After working — or extra like barely surviving — my first half-marathon a few decade in the past in Las Vegas, I had no need to take part in a long-distance run ever once more.

That was till I realized that Nike was internet hosting the Nike After Darkish tour, a girls’s race sequence designed to have a good time girls and encourage them to get into the game. The L.A. half-marathon — the tour’s solely cease within the U.S. — was slated to incorporate a live performance with Grammy-winning rapper Doechii on the finish of the 13.1 mile race. Provided that Nike has constructed a popularity for curating cool, culture-forward experiences, I figured this might be the proper approach for me to get out of my years-long retirement from working. Plus, a number of of my buddies have been collaborating so it was certain to be a very good time.

After coaching for a number of weeks at parks and tracks round L.A., I hit the pavement alongside almost 15,000 individuals — 43% of whom have been first-time half-marathoners — on Saturday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The occasion sparked a number of on-line chatter — not all constructive — with some runners calling the race disorganized and a advertising occasion catered to influencers. As for me, I skilled a number of highs throughout the energetic occasion, but in addition some moments of frustration and confusion. Right here’s how the evening went down, from the beginning line (and the journey in getting there) to the high-octane live performance finale.

Pre-race: Attending to the beginning line was a marathon in itself

Understanding that 1000’s of individuals have been anticipated to take part within the occasion, I opted to get to the SoFi Stadium about an hour and a half early to keep away from site visitors. In hindsight, I ought to’ve arrived even earlier. A number of streets have been blocked off as a result of race, however as soon as I discovered the parking zone, it was simple for me to discover a spot — a lot simpler than it was on the latest Kendrick Lamar and SZA live performance a number of weeks prior. (Whereas registration for the race began at $150, parking was fortunately free for many who secured a spot forward of time.)

After experiencing lengthy strains and a delayed begin time, runners collect of their assigned corrals to organize for the 13.1-mile race.

I adopted a herd of individuals towards the doorway the place we went by means of a safety checkpoint, then a bag verify line, which took about half-hour to get by means of. Afterward, I rushed outdoors to search out my buddies and waited in one more line — this time for the porta-potties — which took about 40 minutes.

The beginning line, ultimately

By this time, there have been solely about 10 minutes till race time and I nonetheless wanted to stretch, so my group ran over to the beginning corrals. The race was initially scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m., however an emcee introduced that it was being pushed again to six:45 p.m. This made me nervous as a result of the live performance was set for 9:30 p.m., so this meant that I’d have lower than three hours to complete if I needed to catch the present.

Within the weeks main as much as the marathon, some individuals took to social media to voice their considerations about Nike altering its course time from 4 hours — because it said on the registration type — to 3 hours. In a single Threads publish, a runner mentioned: “If the whole purpose of this event was to reclaim running by giving women a space to feel safe running at night, then why wouldn’t you be inclusive to runners of all paces?”

In response to the suggestions, Nike finally set the course time to 3 hours and 17 minutes, permitting for a median mile of quarter-hour per mile, in keeping with a Nike spokesperson. The model added a shorter course possibility, which was 9 miles, so individuals might nonetheless cross the end line, obtain a medal (a silver necklace with an enormous Nike swoosh) and benefit from the live performance.

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Regardless of the confusion, individuals have been amped. “I’m at this phase in my life where I really want to prove to myself that I can do hard things,” mentioned Ayanna Fox, 29, of Chino Hills, on why she needed to take part.

Misty Garcia, 17, a Venice Excessive Faculty pupil, mentioned: “I felt like this race in particular was so interesting because it was going to be mostly women and it’s about women empowerment, so I love it.”

As Charli xcx’s “360” performed over the audio system, Nike trainers together with Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and Olympic hurdler Anna Cockrell, overrated the gang as every corral took off. This was the purpose when my nerves began to kick in as a result of I used to be desperate to get began. About 7:05 p.m., a burst of smoke popped. I used to be lastly off and working.

Host Elisa Hernandez, from left, Diljeet Taylor, Anna Cockrell and Jordan Chiles on the Nike After Darkish Tour in L.A.

