Stadium to the Stars! The Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS will begin at Dodger Stadium and finish at Avenue of the Stars in Century City. Athletes will enjoy world-class entertainment and celebrate one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world as the course winds through Downtown Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, Hollywood, and more. The course will follow its traditional route until Brentwood, where runners double back on San Vicente, Sepulveda and Santa Monica Blvd before finishing at Avenue of the Stars.
This exciting change allows for a more vibrant and interactive finish experience than previously possible. It will provide the opportunity for much greater spectator participation for family and friends with enhanced post-race activities including the Finish Festival with concerts and sponsor activations and puts runners close to hotels, transportation, and nightlife in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the best of LA.
Highlights of the Los Angeles Marathon include:
- The thrill of running through one of the world’s most famous cities with world class operations and support
- Live entertainment and enthusiastic crowds cheering you on every step of the way
- Participant t-shirt and finisher medal you’ll be proud to show off
- The final stop of the Conquer LA Challenge medal
Not ready for the full 26.2? Be part of the action and enjoy great perks when you fundraise to run the Charity Half Marathon! Sharing the marathon course, the Charity Half is a chance to give back and feel good with the full support of the Los Angeles Marathon community. (Limited spots are available, and this event will sell out.)
For shorter-distance aficionados, the LA Big 5K hosts a family-friendly run that starts & finishes at Dodger Stadium. And for the full weekend experience, complete the LA Big 5K on Saturday and the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday to show your LA bona fides and earn the LA Double Play challenge medal! 🏅
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LA Marathon 40th Anniversary Fun
Unisex shirt doesn't fit anyone particularly well. Buses from finish line (Century City) to start (Dodgers Stadium) were many and easy to get on/off. Plenty of port-o-potties. Corrals were well … MORE
Unisex shirt doesn’t fit anyone particularly well. Buses from finish line (Century City) to start (Dodgers Stadium) were many and easy to get on/off. Plenty of port-o-potties. Corrals were well organized. Course was great (rolling hills). Be prepared for out and back finish. Consider staying the entire day/Sunday post race and leaving on Monday (to celebrate/enjoy) and because the post race traffic/congestion in Century City is significant/challenging.
Love: the LA energy! Hate: the ending
The good news: the Los Angeles Marathon celebrated 40 years of running this year with wonderful energy and crowd support! The bad news: the LA Marathon is now in Year … MORE
The good news: the Los Angeles Marathon celebrated 40 years of running this year with wonderful energy and crowd support! The bad news: the LA Marathon is now in Year 5 of a downgraded course that includes an awful, hilly out-and-back loop ending in Century City instead of the beautiful beaches of Santa Monica. Whether it’s the McCourt Foundation or the City of Santa Monica, I don’t care who’s more at fault. Just fix this, please. The city of LA deserves a world-class marathon ending that lives up to the rest of the iconic course.
Expo / pick-up:
-This year’s expo was again hosted at Dodger Stadium, though it’s now branded as a “Lifestyle Expo” instead of a “Health and Fitness Expo” for whatever that’s worth. Parking was surprisingly free—something you’ll never see at Dodger Stadium! The outdoor setting normally creates some festive energy, but a rainy Friday really dampened that. Long lines got even longer and more chaotic with the presence of big umbrellas and wet asphalt. Remember to pick up your LA Loyal bonus swag (bib, pin, hat, etc.) if you’ve run the marathon in consecutive years. As the primary race sponsor, Asics showed off official LA Marathon-branded shirts, jackets, and hoodies, though the shoe display was largely covered in plastic tarp due to the rain. Included with the purchase of any Asics apparel was a free heat transfer of custom marathon decals, which was pretty neat. The lineup of other sponsor tents included Big 5, Chiquita Banana, Strava, Gu, Yakult, Nathan Sports, Michelob Ultra, Kia, UCLA Health, and Zenni sunglasses. It’s easy to load up on samples, freebies, and race-day essentials, but remember one of the golden rules of running: nothing new on race day!
Parking:
-Parking options at the finish line in Century City are plentiful, and you can even book one of the garages ahead of time for a slight discount. Shuttles to the start line at Dodger Stadium depart from Century City, from the Downtown LA official race hotels, as well as from Union Station, though there are no return shuttles back to Union Station. If you opt for being dropped off at Dodger Stadium, you’ll enter via the Golden State Gate C off Academy Road. Traffic can be very heavy in the morning, so make sure you leave as early as possible.
Pre-race:
-Early morning temperatures at Dodger Stadium started around 45 degrees Fahrenheit, so layer up with hoodies, gloves, blankets, garbage bags, or whatever it takes to stay warm. The most popular pre-race activity? Lining up for port-a-potties. Everyone’s doing it! They are plentiful and everywhere, but make sure you go early and often. There were no portable faucets like I’ve seen at other races—BYOHS (bring your own hand sanitizer). If you need early-morning nutrition, the second-longest lines were for the snack tent featuring bananas, bottled water, Gu Energy Stroopwafel, and 3 flavors of Gu gels (Vanilla Bean, Raspberry Lemonade, and Roctane Sea Salt Chocolate).
As start time approaches, shed your layers and make your way to the gear check trucks (sponsored this year by Penske) on the east side of Dodger Stadium in Lot K. Pack away anything you’ll no longer need, or any supplies you will need immediately after the race. Make sure your bag is clearly marked with your bib number, then hand your gear check bag to the helpful volunteers. At this point, the start corrals will begin filling up, so quickly hustle to your assigned seeded corral before they close up at 6:40.
Course:
-The LA Marathon course features world-famous sights and sounds, and the crowd support has been getting better every year since the pandemic. Things would be even better if this “Stadium to the Stars” course (LOL at describing the steel/glass office buildings of Century City as “Stars”) ended along the Pacific Ocean like the “Stadium to the Sea” course did a few years ago in Santa Monica. What we’ve got now is 18 wonderful miles out of 26.2, followed by 8.2 miles of an unpleasant, hilly out-and-back.
-Miles 1-5:
If you’re a runner, it can feel claustrophobic being cooped up in the start corral. But all that nervous energy is perfect fuel for taking your first step across the LA Marathon start-line arch. And then you’re off in tremendous fashion! After weaving through runners and walkers ahead of you, the field plunges downhill out of Dodger Stadium onto Sunset Blvd. At a steep 3-4% grade decline, it looks like something out of World War Z— a mass tumbling of human bodies at high speed. It’s quite thrilling. The next few miles stream through Chinatown and its East Wind Dragon Dancers at the corner of Broadway/Alpine, past your first aid station at Mile 1.8, skirting past Olvera Street and Little Tokyo, and into Downtown LA. The first three miles are net-downhill through urban canyons, with twists and turns at the feet of towering skyscrapers, restaurants, and warehouses. Feel free to ignore (or curse at) the “world-is-ending!” religious nuts screaming on speakerphones around this point. They’re silly, but they’re a LA Marathon fixture. The tallest hill of the course rises around Mile 4, taking you up 1st Street onto Grand Avenue. At around 7-8% grade, it’s an intimidating climb, but each step you take is boosted by the pounding beats of the Koshin Taiko Drummers. At the top of the hill, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, followed by Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, Grand Park, and LA City Hall.
