Way OT: Running in downtown L.A.
I will be attending a conference in two weeks in L.A. and I am looking for some good places to run outside. My hotel is downtown (near the Staples Center) and I will not be interested in driving to another location to do my running. I also won't have a car, so it is really a moot point!
I have never stayed in downtown L.A. before and I am not sure if there is a good network of trails or suggested running routes. Of course, I am also interested in knowing the areas to avoid as well. I am an early morning runner, usually hitting the pavement by 6am.
Are there any board members familiar with the downtown "running" landscape in L.A? Does anyone have a good Web site that they could recommend to find good places to run in the area? Suggestions for places to avoid? I have done some online research, but most of the suggested running areas are not located in downtown. This makes me wonder if I should avoid running in the downtown alltogether.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be most appreciated. Thank you!
I live in LA and running downtown doesn't feel like the best idea. I'm not a runner, so I don't have a suggestion on where to run exactly, but downtown probably isn't a great option.
The subway can easily take you to Hollywood or los Feliz, where people run a lot. Again, I'm no expert.
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You can get to the 7th/Metro train station easily from your spot. From there, you can take the Red Line to Sunset/Vermont, which is proximate to what I'd imagine are some friendly running environs (including Griffith Park, if you're going on a long-ish run). Alternatively, you could take the Expo Line all the way out to Culver City, which is also proximate to some running-friendly spots (including a masochistically large hill).
are you refering to the Culver Stairs? They really aren't that bad.
I believe the metro extension to Santa Monica recently opened. That would be my recomendation.
I hope you're not black... just sayin...
What does that have to do with anything? Not offended, just confused
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LAPD joke I assume.....
Use the heatmaps on Strava to figure out where people are running. Really useful when looking for places to run in new cities.
The lmgtfy, but you may have to oblia go try
to spell obligatory again.
Maybe he just hates oblias.
The Google machine can be used for so many things, but the MGo community is smarter than it.
You serious man? Go to Reddit, or just freaking Google a couple keywords.
Clown.
Don't.
I mean geez, A: running, B: downtown LA.
Talk about hell on earth thru hell on earth...
Doing the 5th/3rd run in Grand Rapids in a few weeks ?
I did it several years in a row before I took last year off because of running related injuries. This year I feel pretty good, but it will likely be a last minute decision for me.
injuries? pounding the pavement isnt good for you?
I am not.
Never miss it.
Possibly of interest:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skid_Row,_Los_Angeles
I've never pondered this question, but I think you could go safely in a few directions at that hour. (Aside: Early daylight is generally the safest time in shady areas.) I'll let the experts comment on that.
...isn't as terrifying as people make it out to be.
- Yes, it is a pile of folks with mental health and addiction problems that have been basically abandoned by the State and residents of LA and left to fend for themselves.
- No, it is not a threat to your safety - the area is teaming with LAPD, and if you are running you'll be through there in twenty seconds. It's actually not a bad run through the Arts district and Boyle heights - before it was rerouted, these were the last 6 miles of the LA Marathon, which was only a bummer because there weren't many spectators. Only time I wouldn't go there is between 10PM and dawn, but I also wouldn't run in Griffith Park during those hours on account of our Koala eating mountain lion.
That's a good summary of skid row. I lived in Little Tokyo recently and agree with the sentiments above.
I will add that skid row is the place where the homeless guy got shot up in his tent by LAPD last year...
On that note, there is an excellent bar right near that area called the Escondite if you're so inclined. Dive bar but I enjoyed myself there several a time
Red or Blue
Or gold. Or black. In fact, clothing at all might be a bad idea.
actually running naked might be the move. You'll be left alone
"Go Blue!"
"What did you just say!?"
April 18th, 2016 at 11:13 PM ^
There's actually a Crip faction out there that wears Michigan gear. Main Street wears Michigan not for the blue, but because of the block M for Main. It's not so much a color thing anymore as much as it is a hat thing. Wearing the wrong team in the wrong area can have deadly consequences.
I know this was a joke but it actually isn't bad advise depending on which directions you run lol
USC campus.
The stairs at the Staples Center
Griffith Park
Compton
In that order.
Straight outta?
And the Lord said unto northmuskegonblue, "Find thee a treadmill my son, that you may live a longer life than if you run through downtown LA at a time when there will be fewer witnesses- I mean, crowds".
And northmuskegonblue heard the Lord's advice, and wept, for he knew not why he had asked such a question. And taking the Lord's advice, lived a long and fruitful life. And it was good.
Mgoboards 4:18
I wish I could upvote this so many more times than just once. Very nicely done.
By the way, Mgoboards is my favorite book in the New Testament.
/pope'd
I'm really curious what else is written in the MGoBoards....I wonder if there is a prophecy of a prodigal son being rewarded for his return with silverware....
you rang???
I really did laugh out loud. Solid work.
Nice touch on the 4:18
Nobody walks in LA.
...without the properly styled apparel.
+1 for MP reference
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Skip the conference and head to the shore. There are a lot of pathways to enjoy west of town. That's way better than any conference.
bad idea
...just imagine you are staying in lower midtown. From Staples, head up Grand to Sunset, do a loop around Elysian Park and Dodget Stadium before returning through Chinatown on the East. +/- 8 miles, good for an early morning run. Don't listen to the haters - not every run is from your cul de sac and down the powerline just to turn around at the Tim Hortons.
OP, this is actually a pretty good suggestion; if you are looking to go that far.
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Without even considering safe areas vs places to avoid, I wouldn't run in downtown LA given the air quality. Don't know why you would subject your lungs to that if you're a health-conscious person.
Really? Are you familiar with LA at all? People run all over the city, the air quality is way overblown.
Overblown?
Did you do that on purpose?
No, not that fuzzy building, the other one.
...when ozone levels were more than double what they are now.
Things change. For example, the vehicle shown here stuck in a snowbank in Jackson in 1967 was able to drive away a few days later, and no longer remains at this location.