Miles 1-7: The thrill of activations, DJs and cheering followers

The primary seven miles have been probably the most exhilarating for me. I felt sturdy and assured about my tempo. And for my legs, this stretch was easy crusing. Tons of of individuals have been cheering from the sidelines and holding up indicators with statements like “You run better than our government,” “Hot girls run half marathons” and “Hurry up so we can drink.” Drivers alongside the freeway have been honking for us. DJs performed upbeat home and hip-hop music. USC’s band carried out. Between the six- and seven-mile marker, we ran by means of a tunnel that was full of flashing purple lights and bubble machines. The vitality was electrical.

Supporters cheer and maintain indicators as runners embark on the Nike After Darkish half marathon in L.A.

A number of manufacturers together with Flamingo, Honey Stinger (which gave out free vitality gels and snacks) and Beats by Dre had activations alongside the course. There was even a restoration station with couches, restroom trailers and snacks.

Miles 8-10: The ache units in

Simply earlier than Mile 8, my headphones died and that’s when the hills began to get to me. I felt like I used to be working up and down a pointy curler coaster. With out music, I used to be compelled to speak myself by means of the ultimate stretch. Nevertheless it was in these trenches that I observed a number of candy moments of neighborhood care: a volunteer passing out Bengay cream, a gaggle of buddies holding up a lady as she limped, runners shouting out their dwelling nations and waving their flags within the wake of the ICE raids that have been occurring in our metropolis at this very second. It was a phenomenal reminder of how a lot better we’re as individuals once we help each other.

Supporters report and cheer as runners embark on the Nike girls’s half-marathon on the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Round Mile 10, I noticed Chris Bennett, Nike’s working international head coach, giving out high-fives and inspiring individuals to push ahead. (He even ran with the final bunch of runners and helped them throughout the end line.)

The ultimate mile — or was it?

As I neared the top, I felt bamboozled as a result of there have been at the least two huge archways that regarded just like the end line, however truly weren’t. I nonetheless had a methods to go. I might’ve cried tears of pleasure once I lastly reached the top. I clocked in at three hours and three minutes, which I used to be happy with as a result of my solely objectives have been to complete, have enjoyable and make it to the live performance. The winner was Sofia Camacho, a drag artist and Nike run coach primarily based in New York, who clocked in at one hour, quarter-hour and 25 seconds.

Tons of of supporters line the course as runners embark on the Nike After Darkish Tour in Los Angeles.

After grabbing my medal, I walked as quick as my sore limbs would permit again contained in the stadium. The trek felt tortuous as a result of we needed to climb up a number of units of stairs, then journey down a walkway that was roughly 10 ranges that felt endless till we reached the underside the place the stage was. Some individuals gave up on watching the present just because they didn’t have the vitality to make it down.

The grand finale: Doechii brings the vitality

By the point I obtained there, I used to be disillusioned to see that Doechii was already on her closing two songs of her 30-minute set, however the vitality was so excessive that I rapidly forgot and simply loved the second whereas I might. The present ended simply earlier than 10:40 p.m. whereas some of us have been nonetheless working together with one in every of my buddies who missed the present and wasn’t in a position to get a pair of Barbie pink Nike slides and socks they have been passing out.

The evening ends and but the trek continues

After the present, we have been instructed to exit the stadium — fortunately there was an escalator — however I nonetheless needed to muster up the vitality to return to the doorway on the different aspect of the stadium so I might retrieve my belongings from the bag verify space. My legs have been completed by the point I obtained to my automobile.

Other than some logistical points and lengthy wait instances, I loved collaborating within the Nike After Darkish Tour. The course was difficult however doable, and working alongside 1000’s of girls and allies of varied ages and backgrounds at evening felt empowering. Runners obtained a ton of freebies, notably on the bib pickup on the Grove, which included a dri-fit T-shirt and make-up from Milk.

As somebody who sometimes avoids cardio in my exercise classes, this race has impressed me to proceed hitting the pavement and exploring this lovely metropolis on foot. And who is aware of, I simply may join one other race.

Runners take off for the ladies’s half-marathon, which began at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.