-Miles 5-9:
Another hill emerges around Mile 5, but the course quickly settles down for a stroll through Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Los Feliz. We all know you’re courageous enough to run a marathon, but are you courageous enough to eat a chili cheese dog while running a marathon? If yes, slurp one down just after Mile 5 courtesy of volunteers who have made this an LA Marathon tradition for years. Carbs, fats, proteins all in one! Just as you take your last bite, smile at the sight of the Echo Park lake around Mile 6— FinisherPix photographers are stationed on Glendale Blvd, ready to snap your picture. As your turn left onto Sunset Blvd, ease into gently rolling hills for a few miles past hipster lounges, bars, and theaters. At Mile 8, bask in the pleasant tunes of the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. You’ll see the first of many residents just getting up for coffee at local cafes, holding up classic marathon signs: “On a scale of 1-10, you’re a 26.2!”, “Pain is just the French word for bread!”, “All this running just for a banana?”, etc. But keep your head up because the world-famous Hollywood sign is visible just up in the distance.
-Miles 9-15:
Before you know it, Sunset Boulevard morphs into Hollywood Boulevard. You’re in Hollywood, baby! The crowds grow larger than before, the music gets louder, and the course becomes a real-life tourist postcard: the Capitol Records Tower, El Capitan Theater, Pantages Theater (“Wingardium Leviosa” at the sight of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child!), the Walk of Fame, and TCL Chinese Theater. Big billboards tout films like Anora, Black Bag, The Minecraft Movie, and the Electric State, along with shows like The White Lotus, Daredevil: Born Again, American idol, and Bill Burr’s latest standup special. Turn back onto Sunset Blvd around Mile 11.5, but the party continues in West Hollywood. Keep dancing, keep running, keep moving all the way down the nicest downhill of the course on San Vicente Blvd around Mile 14.
-Miles 15-18:
Welcome to Beverly Hills, 90210, one of the most famous zip codes in the world. Here, star power gives way to fashion, glamour, and luxury, and the marathon course delivers a high-speed window-shopping spree. The elevation dips a bit, but your heart-rate may spike at the price tag of that Gucci bag or Cartier necklace! Keep your ears open as the Pink Mozart orchestra serve up delicious classical music along Rodeo Drive. It’s a lovely surprise.
-Miles 18-22:
As you approach Century City, sleek skyscrapers of steel and glass poke up on the horizon. Just past Mile 18 on Santa Monica Blvd, you spy the elite runners speeding towards the finish line on the opposite side of the road. Any inspiration you draw from this will be quickly deflated when you realize that YOU still have 8 more miles to go. Ugh. Fortunately, the crowd support in this area is downright epic— rowdy cheers, confetti blasts, clanging bells, piñatas, music from DJs, run clubs with refreshments, the booming beats of the LA Taiko Ichiza, folks in inflatable T-Rex costumes, and some of the best signs in the race (“May the course be with you!”, “Because 26.3 miles would be crazy!”, “Your Outie enjoys running”, Super Mario Mushroom Power-Ups…). Cheering spectators crowd the course so tightly in some spots that it feels like running through an honor guard. Soak up that energy, chow down on that free orange slice, because you’re going to need everything and more in the final miles.
You begin your out-and-back route and the most challenging portion of the course with a steady climb up Sepulveda Boulevard just before Mile 20. It’s not the steepest hill of the course (only around 2% incline), but it is easily the longest continuous uphill segment, with nearly 1.5 miles of ascent. Live music from the Jetlemons and Ladies of Sound give you a valiant lift, but it’s tough. You then cross under the 405 freeway, which this year has been upgraded to include some colorful disco lights. It’s an upgrade to what was previously a dark, energy-draining underpass, but the energy-drain is simply delayed until you arrive on the other side to the Wilshire Boulevard bridge. This section north of the VA Hospital has minimal crowds and no shade—the cloud cover from earlier in the morning has burned off by now. It’s quiet, barren asphalt with constant cracks and potholes in the road. The only scenery is the anguished faces of runners returning on the other side of the road, with collapsed bodies trying to stretch out their leg cramps. But if they’re returning, it means the turn-around point is coming soon? Of course not. The knots in your stomach grow when you remember that each additional step you take is pulling you further AWAY from the finish line. What diabolical demons designed this course?
-Miles 22-26.2:
Approaching Mile 22 along San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood, you’ll find run clubs, DJs, and excited crowds welcoming you to the most magnificent sight in recorded human history: the turn-around point. The “out” part of “out-and-back” is now done, so grab extra Gu gels, bottles of Electrolit, and orange slices from the crowd, and prep for your journey “back” to the Finish Line! Be warned, what previously felt like a small hill on the Wilshire bridge now feels like Mount Everest. Run. Walk. Shuffle. Limp. Crawl. However ugly it gets, just keep fighting. The rolling hills up Santa Monica Boulevard in the final 1.5 miles are a monstrous slog. But the cheers of the Century City crowd will carry you forward! You can see and hear the finish line. Put everything you’ve got into one final sprint and smile for the cameras!
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-The LA Marathon offers a great sight-seeing tour of Dodger Stadium, Chinatown, Disney Concert Hall, Echo Park, Hollywood, the Sunset Strip, and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The last 8 miles are deeply lacking in scenery though, and I wish we still finished by the beach—nothing beats the smell of sweet ocean air and the view of green palm trees and blue waters in Santa Monica. I strongly hope things change on that front. Temperatures on race day were cool but still ideal for running, starting around 45 F at Dodger Stadium, and ending in the upper 50s. The forecast called for heavy cloud cover, but it seemed like the sun broke through much earlier than expected. All the marathon volunteers at the aid stations were superb, providing water and Electrolit every 1 to 1.5 miles. I went through several stations really enjoying Blue Raspberry Electrolit before being shocked by the taste of Coconut at one station. If you have a preference for Electrolit flavors, be sure to ask the volunteers what they’re serving! Gu gels were also available around Mile 12 and Mile 18. I think we could’ve used at least one more aid station and more entertainment options in the rough final 8 miles. But all in all, thank you SO much to all the volunteers, supporters, run clubs, musicians, and residents across all the cities who showed up to cheer this year. They were essential and incredible. I swear, the random guy who tossed me a bottle of Electrolit at Mile 18 may have saved my day. The crowd support has been getting stronger and more energetic over the last few years, and it’s the biggest reason I love this marathon.
