The Great Los Angeles Walk 2020 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

OK, you know the drill by now: Is walking 15.6 miles even humanly possible? (Yes, when you're taking your time on an all-day leisurely stroll! Hundreds do it with us every year.) Can I bike it? (Yes!) Take the Metro? (Of course!) Bring a dog or my kid? (Sure!) Quit half way through? (Whatever you want!) Does it cost money (No!) Are you personally driving me back to my car? (Well, no.)

Here it is, the unofficial Frequently Asked Questions roundup for the GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK 202o! 

1. WHEN/WHERE? Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 -- the Saturday before Thanksgiving, like we do every year. But in these COVID-19 times, we won't be gathering as a crowd, or at a specific time this year. Instead, get to the intersection of Wilshire Blvd. and Grand Ave. in Downtown Los Angeles (I suggest early, around 9 a.m.) and just start walking!

2. WHO? We're taking RSVPs at greatlawalk(at)mail(dot)com (yes, "mail," not "gmail"), but RSVPs are not necessary. We'll take anyone who shows up too! Also sign up for our email list if you want future info about the Walk.

3. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? C'mon, it's completely free! But you're on your own when it comes to lunch, dinner, water, etc. So don't forget to plan accordingly.

4. WHAT'S THE PATH? It's simple this year. Walk down Wilshire from start to finish. There are a few patches of Wilshire on the Westside where sidewalks are limited or only on one side, so stay alert! 
We strictly walk down sidewalks. As for bathroom breaks along the way, it's up to you to find businesses that will let you go. Normally coffee shops like Starbucks and The Coffee Bean are usually pretty good for that, but I can't guarantee anything during the pandemic.

5. WHAT DO WE DO ALONG THE WAY? Explore! The whole excitement of exploring L.A. by foot is to get up close and personal with sites you might normally miss while cruising down the street in your car. 

The Los Angeles Conservancy has a great online map of all sorts of attractions on Wilshire Blvd., including classic architecture and other historic places of note. Go <a href="https://www.laconservancy.org/explore-wilshire-blvd">here</a> to check it out.

6. HOW LONG IS THE HIKE? Around 15.6 miles.

IMPORTANT: This is not a race. Sure, you can sprint all the way to the end, but where's the fun in that? There's no prize for who gets there first. Instead, take a breath, and join the bulk of us as we leisurely stroll toward the end and stop frequently to take in the sights.

7. WHEN WILL WE GET TO THE END? Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, we won't be doing a group gathering this year. But take tons of photos and send 'em to us!

8. CAN WE BIKE IT? BRING KIDS? PETS? Because you're walking on your own accord -- remember, this is an unofficial gathering of passionate Angelenos walking the streets of our communities -- you can do whatever you want. Use your best judgement, of course. We're not responsible for you.

9. WHAT ABOUT INJURIES? Again, there is no infrastructure to our Walk, so you need to take care of yourself just like you would whenever you walk anywhere. Be careful, stay safe and stick with a group of walkers!

10. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR/BRING? Loose, comfy clothing. I'd wear shorts, a t-shirt (and perhaps a sweatshirt, depending on the temperature). Also, tennis shoes... sunglasses... a hat... sunscreen... extra socks... a blister kit (optional, of course -- I haven't brought one, although Band-Aids  are a good idea)... and most importantly, your phone! Take photos, share on social media, and document your experience.

11. HOW CAN I GET A T-SHIRT? T-shirts are now for sale at http://greatlawalk.spreadshirt.com (we don't make any money off of these). But order fast, in order get the shirts in time for the Walk.

12. HOW SHOULD I TRAIN FOR THIS? It's not a marathon, so training isn't really necessary. I suppose you could walk around your neighborhood in the days before hand... but I'd avoid any big gym routine the day before, so you're not sore the day you're hiking. But other than that... I didn't train at all for any of the previous walks, and have turned out just fine.

13. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? Why not? There's no special reason, no charity, no protest, no issue we're promoting -- other than a passion for Los Angeles. In 2006, I organized our walk down Wilshire to mark my 10th anniversary in Los Angeles. But it was so much fun, and it was a chance to meet so many new people, that we did it again in 2007, down Pico; in 2008, via Sunset and Santa Monica Blvd.; and in 2009, we hit West Adams as we walked down Adams and Washington to Venice Beach. In 2010, we returned to Wilshire for the fifth walk; in 2011, we hit Hollywood; in 2012, it was Melrose's turn; in 2013, it was all about Sunset Boulevard; in 2014, we hit the Valley via Ventura Boulevard; in 2015, it was Olympic Boulevard; in 2016, we returned to Pico; in 2017, we hit Beverly Boulevard; in 2018, we walked on 6th Street and through Koreatown; and in 2019, we walked down Colorado Blvd. through Arcadia and Pasadena, and then down Figueroa through Highland Park to Downtown LA.

It's the Saturday before Thanksgiving as well, so somehow I don't feel as bad gorging on sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie a few days later. And hey, it'll be a cool conversation piece at your holiday party.

14. CAN I SEND IN PHOTOS? READ A RECAP LATER? Of course! Send us links to your own recaps, YouTube videos, etc.

15. IMPORTANT: You are walking on your own volition. The Great Los Angeles Walk is just a casual opportunity to walk with other Angelenos through the region. It's not an official organization of any sort -- and is therefore not responsible for your conduct or anything that may happen during your hike. Be careful, and be respectful of others and of your city.

Any more questions? Add 'em below and we'll answer them!