NYBanker

I've got a 3.5 hour layover at LAX this evening. I arrive at 7pm and the connection doesn't depart until 1030pm.

I'd like to try and do a run (8-10 miles) while I'm stuck there and I have two questions:

(A) Any good runs people can think of, on or off airport?
(B) Is it safe in the nearby area (to the east of the airport) at that hour? (I can't say I've done much near there other than zip through in a cab/car.)

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

(For the benefit of everyone else on my flight, I'll be able to shower in the OW F lounge at TBIT before my flight departs!)

mbstone

Since you've presumably done your run, tell us how it went.

For the benefit of others, there are innumerable 8-10 mile routes you could take near LAX, there is little crime risk this side of the I-405 at any hour. You would not want to walk or run through the Sepulveda Blvd. tunnel south of the airport (it is unsafe only because of the lack of a sidewalk and the concomitant risk of being struck by a vehicle).

SoCal

Let's say you get off the plane and out of the terminal by 7:20, and your bags have been checked through, and you don't need to be at the terminal of your next flight until 9:30. You also, of course, need to allow time for the shower. Do you run a 4-minute mile? What about changing your clothes before the run? I agree that the area should be relatively safe, but there will be car and airplane fumes, and a fair amount of traffic on area streets. I can't think of any particuarly nice places to run (e.g., park trails). Just city sidewalks, with lots of street-crossings. Just walkng around, and through the airport you could get lots of walking and stair-climbing exercise.

bloodyeyeballs

For the benefit of others, you can get to the ocean bike and run trail which is 4 miles each way. So an 8 mile run can get you to the beach and back. Just exit the airport onto Sepulveda, go Left onto Lincoln Blvd., Left onto Manchester, Right onto Pershing, Left onto Culver and you're there. Check a map first. Another way to do this is have a taxi take you there and run back.

I did see the original poster's note and I would not recommend running this route at night, as is it not safe because of poor lighting and crazy drivers. I do think it is a relatively safe part of Los Angeles, but this is still a large city and anything can happen.

If someone is obsessed to go running around LAX at night, the best I could recommend is doing laps around the airport and perhaps the service roads between the big U.

NYBanker

I'm back from my trip and pleased to say that this worked out exceptionally well.

Here is the route that I followed: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-s...29086615568458

The route itself was essentially flat, and there were sidewalks that were quite wide essentially the entire way. It was night when I ran, and it was raining, but you could be far enough away from traffic as to not get splashed or feel the cars were at all close. Amazing to see such nice, wide sidewalks in the city of cars. The sidewalks were spotless, and (while I know this not to be the case) seemed as if they had never been used before for anything.

Running on the airport grounds was frankly the toughest part of the journey as, expectedly, there were many people with luggage and trollies, and all moving at a pace different than me on the grounds. I tried running on the inside (between the cars and the carpark), but there were lots of cars turning in and out, which became tricky. I moved to the outer perimeter, where people are let out of arrivals, which had no vehiclular risk, but had a lot of Smarte Carte risk.

Once I left the airport grounds, I didn't see another person on foot. A motorcycle police officer slowed down near me on Lincoln to check me out, but gave me a thumbs up and moved on without speaking to me. The sidewalk I was on was on the runway side of the road - which meant there were no traffic lights or traffic to contend with. While I was on a street, it was essentially several miles of straight, uninterrupted sidewalk.

Like many people on this board, I like to look at airplanes, and it was a nice diversion to the run to watch the take offs and landings on the north runway at LAX. There were multiple Asian carriers, as well as an AF 777, taking off or landing along side of me.

As to the logistics, I arrived at LAX on AA around 645pm into T4 (the AA Terminal) and had a 1020pm departure from TBIT on QF. The change in terminal added a bit to the complexity of my situation, though I had arranged for American Five-Star service at LAX (thanks HSBC!), which helped quite a bit. (AA 5* can only go into T4, they don't go to TBIT.) I changed in the T4 AA Flagship Lounge and headed out on the run. It was probably 20 minutes from de-planing to leaving the lounge in my running gear.