Post-race:
-Smile for the cameras as you cross the finish line. You’ll be funneled into the Runner Secure Zone chute to grab your shiny finisher medal—you deserve it! And don’t forget the Double Play medal if you also did the 5k on Saturday. Stay warm and wrap up in a foil blanket. I did miss the wet towels from last year, and I hope they bring them back. A series of tables will present some much-needed refreshments for you. Rehydrate with bottles of Arrowhead water and Electrolit. Refuel with bananas, TruMoo chocolate milk, Golden Standard Protein Shake, Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips (Serrano Sea Salt & Vinegar, Chipotle BBQ), Honey Stinger Energy Waffles (Honey, and Cookies and Cream), Cheez-Its, Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Bar (Almond), Nature Valley Crunchy granola bar (Oats ‘n Honey), Nabisco Grahams crackers, Kellogg’s Grahams crackers, and Nabisco Honey Maid graham crackers. A plentiful bounty, but no Pocky sticks this year. Sad! Plop down on the ground to catch your breath, munch on snacks, and stretch your weary body. When you’re ready, celebrate with a victory pose for the FinisherPix photographers, retrieve your stuff from Gear Check, and reunite with friends and family at the end of the chute.
Swag:
-After going green last year for St. Patrick’s Day, this year’s official Asics race shirt celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Los Angeles Marathon. The shirt came in a deep blue, with golden laurel wreaths wrapping the central gold/white text of “40 Years of Running” and “Los Angeles Marathon 1986 – 2025”, with the colored LA Marathon logo just below. The finisher medal was a hefty, dark gold disc, with “3.16.2025” etched at the top, and the rest of the medal bordered by gold/white laurel wreath leaves, and a giant “40” at the center in blocky sans serif font. The interior of the “40” is filled with, from left-to-right, a runner crossing a finish line, various buildings and searchlights in the background, the Beverly Hills sign, Watts Tower, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, the Capitol Records tower, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Dodger Stadium scoreboard, and a building that looks like a mix of LA City Hall and the US Bank Tower (what’s going on there?). Below the “40” is “YEARS RUNNING” in all-caps and “1986 – 2025”, right below, and the colored “LAM Los Angeles Marathon” logo at the bottom of the medal, all looped in a light blue ribbon. There’s a spot at the back of the medal for etching your marathon time or maybe affixing an iTab.
The Bottom Line:
-The LA Marathon has so much going for it, and for the first 18 miles it’s excellent. The city of LA keeps turning up and the crowd support is astonishing. But that out-and-back finale full of hills and quiet asphalt is just criminal. There’s so much to see in LA, why waste it on a course where runners are forced to double back and see the same sights twice in the final miles? Bring back “Stadium to the Sea” and the Santa Monica finish line! McCourt Foundation? City of Santa Monica? Stop being stubborn. Just get it done, and help make the LA Marathon live up to its amazing potential.
Crowd energy vs. Race Route
The crowd energy was super high until mile 20 - it kept me going without earbuds! Posters were incredible. Miles 20-26 were tough with the loop back, the road was … MORE
The crowd energy was super high until mile 20 – it kept me going without earbuds! Posters were incredible. Miles 20-26 were tough with the loop back, the road was full of potholes, and the crowd thinned, likely because people couldn’t get out there. Fun race but I don’t think I’ll do it again due to the last 6
Compelling tour of LA
First off, I only ran this race because of the 40th anniversary this year. I am not a theatre and culture person (or traffic), so this race wouldn’t make my … MORE
First off, I only ran this race because of the 40th anniversary this year. I am not a theatre and culture person (or traffic), so this race wouldn’t make my list. All things considered and after finishing this, I would consider it again like CIM!
Packet pick-up on Saturday around noon was a breeze at Dodgers Stadium if you have pre-marathon time and corral though. The expo was world class and had a lot of freebies, sponsors, and food trucks. Some of them that stood out are Impossible foods, KT tape, Electrolit, Gu gels, Chiquitas bananas. Since I work this field, the thing I loved the most at the expo is the organization is striving to cure neurological diseases and that was put on the medal also!
Hotel: I stayed at one of their host hotels that provided a wristband and bus to and from the finish line. If you aren’t local or traveling with company I would do this! The finish was overly crowded and they charged for parking there. The Westin was very accommodating and had a great fitness center. It was three blocks away from the shuttle pick-up and drop off. The World Trade Center parking garage cost me like $9/day over the weekend!
Per-race: I’m glad I didn’t drive in and I would not park unless you go at 4 am. I took the shuttle in at 530 am and the movement on the highway about a mile away before seem non-existent. People were climbing up the hill up to Dodger stadium! The shuttles got a backdoor into the stadium and literally dropped you off at the start line. They gave out pre-race food and drinks free, like GU gels, honeystinger waffles, bananas, water, bananas.
Race: On time start. Read the other reviews if you want an in-depth review of the course! Aside from the crowded push past thousands of racers around you, you get a free tour past all the major sites and nice neighborhoods in LA (band playing in front of Chinese theatre). There were a lot of running clubs and individual organizations having their own aid stations. The most I have ever seen in any race! On average, it felt like every 0.5 mile there was something along the route. The official aid stations felt like they were 0.2 mile long and were never bare. There were runners running at crazy paces even at the halfway mark run past you because some never ran a marathon before and started at the back of the pack! I ran a lot faster than I should and the last 10k was too hilly, especially towards the finish.
Finish line: I finished around my average marathon time. They gave out pretty much everything (water, milk, bananas, chips, crackers, granola bars, electrolite bottle, protein drink, etc) and I ran out of pockets and hands to carry it. The gear check pick up took me over a hour to get my bag back! Since everyone under 3000 was a fast runner and in the same truck, they were there and waiting with a long line. They didn’t need that many volunteers for the VIP hospitality truck next to ours that eventually they helped our group! I got up to the front and they couldn’t find my bag for half an hour! At least five different volunteers all carefully looked at it and were helpful. Eventually, one white guy with a mustache and baseball cap went above and beyond and found it under the table nearby after twenty minutes of intense searching. By that time, my line was basically empty. The shuttle back to the hotel took about double the amount time getting there (30 minutes)
What I liked: lots of sponsors and crazy overabundances of food, gels, and drink given. Super convenient shuttle to start line and finish line. Landmark sites and neighborhoods of LA were all there. Very shady in most stops. Unofficial and official aid stops everywhere. Crazy running paces and spectators.
