons” and “hurry up for us to drink”. The drivers along the highway hunted for us. DJS played an optimistic and hip-hop music. The USC group has played. Between the scorer of six and seven miles, we crossed a tunnel filled with flashing red lights and bubbles. The energy was electric.

The supporters applaud and hold panels while the runners embark on the Nike after a dark half-marathon at the

Several brands such as Flamingo, Honey Stinger (which gave energy gels and free snacks), Apple Music and Beats of Dre had activations along the route. There was even a recovery station with sofas, catering trailers and snacks.

Miles 8-10: Pain settles

Just before Mile 8, my headphones died and that’s when the hills started to reach me. I felt like I was running from top to bottom in sharp roller coaster. Without music, I had to talk to myself throughout the final section. But it was in these trenches that I noticed several mild moments of community care: a volunteer who passed away the Bengay cream, a group of friends holding a woman while it was, riders shouting their country of origin and waving their flags following the ice raids that were happening in our city at that time. It was a great reminder of our best as people when we support each other.

The supporters record and applaud as the runners embark on the Nike female half-marath at the Sofi stadium in Inglewood.

Towards Mile 10, I spotted Chris Bennett, the world head coach of Nike, giving high-fives and encouraging people to move forward. (He even ran with the last heap of runners and helped them through the finish line.)

The last mile – or was it?

While I was approaching the end, I felt bambboo because there were at least two massive arcades that looked like the finish line, but which was not. I still had a long way to go. I could have cried tears of joy when I finally reached the end. I timed at three hours and three minutes, which I was satisfied because my only objectives were to finish, have fun and go to the concert. The winner was Sofia Camacho, an artist from Dragsters and Nike Run coach based in New York, who had an hour, 15 minutes and 25 seconds.

Hundreds of supporters border the course while the runners embark on the Nike After Dark tour in Los Angeles.

After catching my medal, I walked as fast as my endolris members allowed back inside the stadium. The trek felt tortuous because we had to climb several stairs, then travel to a bridge which was about 10 levels that did not feel at the end until we reached the background where the scene was. Some people have given up watching the show simply because they did not have the energy to go.

The grand finale: Doechii brings energy

As I arrived, I was disappointed to see that Doechii was already on his last two songs in his 30 -minute set, but the energy was so high that I quickly forgot and I just appreciated the moment while I could. The show ended just before 10:40 p.m. while some people still operated, including one of my friends who missed the show and could not get a pair of Slides and Soots Barbie Pink Nike that they vanished.

The night ends and yet the trek continues

After the show, we were invited to leave the stadium – fortunately, there was an escalator – but I still had to gather the energy to return to the entrance to the other side of the stadium so that I could recover my personal effects from the bag control zone. My legs were over when I got to my car.

Aside from certain logistical problems and long waiting times, I enjoyed participating in the Nike After Dark tour. The course was difficult but feasible, and running alongside thousands of women and allies of various ages and horizons at night was stimulating. The runners received a ton of gifts, especially during the grove bib pick-up, which included a Dri-Fit t-shirt and milk makeup.

As a person who generally avoids cardio in my training sessions, this race inspired me to continue to hit the sidewalk and to explore this beautiful city on foot. And who knows, I could register for another race.