22nd L.A. Marathon
Sunday 3/4/2007
My Impression of the day
by Marc Richards
Like last year and the year before, the excitement leading up to the actual walk was palpable. However, unlike last year I was feeling great and the weather was perfect, making it more like the 20th Marathon walk. When I was done walking, I felt I could’ve walked farther and my pace was awesome. Taylor was busy this year going from client to client making sure each person was doing well in their own way. Several people had firsts: It was Esi’s first time walking outside. It was Tony’s first time walking in several years. It was Kirsten’s first time at any event like this. Even Bobak was there.
The crowd was cheering as the announcer read some material that Taylor had given him. The cheering was just as loud as the last two years and just as motivating. It gave me a thrill to hear my name being announced.
I was fortunate to have hooked up with Steve Honikman, the race director. He paved the way for a successful event with his genuine interest in seeing us participate. Taylor and he kept running into each other at Starbucks on the West side!
Although I hadn’t gotten the parking passes worked out as well as I’d have liked, like last year everyone found their way to Fifth and Flower on their own. All Access Passes would’ve helped. Next year I need to ask for them.
Shortly after everyone got together as a group, Taylor gave a long speech about personal success and internal motivation. Kaye Kittrell and her friend photographed and videotaped it while Burke Bryant had a crew from gliving.tv there filming the whole event.
The LA Marathon had a Press Release I wrote with Taylor (http://www.spinalman.com/Press.htm). A week before the race a columnist for the Daily News, Dennis McCarthy, wrote a great piece on what we’re doing. You can read it by going to http://www.spinalman.com/dailynews2.htm.
My Impression of the day
by Kirsten Jacobson (age 15 - CP)
The 2007 Los Angeles Marathon was a very special experience for me. have been training for a long time with my trainer Taylor Isaacs. I anticipated by crossing the finish line in my wheelchair and immediately received a very special medallion around my neck. My mother would have been very proud of me, since she helped me prepare for this event. I proudly hang my medal on my framed marathon poster in my bedroom. This was my first experience at a marathon and it was lots of fun. Before entering the race, Taylor gathered all of his clients together and gave us a very special speech. He assembled about a dozen of us, mostly in our wheelchairs, to recognize and highlight each one of us for our strengths, hard work, and strong personal drives. It was an awesome inspirational speech. He made me feel very, very special for reaching my marathon goal. I am very proud to have been a participant in the Los Angeles Marathon and look forward to the next one.