A Fine Race by the Sea
The aid stations were awesome and the volunteers did a terrific job. The most unique aspect about the race was the fans and course. The race could be improved with … MORE
The aid stations were awesome and the volunteers did a terrific job. The most unique aspect about the race was the fans and course. The race could be improved with more nutrition.
LA Tour on Foot
PROS: - This race course takes you past many signature LA sites and is an overall fun race. - The aid stations are plentiful, as well as many people handing … MORE
PROS:
– This race course takes you past many signature LA sites and is an overall fun race.
– The aid stations are plentiful, as well as many people handing out food and beverages along the way.
– The course has several areas of rolling hills, along with flat stretches.
– Many iconic photos ops.
– Police support and road closures spot-on.
– The finish chute is long with plentiful beverages and snacks, and the finish/reunion area is a decent size and offers a free beer for finishers
CONS:
– At approx. mile 18, you pass the finish line on the opposite side of the boulevard, and then have a long out-and-back stretch. There are fans scattered along the way, but this was mentally grueling and is also the hottest part of the race with a few areas of shade.
– The race course did not have barriers or course marshals/police in the final few miles, therefore the crowds lining the roads were encroaching upon the course in excitement and the course was rather narrow at some points.
– Parking — we parked in a nearby parking garage per race organizers. It was indeed close to the start line shuttle and race finish; however, we waited nearly an hour in our car to exit the garage due to congestion after the race. I would plan accordingly, or park elsewhere or use rideshare with pick-up and drop-off few blocks away.
– **Reuniting after the race can be a challenge, given the spotty cell reception and GPS accuracy with so many users in a small area. There is also loud background noises/speakers from the finish line and reunion area. I advise having a specific meet-up location with your loved ones, and also have them track you to know when you finish.**
LA Highlights
I actually loved this race! The positives - All the LA highlights in one run - from Dodger Stadium to Rodeo Drive - Very fun vibe - Relatively easy course … MORE
I actually loved this race!
The positives
– All the LA highlights in one run – from Dodger Stadium to Rodeo Drive
– Very fun vibe
– Relatively easy course – lots of hills but not too bad at all
The negatives
– LA needs to clean up the course – no fun running past homeless encampments
As good as it gets
I LOVE this race! If I wasn’t local it wouldn’t be nearly the same, but as an Angelino this is a must do. It’s the best 26 mile block party … MORE
I LOVE this race! If I wasn’t local it wouldn’t be nearly the same, but as an Angelino this is a must do. It’s the best 26 mile block party around and the run clubs come out in full force. Seriously nothing else like it!
Super crowds, amazing city, subpar end
We’re now four years into the LA Marathon finishing in the concrete/glass of Century City instead of at the beaches of Santa Monica. Thanks, McCourt Foundation. But seriously, please fix … MORE
We’re now four years into the LA Marathon finishing in the concrete/glass of Century City instead of at the beaches of Santa Monica. Thanks, McCourt Foundation. But seriously, please fix this… As long as you’re prepared for the annoying out-and-back final miles, plus a painful uphill finish, then the city of Los Angeles’ amazing landmarks and supportive crowds still make this a good race.
Expo / pick-up:
-The expo and packet pickup was hosted at Dodger Stadium, the first of the marathon’s LA landmarks. The outdoor setting of the famous ballpark adds festive energy for the sponsors, food trucks, various displays, and photo opportunities. Parking was free, too. If you’ve run the marathon in consecutive years, remember to pick up your LA Loyal bonuses (depending on the number of years: bib, pin, hat, etc.). Asics was the official shoe and apparel sponsor, and the purchase of any of their shirts and hoodies also included a free heat press of several custom decals. Pretty cool.
Parking:
-If you’re driving to the race, be sure to book the free early-morning shuttles from the Century City finish area to Dodger Stadium. There’s also a shuttle from Union Station, but no return shuttles back. While I didn’t use them this year, the shuttles are very convenient. I was instead dropped off at the Golden State Gate of Dodger Stadium where traffic was heavy.
Pre-race:
-The snack tent featured Over Easy breakfast bars, 3 flavors of Gu (Vanilla Bean, Strawberry Banana, and Salted Watermelon), bananas, and water. But the later you get there, the longer the lines will be! Port-a-potties were plentiful, but there were no portable faucets. Either pray that the hand sanitizer doesn’t run out, or bring your own. When it comes to bathrooms on race day, you gotta treat em like American Idol -voting: go early and often! Pre-race temperatures at Dodger Stadium started in the low-50s, so bring extra layers like jackets, blankets, or even garbage bags to stay warm. When you’re ready, head to the gear check trucks so you can stash away your extra layers or any items you’ll need. Gear check is located on the far east side of Dodger Stadium in Lot K. When the corrals begin to fill up closer to start time, it becomes harder to navigate crowds—especially if you need to get back to the seeded corrals near the north of the Stadium in Lot H. I wish the organizers set up more signs and giant maps of the venue. Yes, I had the venue maps on my phone, but I’d rather not be draining my phone’s battery just before a multi-hour race.
Course:
-They advertise this as the “Stadium to the Stars” course, but that’s pure Hollywood marketing because there’s nothing starry about looping back to Century City, and it’s a downgrade from the beautiful “Stadium to the Sea” course that used to end in Santa Monica. Seriously, we need to lock the McCourt Foundation and the City of Santa Monica in a room until they get a deal done. For now, we’ve got 20 good miles out of 26, and huge, supportive crowds.
-Miles 1-5: The start of marathons can be a rowdy experience, but the good ones like the LA Marathon pump you up with good, nervous energy. It’s a thrill to weave through runners and walkers of various paces, all of you sharing a special day together. If you need a quick break, there are a few rows of port-a-potties on your left shortly after the start, then also at Mile 1 on Sunset. Otherwise, it’s a downhill plunge out of Dodger Stadium, with the first few miles through Chinatown and its lion dancers, Downtown LA, past City Hall, and Little Tokyo. This opening bit features memorable landmarks, multiple turns, mini hills, and moments in urban canyons where you’re dwarfed by towers on both sides. The steepest hill of the course rises at Mile 4, and it’s one of my favorite parts: the epic sound of taiko drums, courtesy of Koshin Taiko Drummers, propels you up 1st Street before you turn onto Grand Avenue. You’ll get peeks of Bunker Hill, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Civic Center, and Walt Disney Concert Hall as a bonus for conquering that climb.
-Miles 5-9: The course calms down a bit with a pleasant run through Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Los Feliz. Some generous supporters were offering free hot dogs at Mile 5, just after crossing the freeway. How adventurous are you and your stomach on race day? Echo Park lake at Mile 6 is a pleasant sight, accompanied by some official race photographers, so smile! This is followed by gentle rolling hills easing you past arts/music/hipster-focused bars, theaters, and shops along Sunset Boulevard. Compared to Downtown, you’ll see more residents around here cheering you on, often with very creative posters. You’ll also get your first glimpse of the famous Hollywood sign in the distance.
