Expo / pick-up:
-Race-day bib pick-up on Saturday morning was available, and seemed to run smoothly, but I picked up my bib at the expo on Saturday. I’m guessing due to covid concerns, they shifted the expo from the LA Convention Center to Dodger Stadium this year. Prior to entering the expo, you were required to show proof of vaccination or a negative test. Great stuff, thumbs up, I appreciate the focus on health. The outdoor setting made for a more energetic and festive environment, at the cost of more sun. This was fine for bib pickup, but hastened my expo-browsing time.

-The bigger issue was the screw-up over my Double Play (5k + marathon) registration. I was bounced back and forth between the 5k, marathon, and registration tents where they claimed I had registered for the “Double Play”, but not for the 5k separately, which the “Double Play” fee supposedly didn’t include. There were at least 10 other frustrated runners facing the same Double Play-but-not-5k issue as me while I was there. I was running short on time, and faced with growing heat and growing frustration, I felt cornered into paying the extra $40 for the 5k just to move on. I still don’t know whether this was a gross bait-and-switch scam by the organizers at the last minute, or just an awful user-interface design on their website. If it’s the latter, why would you sell something called the “Double Play”, then allow users to check-out and pay if it doesn’t even include both the marathon and 5k that’s advertised? At no point was I ever prompted to add the 5k separately at check-out. By that logic, I should have had to add the marathon separately too, right? It’s like selling a fast-food combo, but then later saying, “Actually, you were supposed to add the fries as a separate order”. WTF.

Parking/ Pre-race:
-Parking was plentiful and free at Dodger Stadium. Lots of port-a-potties, and space to stretch, warm up, and get ready. There were no individual corrals to speak of, but the participant field was small enough that it didn’t matter.

Course:
-The 5k course goes downhill out of Dodger Stadium, onto Stadium Way, through Elysian Park, then up Academy Road, and back into the Stadium. There are more hills than you might expect, so don’t expect a PR on this course.

Scenery/Weather/Support:
-The greenery of Elysian Park made the run very pleasant. Cloudy morning in the upper 50s. One water station about halfway through the course.

Post-race/Swag:
-The official 5k race shirt was light gray, with the red/teal/blue Big 5k logo featured in the middle. Same colors and design template as the official marathon shirt. The finisher medal is a solid silver/blue design, featuring the red/teal Big 5k logo and a background of Dodger Stadium. Post-race goodies: bananas, water, and Clif Bar duos.

The Bottom Line:
-Aside from the Double Play registration issue, this is a solid 5k that I wouldn’t mind running again.

Link to this review