Nick Troutman didn’t let the end of his college career stop him from trying new things. The twenty-three year old physical therapy aide graduated from the University of Oregon last spring with a degree in human physiology, but he wanted to find something new and exciting to do when he moved back to his hometown here in Orange County. Growing up in Cypress, and lettering in football at Cypress High School, Troutman had done a couple local 5Ks, and did triple jump in track, but never had much running experience.
“One of my co-workers told me he had just signed up for the LA Marathon and that I should join him. I decided the marathon would be the perfect challenge and signed up that week.”
Troutman signed up in November and began his 18-week training program just a couple of weeks later. He had never run more than a 10K, never even a half-marathon, yet Troutman planned to shoot for a time of three hours and forty-five minutes in the LA Marathon.
The twenty-six mile course began at the historic Dodger Stadium and concluded at the Santa Monica Pier, passing by several Los Angeles landmarks along the way, including City Hall, the Pantages Theater, and Rodeo Drive. Throughout the race, entertainment stops cheered runners along their way, with DJs, a stilt walker, and longtime marathon entertainer, Drum Beats.
As runners left Beverly Hills and headed toward mile 18, they were met by more than 600 local cheerleaders from teams across Southern California, making noise to encourage participants.
Troutman mentioned that people along the route came outside to squirt runners with their hoses, handing out oranges, bananas, and water, but some encouragers stuck out in his mind:
“One group had chili cheese dogs at mile five, and another group had beer at mile twenty-two…they were a good morale boost,” he said.
Family members had the opportunity to track their runner through the Asics LA Marathon app, as well as sign up for race-day tracking to receive updates as their runner made his/her way along the course. Despite all of the supporters and efforts to entertain runners and make the morning an enjoyable one, the run was one of the hottest in history, hitting 75 degrees at the 7:00 start, and reaching a temperature of 87 degrees by the finish line in Santa Monica.
Downtown Los Angeles reached a record high at 92 degrees, surpassing the previous 1978 record of 85 degrees. Troutman said the excessive heat didn’t give him any extra headache. Constant email updates, and marathon precautions from the LA Marathon staff gave him the reassurance he needed in the week leading up to the marathon, but his mother, Karen Troutman, still had her concerns.
“I was nervous, yet excited! The weather worried me most…Nick is driven and competitive so I had no doubt he would finish, but when he crossed the finish line, it was quite a relief!” she said.
Troutman’s training changed his diet and connectedness to his body. Following an 18-week program designed by legendary runner, Hal Higdon, Troutman ran five times per week with a long run on Sundays, cross training on Mondays, and rest on Fridays. He incorporated cycling, swimming, and weight lifting. After eight weeks of training, Troutman said he began to feel different.
“I could feel the runs becoming easier and the long runs didn’t feel so long anymore. The training was no longer something I had to do but instead something I waited all day to do.”
Troutman craved sweets less, and instead felt satisfied with healthy alternatives like fruits.
Despite all of his training, Troutman felt nervous the night leading up to the race.
“I knew all the training I did would pay off, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how far I was going to be running,” he said.
On March 15, Nick Troutman ran the LA Marathon, and finished with a time of 4:30:42.
“I was bouncing off the walls with excitement. I get a huge adrenaline rush from competing, and being surrounded by 26,000 people who were chomping at the bit to do the same made the moment even better. All I could think about was passing each mile marker and just enjoying all the cool sights and sounds along the route,” he recalled.
But as soon as Troutman passed the finish line, he was ready to rest.
“I have never been so physically and mentally exhausted at the same time,” he said.
Troutman says finishing the marathon left him feeling like he could do anything he set his mind to, and encourages anyone who wants to run a marathon, to sign up and start training.
Troutman’s father, Bruce, who has run five marathons told his son along the way,
“…go out there and enjoy the experience, listen to your body, and drink as much water as you can get your hands on…”
Troutman says he plans on doing the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach next year. He hopes to use that one to qualify for the Boston Marathon, so he can “check it off his bucket list.”