-Miles 9-15: Sunset Boulevard has turned into Hollywood Boulevard, and you know what that means? It’s time to shine because you’re in Hollywood! The crowds grow livelier, music gets louder, and landmarks look like they’ve popped off a tourist postcard: the Pantages Theater, Capitol Records Tower, El Capitan Theater, TCL Chinese Theater. Big flashy billboards tout movies like Godzilla x Kong, Dune: Part Two, Road House, and The Holdovers, as well as shows like Shogun, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and 3 Body Problem. The Oscars just concluded, so now the Hollywood spotlight’s on you and your marathon! Dance through West Hollywood and its festivities, and keep those legs moving.
-Miles 15-18: It’s time to window-shop in one of the world’s most famous zip codes: Beverly Hills, 90210. The glitz and glamour of show business transitions into luxury storefronts and fashion labels. The elevation dips a bit, in contrast to the high prices of goods you’ll see along Rodeo Drive. I think I saw a little orchestra playing around here as well?
-Miles 18-22: Skyscrapers peek out on the horizon as you approach Century City. Around Mile 18 on Santa Monica Boulevard, the elite runners return on the other side of the road. It’s exciting and inspiring to see them sprint to the finish line, but also slightly deflating to realize the out-and-back part of the course is just beginning. It helps that the crowd support in this stretch is TREMENDOUS—raucous cheering, the biggest and best signs (hit that 1-Up mushroom!), confetti blasts, piñatas in the air, taiko drums again, running clubs with refreshments, hip hop DJs, marching bands, inflatable dinosaur costumes… It’s like a city-wide block party. At several points, the crowds squeezed the road so tightly that it felt like running through a guard of honor on both sides.
It’s a nice send-off before you tackle the most challenging section of the marathon. It starts with a tough hill climb around Mile 20 up Sepulveda Boulevard. Then cross under the 405 freeway, an underpass which seemingly drains noise, energy, and joy from the race. Emerge on the other side on the Wilshire Boulevard bridge, and it’s just quiet, barren asphalt. This VA Hospital area has no crowds, no scenery, no shade, just the pained faces of cramped/dehydrated runners returning on the other side of the road. There’s supposed to be a turn-around point coming up, right? Is it here? No. There’s a sinking feeling when you realize that you’re running further and further AWAY from the finish line.
-Miles 22-26.2: You push up San Vicente Boulevard and arrive in Brentwood, home of the most gorgeous sight in the history of the entire world: the turn-around point! Here, you’re also boosted by strong crowd support—run clubs and DJs and volunteers with freshly-sliced oranges. You just did the “out” of the out-and-back, now it’s time to go “back” on aching legs. What looked like small hills earlier now feels like mountains the size of Everest. It’s ugly, and it seems like half of all runners have slowed to a gimpy shuffle-walk, or are stretching out cramps and aches on the side of the road. The final 1.5 miles is an uphill slog up Santa Monica Boulevard, but the mega-crowds from earlier are back, and they really help you fight on. A small improvement to the course is that the finish line is actually on Santa Monica Boulevard now. In prior years, the course would slow for a hard-right turn into Avenue of the Stars, then suddenly end after 0.1 mile or so. It was anticlimactic. Now you can actually see the end in sight and build momentum for a final sprint. I still miss the old Santa Monica beach finale: the smell of sweet ocean air, the sight of green palm trees and blue ocean waters. But it’s nice that the race organizers at least made some much-needed adjustments to this finish.
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-The LA Marathon boasts so many memorable landmarks. It’s hard to beat a lineup of Dodger Stadium, Chinatown, Disney Concert Hall, Echo Park, Hollywood, the Sunset Strip, and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The last 8 miles are stingy in scenery though, and I wish we still finished by the beach. Race day temperatures were pleasant for running, starting in the low-50s, and ending in the mid-60s. Heavy clouds covered most of the skies, and I’d rather have that than scorching heat. Aid stations serving water and Electrolit were spaced out at roughly 1 to 1.5 mile intervals. Gu gels were served around Mile 12 and Mile 18. I think more aid stations would be helpful in the final few miles, as well as more trash cans at the middle aid stations. Some entertainment/cheering around the 405 and VA area would be helpful. But overall, the local residents, supporters, and run clubs who came out to cheer this year were immense. The crowd support was loud, energetic, FANTASTIC, and louder than I’ve ever experienced. Thank you also to all the volunteers at the water stations, you were lifesavers!
Post-race:
-Cross that finish line, smile for cameras, and grab that shiny finisher medal (or medals, if you did the Double Play with the 5k). Wipe off with the wet towels, a nice new addition this year! Wrap up in a foil blanket and stay warm—post-race hypothermia is a thing! Chug down bottles of water and Electrolit, get rehydrated! The post-race refreshment lineup included Arrowhead water, Electrolit, TruMoo chocolate milk, bananas, Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips (Sea Salt, and Dairy Free Nacho), Pocky (Chocolate, and Cookies & Cream), Solely: Organic Mango Whole Fruit Gummies, Ritz crackers, Annie’s Organic Friends Bunny Grahams (Chocolate Chip), Kellogg’s Scooby-Doo Baked Graham Crackers (cinnamon), Chex Mix, Cheez-Its (original), and Over Easy breakfast bars (oatmeal raisin). Rest, stretch, then mosey over to the FinisherPix photographers, and flash a victorious smile and celebratory pose. Remember to grab your stuff from Gear Check, then meet up with family and friends at the reunion area.
Swag:
-The 2024 LA Marathon was held on St. Patrick’s Day, so the official race shirt from Asics this year came in green, with lime green graphics of Dodgers Stadium, City Hall, the Hollywood hills, the Capitol Records tower, the Route 66 sign, and the Chinese Theater, with the “Los Angeles Marathon” text centered in navy blue. The finisher medal is a circular golden disc, with “Los Angeles Marathon” and “26.2 FINISHER” etched in the upper-left. The right-half of the medal is a giant green shamrock with the “LAM” and Asics logos in the shamrock’s left leaf, “3.17.2024” on the right leaf, and a lucky rainbow swooping underneath the right leaf. The bottom-left third of the disc has etched graphics of palm trees, the Hollywood sign, stars from the Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles City Hall, the Santa Monica Route 66 sign (a cruel reminder of what was, or a tease of things to come?), the Capitol Records tower, the Dodger Stadium scoreboard, and the TCL Chinese Theater. The bright shiny medal was looped in a green ribbon with white text. A nice little bonus: a tiny pot of gold is etched on the medal loop where the ribbon attaches to the medal.
