PUBLISHED 05/30/2006
The pain started at 14 miles. Up to that point, the brand-new pair of Sauconys that Julian Valle was wearing for his first City of Los Angeles Marathon seemed like steel springs hurling him along the streets. Spectators called out his name, which was printed in large letters on his race bib, so the streets seemed full of friends. And there was, of course, that first-marathon adrenaline jetting through him on this March morning. But suddenly, just as the marathon course turned off Wilshire Boulevard and onto Sixth Street, the soles of his feet started to tingle and burn. Then bolts of pain shot through his hips, and next he developed a headache. Julian, an 18-year-old senior at L.A.'s Banning High School, slowed from his nine-minute-a-mile pace--a minute faster than he'd planned to run--to a crab-like shuffle.
From behind came Itzel Carranza, a 15-year-old Banning sophomore and teammate. Itzel was also hurting. The two slowed to a walk. They walked together for nearly three miles, talking about all sorts of things--how their teammates were faring, Itzel's dreams about going to UCLA, Julian's plans to get his driver's license. The talk distracted them, but eventually the conversation withered. There were still nine miles to go.
"What's it like up ahead?" Julian asked. Itzel had done the marathon last year as a freshman, so she had some idea.
"A few small hills," she said, "but it's not too bad."
While Itzel seemed revived by the walking break, Julian felt wearier with each step. He had grabbed an ice bag at the last water station, and he repositioned it against his throbbing temple. He told Itzel to run on ahead.
She looked uncertain. "Will you be okay?"
Julian nodded. Itzel smiled slightly, wished him luck, and took off. As he watched her disappear into the river of marathoners, Julian's assorted pains intensified. He stopped walking and sat down on the curb. He grew dizzy and thought he might pass out. He looked around for someone he could tell that he was dropping out of the race. Julian saw no one from Banning, so he just sat on the curb, watching runners push by. He held the ice to his head and waited.