The key factors that helped me were (a) that my hostess arranged for the the receptionist at the T4 AA Flagship Lounge to hold my bags while I was running and (b) she arranged for a T4 re-entry pass. Without the 5* service, I would have gone first via airside bus transfer to the OW F lounge at TBIT and asked them to hold my bags there, as my QF BP would only allow me entry into TBIT. What I don't know is if the AA F lounge (if I wasn't using the 5* service), or the OW F lounge, would have held my bags. I suspect they would have had I been unescorted and asked nicely, but I don't know this definitively.

I carried my boarding pass, T4 line pass, QF boarding pass, passport, cash and wallet in a fanny back for the run. Due to the rain, everything got a fair bit wet.

When I got back to T4, I cleared security without issue using the non-flight entry pass. I realized I didn't have anything to put my wet clothes in, so I bought a pack of gum at the sundry shop and asked for two large plastic bags, which the lady gave me, with some suspicion. I was welcomed into the AC and the F lounge without having to show credentials. It seemed all the receptionists knew there was a nut case out there who would be returning, as a number of them asked 'how was it?' on the way in, both downstairs and upstairs.

I took a quick shower in the Flagship lounge, had a quick Corona and some olives and then was re-greeted by my hostess who took me down to the 9pm airside QF shuttle.

My 5* hostess was very nice, and politely said she'd never seen anyone do this before but thought it was a great idea.

The funniest part was when I was in the brief security queue at T4. I was soaked from the rain and sweat, and probably not so pleasant to be standing next to. I presume most pax don't really think about showers as an option at the airport. The lady behind me in the queue remarked to her husband, "I wonder where he is going. I hope we are not sitting next to him on the flight." I nearly turned and asked where she was heading...but figured best to avoid the (likely fun) interaction.

Given a three hour layover at LAX, I'd do this again without question.

(When I landed in Sydney, my shoes were still wet, as expected. I always go for a run in the Gardens immediately when I arrive...but had to do it with the wet shoes this time. After the run, I had the hotel (the IC) run the shoes through the dryer, which, if asked nicely, they will do.)

buckeyefanflyer

As a runner I tried running near LAX once and it did not go very well. Depending on how long you want to run I would take a cab to Santa Monica, great places to run or closer would be Manhatten Beach.

sidsub

I'd like to try this run as well if it's logistically possible... I have a 6 hour layover on a Friday morning. Connecting domestic to international on UA and I am 1K so I will have access to a lounge, but no 5* service as the OP had. I'm wondering if this is possible --

1. Does the regular UA RC lounge in T7 have showers?
2. Will they hold my bags for me for a couple of hours?

I imagine leaving bags can cause all kinds of security issues -- I'm not sure that's possible.

sidsub

To answer my own question, united.com says the RC lounge in T7 does not have showers... so that makes this a moot point.

NYBanker

I've done this subsequently on AA at lax without five star service. The aa lounge was more than glad to accommodate me. If you have high status and ask nicely, I can't see them not accommodating you.

Though you won't need it, even on my subsequent run without five star service, AA gave me a t4 re-entry pass without question.

From the immediately prior post, showers might not be an option at lax on UA. Maybe there's an alternative? Or you could do a sink shower.

shuuy

Friendly bump - will LAX lounges hold carry-on baggages? I'm surprised anyone would say yes to this....

TWA884

Most lounges won't even notice if you leave a rollaboard or a carry on bag in their luggage room.

You may want to take a look here:

NYBanker

I've been able to leave bags at Delta Sky Club and AA Flagship Lounge.

NYBanker

More details here.

http://upgrd.com/sitinfirst/a-most-virtuous-connection-at-lax.html

Blumie

Sorry I missed this discussion earlier. This is my strategy as well.

My route, about 6-7 miles, is to run from the lower level of the AA terminal towards TBIT (i.e., turning left out the door), running past Terminals 3, 2 and 1, and then continuing straight on Century Blvd. I then turn left on Airport Blvd., and left again about a mile later on Manchester Ave. I then turn around and come back when I've run half of what I've wanted to run. It's hardly an exciting route, but you're not going to get lost.

IceTrojan

Lest someone stumbles onto this thread, some of this info is now outdates. T4 and TBIT are now connected airside, and presumably 5* service can now operate into TBIT (seeing how there's the airside connection + AA flights operating out of TBIT). Overall, an improvement to the situation, that's for sure.