The Bottom Line:
-The LA Marathon is memorably strong for 18 or so miles, and the crowd support was stronger than I’ve ever seen it. I might run it again only because it’s my hometown race. But I need the organizers could fix the out-and-back, hilly finish to the race. It’s a drag. LA is a magnificent city, with so many sights to behold—why build a course with an out-and-back portion where runners have to see some of the same sights twice? Please bring back the Santa Monica finish line! Bring back the “Stadium to the Sea”!
Fun, Moderately challenging Race
The Pros: This race has no lack of spectators. I started in the elite age group division and ran it mostly by myself. I probably didn't go more than 400 … MORE
The Pros:
This race has no lack of spectators. I started in the elite age group division and ran it mostly by myself. I probably didn’t go more than 400 meters without a group of people cheering for me. The crowd was absolutely fantastic.
Additionally, the first 18-19 miles are very scenic. After a very net downhill during the first 5k you’re met with a moderately difficult 5-10k. After that, it’s pretty flat for the next 12ish miles. during this 12 miles, you get to run through some of LA’s most iconic streets and buildings. It was pretty cool.
The finish chute is long but was stocked full of snacks and drinks that were very nice after running 26 miles. The family reunification area was well run and made finding my wife and kids easy after the race. The post race festival was nice and full of things to do. Finally, parking/leaving the event was very easy. I only had to walk maybe a quarter mile to get to my rental car, and leaving the area was a breeze.
The cons:
Getting to the race. I unfortunately stayed decently far away from dodger stadium. My stepdad and I left 2.5 hours before the race. We were moving great until we got two miles from Dodger Stadium. It took an hour to move the last two miles. I think this was due to the race only having one entrance to Dodger Stadium open. I ended up hopping out of the car on the street and jogging the last third of a mile to the race. When I got to the start, a few of the volunteers didn’t know that I was supposed to be in the front of the race with my bib number. I kept getting directed to the back of the open corral when a very sweet, kind lady took me to where I needed to be. Additionally, I think the race started a few minutes early.
The last 8 miles. Due to things outside of the organizers control, the race no longer finishes in Santa Monica. This makes for a really mentally tough end of the race. You run past the finish at mile 18 and begin to lose the nice scenery that you’ve gotten to enjoy over the first two thirds of the race. The out and back feels like it takes forever to get to, with a really tough climb in the last few miles.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this race, and I (as a teacher who has spring break the week of the race) will be likely to make the trek all the way from Missouri to do it again. Hopefully they’re able to have you finish at the sea again in the future, but it is still a wonderful event regardless. 8.4/10
Great Start, Rough Finish
After 11 years out of the Marathon game, I decided to jump back in and run this race with a friend. Overall, I found it an enjoyable race but the … MORE
After 11 years out of the Marathon game, I decided to jump back in and run this race with a friend. Overall, I found it an enjoyable race but the finish left a bad taste in my mouth. I would do it again but need to revise my plan to leave the finish line.
I signed up for this race months ahead of time and had a good train up, following the Hal Higdon Novice 2 program to the letter. The organizers did a great job communicating and sent out a 30+ page race guide a week prior, which answered all of my questions.
The Expo was well organized and efficient, although traffic getting there was awful (go early and on Friday if possible!). The number of vendors seemed low given the size of the race, but I normally don’t buy anything.
On the morning of, getting to the race was well organized – the bus pick up at Union Station ran exactly as they said it would and was quick.
After waiting 45 minutes to use the restroom (I’d say that’s pretty normal for most races I’ve participated in), the line up in the corrals was well organized. For a race of 20k plus participants, they had me across the line 4 minutes after gun time, which was very fast.
The course is challenging – the first I’ve run with so many ups and downs. My legs definitely felt it! I knew it going in but still was a bit of a surprise.
There were plenty of water and electrolyte stations on the course, although I personally don’t care for the electrolyte they had on course. They only had two Gus on course, which is basically pointless (to be fair, most marathons only have two) – you have to bring your own energy if you’re going to last 3+ hours during the race.
Crowd support was hit or miss for the first 18 miles – if you like a crowd from start to finish, that could be disappointing. It really picks up at the end though, when you need it most.
Lots of people complain about the turnaround – be mentally ready and it won’t seem as bad.
With the increase in crowds, there was a marked increase in the number of bandits, which when they are on bikes can be frustrating and a little dangerous. I wish they had better control of the crowds.
Mile 25 and on is a gradual uphill, which is just cruel, but I still was able to finish with a PR on this course.
There were two issues at the end which made this race feel disorganized and unfortunate given how the rest seemed well run.
1) It was recommended to park near the finish line at a nearby mall. My wife and I got lunch at the mall and then planned to leave. An hour after we hopped in the car, we’d moved about 100 ft, gave up and reparked. I spend another two hours at a bar and by that time traffic was flowing. So if you plan on parking at the finish line, be prepared to be a mall rat all day.
2) I ran this race with a friend, and 72 hours later, his race time still hasn’t been posted. I’ve participated in much smaller races that have results near instantly, so this is inexcusable.
One of the Top U.S. races.
FYI, I am now 71, I have done 130 Marathons, 120 half's, , 30 Ultras. This race was my 13th time for running it, The course has changed at least … MORE
FYI, I am now 71, I have done 130 Marathons, 120 half’s, , 30 Ultras. This race was my 13th time for running it, The course has changed at least 3 times I know of. The organization did a marvelous job at putting this together. Fantastic community support and turn out. Lots of bands/drums etc. Volunteers had great attitudes. If you run this, if you park in a garage, park close to the exit, read all the race guide, take a space blanket just in case, mornings are cool.This race can turn hot later in the race. The swag is great and lots of thought has been put into this race. You will enjoy this for sure. There all hills, several so plan for it.
A Fine Race and Fun Time
The aid stations were awesome. The volunteers gave a lot of hydration when needed. The most unique aspect about the race was the newer course. The race cold be improved … MORE
The aid stations were awesome. The volunteers gave a lot of hydration when needed. The most unique aspect about the race was the newer course. The race cold be improved with more nutrition.
Would not recommend - Greedy McCourts
I did this race when it finished in Santa Monica and it was an amazing race. Now, the last 8 miles, the hardest part of the marathon, are ugly, barren … MORE
I did this race when it finished in Santa Monica and it was an amazing race. Now, the last 8 miles, the hardest part of the marathon, are ugly, barren and completely demoralizing when passing next to the finish line at mile 18. Frank McCourt, member of the McCourt foundation that sponsors the race, will forever be known by Angelenos for running the Dodgers into the ground to finance his divorce.
Like his greediness with the Dodgers, he opts out of having the race finish at the ocean, because the city wanted to charge him for it. Instead of having the picturesque beach finish, the course winds under freeways out and back, finishing in an ugly city center that requires spectators to complete a maze to get to you.
Will do it again in 2024
Everyone should run the LA Marathon especially I’d your a local to the city. It was tough for me due to the fact I dealt with leg pain through the … MORE
Everyone should run the LA Marathon especially I’d your a local to the city. It was tough for me due to the fact I dealt with leg pain through the last couple of months of my Prep and into the Marathon but we finish and that was the main goal.
Enjoy running through the Landmarks.
Runners enjoy running through some of LAs best Landmark and may just be running along someone famous. They should bring back the Santa Monica Finish Line. MORE
Runners enjoy running through some of LAs best Landmark and may just be running along someone famous.
They should bring back the Santa Monica Finish Line.
Liked but not loved it
great organization!! The only problem I saw is the route, so many uphill/downhills that is not ideal to run a marathon, and the last part of passing net to the … MORE
great organization!! The only problem I saw is the route, so many uphill/downhills that is not ideal to run a marathon, and the last part of passing net to the end line is not ideal because so many people crossing the street, in the middle of the street with chairs, etc
Bring back Stadium to the Sea!
The new course is a bit dissapointing. Retracing your steps uphill to Century City is less fun than ending at the pier in Santa Monica. I wish the McCourt Foundation … MORE
The new course is a bit dissapointing. Retracing your steps uphill to Century City is less fun than ending at the pier in Santa Monica. I wish the McCourt Foundation / Santa Monica would bring back the old course.
The logistics of getting to Century City in the morning were poorly managed. It was a nightmare getting there at 5am, and my shuttle got lost and took 90 minutes to drive from CC to Dodgers Stadium.
Volunteers and crowds were amazing!
Amazing crowds and sights, tough ending
This is the third year the LA Marathon has ended in Century City rather than the beautiful Santa Monica beach. The course remains tough, with a frustrating out-and-back final leg, … MORE
This is the third year the LA Marathon has ended in Century City rather than the beautiful Santa Monica beach. The course remains tough, with a frustrating out-and-back final leg, and an unappealing uphill finish, but the city’s iconic landmarks and growing crowd support make this race worthy of your time.
Expo / pick-up:
-The expo and packet pickup was hosted again at Dodger Stadium. It’s always neat to check out the sights around the ballpark, and the outdoor setting adds a more festive energy for the sponsors, food trucks, various displays, and photo opportunities. Parking was free, too. The only snafu for me was that I didn’t receive my corral assignment sticker on my bib. I’m not sure if that was related to my LA Loyal status (consecutive years of participation) and picking up my bib at a different tent, but this left me scrambling on race-day morning to get a corral sticker from the Solutions table. If you’re assigned a seeded corral, make sure it’s indicated on your bib!
Parking:
-Book ahead of time, and you can ride the free early-morning shuttles from the Century City finish area to Dodger Stadium. While I didn’t use them this year, they’re a very convenient option if you drive yourself. I was dropped off instead at the Golden State Gate of Dodger Stadium where traffic was gnarly. Budget for extra time if you plan to arrive directly at the Stadium instead of Century City.
Pre-race:
-The Pre-race snack tent featured 2 flavors of Over Easy breakfast bars (Coconut or Peanut Butter), 3 flavors of Gu (Tri-Berry, Salted Water Melon, Birthday Cake), bananas (banana-flavored, obviously) and water (H2O-flavored). The line took about 10 minutes. Port-a-potties were plentiful, but there were no portable faucets that I could see, so bring your own hand sanitizer! Pre-race temperatures at Dodger Stadium were in the mid-50s—not nearly as chilly or windy as in recent years. I’d still recommend extra layers: jackets, blankets, or modified garbage bags to stay warm. Take advantage of the gear check trucks to stow away your extra layers or any items you’ll need to use after the race ends. It’s tempting to wait until the last possible minute before checking your gear, but don’t wait! Gear check is located all the way on the east side of Dodger Stadium in Lot K. Once the open corrals begin to fill up closer to start time, it becomes difficult to navigate the crowds—especially if you need to make it back to the seeded corrals near the north of the Stadium in Lot H. Here’s where I wish the organizers set up more signs and jumbo-sized display maps of the venue. Yes, I had downloaded the venue maps, but I’d rather not be hammering my phone’s precious battery just before a marathon.
Course:
-The “Stadium to the Stars” course of the last few years ending in Century City (what’s starry about Century City?) just doesn’t measure up to the classic “Stadium to the Sea” course ending in Santa Monica. I understand the benefits of having a larger staging area at the finish line, but it really compromises the final few miles. I hope the McCourt Foundation and the City of Santa Monica find a solution next year. For now, the first 20 miles are still great!
-Miles 1-5: Blasting out of the starting line of any marathon is a chaotic experience. Even with timed corrals, you’ve still gotta weave through runners and walkers of various paces just to find a little bubble of your own. If you need to take a quick break from the madness, there are a few rows of port-a-potties on your way out of the Dodger Stadium parking lot and also at Mile 1 on Sunset. The first few miles are a downhill dive through Chinatown and its lion dancers, Downtown LA, past City Hall, and Little Tokyo. This opening stretch features so many memorable landmarks, multiple turns, mini hills, and moments where you’re in an urban canyon dwarfed by towers on both sides. Mile 4 is marked by the steepest hill of the race, yet it’s also one of my favorite parts: the epic sound of taiko drums pulling you up and up on 1st Street before you turn onto Grand Avenue. You get glimpses of Bunker Hill, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Civic Center, and Walt Disney Concert Hall as a reward after conquering that tough climb.
-Miles 5-9: The course calms down a bit with a pleasant run through Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Los Feliz. Gentle rolling hills ease you past the arts/music/hipster-focused bars, theaters, and shops along Sunset Boulevard. Compared to Downtown, you’ll start to see a far more residents around here cheering you on, some with some very creative signs.
-Miles 9-15: Sunset Boulevard has turned into Hollywood Boulevard, and you know what that means? It’s time to say “cheese” because you’re in Hollywood! The crowds grow rowdier, music gets louder, and landmarks on your left and right look like they’ve popped off a tourist’s postcard: the Pantages Theater, Capitol Records Tower, El Capitan Theater, Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Billboards rise up, touting movies like Creed 3, All Quiet on the Western Front, Super Mario Bros, as well as upcoming shows like Succession and Yellowjackets. You’re in the capital of entertainment and the Oscars just concluded, so now it’s YOUR time to shine! Dance through West Hollywood and keep those legs moving.
-Miles 15-18: Stroll through one of the world’s most famous zip codes: Beverly Hills, 90210. The glitz and glamour of show biz segues into luxury storefronts and fashion labels. The elevation dips a bit, in contrast to the high prices of goods you’ll see in all the Rodeo Drive display windows.
-Miles 18-22: Skyscrapers poke up on the horizon as you near Century City. Just past Mile 18 on Santa Monica Boulevard, you see elite runners returning on the other side of the road. It’s exciting to see them reach the finish line, but also slightly demoralizing to know you’re about to begin the out-and-back portion of the course. The silver lining is that the crowd support in this area is IMMENSE—I’m talking about the rowdiest supporters, the biggest and best signs, confetti drops, piñatas, taiko drums, running clubs with refreshments, hobby DJs, dancers in dinosaur and unicorn costumes… At one point, the crowds squeezed the road so tightly on both sides that it felt like we were running through an honor guard. It’s a party and a nice send-off as you face the most difficult portion of the race. Begin an unforgiving hill climb around Mile 20 up Sepulveda Boulevard, cross under the 405 freeway, and emerge into the silent, barren wasteland of the Veteran’s Administration area. It’s whisper-quiet on the Wilshire Boulevard bridge. No crowds, no scenery. Just the gray asphalt, and the anguished faces of cramped/dehydrated runners returning on the other side of the road. Where’s that turn-around point? Is it here yet? No. Around this corner? Maybe. It feels awful realizing that you’re running AWAY from the finish line.
-Miles 22-26.2: You run up San Vicente Boulevard and arrive in Brentwood, home of the most beautiful sight in the history of the world: the turn-around point! The crowd support here is also very strong and refreshing—lots of run clubs and DJs and volunteers with home-sliced oranges. You just did the “out”, now you gotta go “back” on aching legs. What looked like small hills earlier now feel like mountains the size of Everest. It’s not pretty, and it seems like half of all runners now have slowed to a painful shuffle-walk, or are stretching out cramps and aches on the side of the road. The final 1.5 miles is an uphill slog up Santa Monica Boulevard, but the super-crowds from earlier are back again, and they really help push you through. One nice tweak to the course this year is that the finish line is actually on Santa Monica Boulevard. For the past 2 years, the course would slow for a hard-right turn into Avenue of the Stars, then suddenly end after 0.1 mile or so. It was anticlimactic. Now you can actually see the end in sight and build speed for a final burst. I still miss the old Santa Monica beach finale: the smell of sweet ocean air, the sight of green palms and blue waters. But it’s nice that the race organizers at least made some much-needed adjustments to this finish.
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-So many Los Angeles landmarks dot the course. It’s hard to beat a list that includes Dodger Stadium, Chinatown, Disney Concert Hall, Echo Park, Hollywood, the Sunset Strip, and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The last 8 miles are sparse in scenery though, and I wish we finished by the beach. Race day temperatures were just perfect for running, starting in the mid-50s, and ending around 60-degrees Fahrenheit. Cool clouds dominated about 90% of the skies, with very light drizzle on-and-off throughout the morning, but I’d rather have that than scorching heat. Aid stations serving water and Electrolit were spaced out at roughly 1 to 1.5 mile intervals. Gu gels were served at Mile 12 and Mile 18. I think more aid stations are needed in the final few miles, as well as more trash cans at the middle aid stations. Some entertainment/cheering around the 405 and VA area would be helpful. But overall, I need to praise all the local residents, supporters, and run clubs who came out to cheer this year. The crowd support was loud, energetic, and FANTASTIC. They were the largest crowds I’ve experienced in years! Thank you also to all the green-shirted volunteers at the water stations, you were all vital and superb!
Post-race:
-Cross that finish line, and grab that shiny finisher medal (or medals, if you did the Double Play with the 5k). Wrap up in a foil blanket, chug down bottles of water and Electrolit. The post-race refreshment lineup included bananas, Asian pears, Pocky sticks (Chocolate or Strawberry), Munchies Peanut Butter sandwich crackers, Annie’s Organic Cheddar Bunnies, Lesser Evil Popcorn with Himalayan Salt and Organic Coconut Oil, Kodiak Bear Bites Graham Crackers, Over Easy breakfast bars (Peanut Butter or Coconut), and Honey Maid graham crackers. Rest, stretch, then shuffle over to the FinisherPix photographers with a hearty smile and victorious pose. Don’t forget to grab your stuff from Gear Check. I thought the runner secure zone this year was better organized and less chaotic years than in years prior.
Swag:
-The 2023 LA Marathon race shirt came in a light shade of blue, with dark blue and gray hills behind white letters spelling out “Los Angeles Marathon 2023” mimicking the Hollywood sign. A couple blue palm trees decorate the bottom left of the design. The finisher medal is a chunky golden star like you’d find on the Walk of Fame, flanked by teal and red triangles. The side edges of the gold star are shaded with silhouettes of Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood sign, LAX, City Hall, and various landmarks, while the outline of the central star spells out the names of the landmarks. It’s a very nice detail that could be easily overlooked! The back of the medal features a blank spot to etch your finishing time. If you ran the 5k, then then you’ll also earn the Double Play medal: a round golden medal with overlapping red and teal stars in the center. Between each spoke of the star are silhouettes of LA landmarks, just like the marathon medal. Slightly off-topic, but I just saw the classic “The City of Los Angeles Marathon” olive wreath logo design they used for more than 20 marathons, and wow I hope they bring that logo back somehow!
The Bottom Line:
-The LA Marathon is a very strong race for 18 or so miles, and I’ll probably run it again only because it’s my hometown race with so many iconic LA sights to behold. But I sincerely wish the organizers could fix the out-and-back, hilly ending of the race. It’s not great. LA is a wonderful city, with so many things to see—why take runners on a tour of places they’ve already been with the out-and-back? What a wasted opportunity. Bring back the Santa Monica finish! Bring back the “Stadium to the Sea”!
Well organized but lackluster course
Pros: - Well organized expo at dodger stadium (with free parking) - Great transportation from century city to start at dodger stadium - no wait for a bus and tons … MORE
Pros:
– Well organized expo at dodger stadium (with free parking)
– Great transportation from century city to start at dodger stadium – no wait for a bus and tons of buses waiting
– second half of course had more people cheering than first half
– lots of aid stations
Cons:
– course after about mile 17-18 is dull with no landmarks / scenery, especially with going under overpass and to turnaround at 21/22. You’re running against people finishing starting at mile 18ish until you turnaround.
– there’s some sneaky hills! There’s some nice downhills but prepare for mile 20 hill and one at finish
If course goes back to finishing in Santa Monica, this is a no brainer and amazing race, including for out of towners. With current course, it’s fine overall but not a top race to travel to run