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
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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
Challenging course with great crowds
I watched Kofuzi's recap of his 2022 LA marathon experience, so I knew this would be a tough course, and it definitely was with over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. … MORE
I watched Kofuzi’s recap of his 2022 LA marathon experience, so I knew this would be a tough course, and it definitely was with over 1,000 feet of elevation gain.
Having run the Napa marathon two weeks prior, I treated this more as a fun run. The last 10k proved to be decidedly less fun when the 3:20 pacer–who I had been planning to cruise with from start to finish–dropped out just after mile 19. Thankfully, the crowd support was fantastic. So, too, were the volunteers at the aid stations.
After crossing the finish line, I craved liquids above all else, and there were several different flavors of Electrolit and water; for those who with an appetite post-race, there were bananas and an assortment of sweet and salty snacks.
Given road closures and LA’s reputation for traffic, I was concerned it’d be a slog getting out of Century City, but I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to leave the area.
Summary: if you’re looking for a well-organized big city marathon (and aren’t necessarily looking for a PR), this one’s worth a try.
A Exciting Race on a Pleasant Course
The aid stations were excellent and the volunteers communicated with me well. The most helpful and unique aspect of the race was the course and music. The race could be … MORE
The aid stations were excellent and the volunteers communicated with me well. The most helpful and unique aspect of the race was the course and music. The race could be improved with more refreshments.
Worth doing once but not a fast course
This was my second year running LA Marathon and my 2nd marathon. Weather was good and as usual, the course is scenic, taking you past many iconic LA sites and … MORE
This was my second year running LA Marathon and my 2nd marathon. Weather was good and as usual, the course is scenic, taking you past many iconic LA sites and neighborhoods which other have described. That being said, it is pretty hilly early on and there are long rolling hills in the last 8 miles. The finish this year was uphill on Santa Monica Blvd in Century City. It was nice to be able to see the finish line. Plenty of aid stations though fewer in the last 8 miles. Fantastic crowd support. Pick up bottled water if you can at the end from supporters. Worst part is the freeway overpass by the Veterans Administration- road is particularly pot holed and uneven there and it’s an uphill/downhill without any crowd support or aid stations. Medals are
Nice. Start and finish are very crowded. Get there early and have a plan for pick up/meeting family.
Had to do it once!
This marathon is always very hyped up so I had to try it once since I live relatively close. The production was great. Lots of booths at the expo. I … MORE
This marathon is always very hyped up so I had to try it once since I live relatively close. The production was great. Lots of booths at the expo. I bought a mug as a souvenir. Race day morning I got there plenty early because there was a big line up of cars dropping off runners. My hubby dropped me off early then went back to the air bnb to wait till my start. Waiting was kinda cold but I huddled up behind the porter potties and that worked. Plenty of toilets at the start. Just VERY crowded race of course. There was a few more hills than I expected so I wasn’t 100% prepared for that. I hit a wall around mile 20. So I did some walking before I finished. Lots of aid stations and great volunteers. My husband had a hard time getting to the first spot I told him to be at so he had to go to the next spot instead since too much traffic for spectators. Luckily I did finally see him at mile 18ish. And I found him relatively easy at the end of the race luckily. Or he found me rather. It was a great accomplishment and just exciting to be part of something that large. I would say it was a little underwhelming scenery wise but I’m not sure what I was expecting from running streets in LA. The course has changed in the last couple years and I hear the old course was better but I don’t know because I’ve never done the old one. I would say the highlight was starting at Dodger Stadium. The medal you receive at the finish is really big and awesome. I’m glad I can say I did it once but I don’t plan on doing it again.
Awesome and Most Entertaining Race
This race was the best one I participated in the past 10 years I have been running marathons. It was awesome to run through different neighborhoods of Los Angeles. The … MORE
This race was the best one I participated in the past 10 years I have been running marathons. It was awesome to run through different neighborhoods of Los Angeles. The volunteers and crowd cheering runners on inspired me to push through to the finish line. I initially registered for the half marathon but showed up half an hour hour early and ended up running the full marathon since the course did not have a half marathon finish line. The excitement, music, wonderful aid stations, and encouragement from the crowd inspired me to press on to the finish line in the time of 4:01.
Great race to see LA until mile 20
I think other runners have very thoroughly reviewed this race. I agree that it’s a fairly hilly course at the beginning and at the end though it is billed as … MORE
I think other runners have very thoroughly reviewed this race. I agree that it’s a fairly hilly course at the beginning and at the end though it is billed as a net downhill. Plenty of aid stations in the first 20 miles but essentially only one official in the last six miles. The worst part is indeed where you run up a long gradual uphill along sepulveda Blvd and under freeway overpass through the VA grounds because it gets hot, there are no crowds to cheer you on and no aid stations either. Plenty of spectators handing out drinks and snacks where there were crowds but I was hesitant to consume stuff given the pandemic etc. This was my first marathon so I had no idea what to expect but I think I would have done better during this segment if the course continued into Santa Monica as it used to prior to the pandemic as the old finish was a gradual downhill with more interesting scenery. The out and back finish was not fun! Also because you can’t see the finish line and they don’t have any distance markers, it’s
Hard to know when to push towards the finish. I say this because I live in this area and I couldn’t judge the distance to the finish. Fun race but difficult finish.
Iconic first 20 miles... poor finish!
The City of LA provides a wonderful course filled with iconic landmarks and neighborhoods for the first 20 miles. It’s such a shame that the organizers tack on a poorly-plotted … MORE
The City of LA provides a wonderful course filled with iconic landmarks and neighborhoods for the first 20 miles. It’s such a shame that the organizers tack on a poorly-plotted final 6.2 miles at the end, including a demoralizing out-and-back finish.
Expo / pickup:
-For the second straight year, the expo and packet pickup was held at Dodger Stadium instead of the LA Convention Center. The outdoor setting is more energetic and festive. Parking is free, and it’s also a nice preview of where you’ll start the marathon on Sunday. The “Double Play” registration (5k on Saturday, Marathon on Sunday) was so much smoother this year. Instead of three separate registrations, all you had to do was register for the two races and you’d be automatically given the “Double Play” registration.
Parking:
-Instead of taking the shuttle on race-day morning, I was dropped off at Dodger Stadium (Golden State Gate). This was fast and convenient the morning-of, and saved me an extra hour of sleep. This is a great option if you’re able to secure transportation after the race from the Century City finish line—there’s no official transportation from Century City back to Dodger Stadium after.
Pre-race:
-Windy! While Dodger Stadium wasn’t chilly temperature-wise (low 50s an hour before start), the winds were very frisky and caused some discomfort if you weren’t properly equipped with jackets, blankets, or customized garbage bags. An extra layer was handy and also more do-able this year since the organizers brought back race-day gear check after last November’s glaring omission. Thank goodness! No need to buy the over-priced Hospitality package just to store your items. Pre-race snack tent featured bananas, Quantum Energy Squares, and water. Port-a-potties were plentiful, but there were hardly any portable faucets. Bring your own hand sanitizer just in case?
Course:
-This year’s “Stadium to the Stars” course ending in Century City can’t compare to the “Stadium to the Sea” course last used 2 years ago when it concluded by the ocean in Santa Monica. Let’s hope the McCourt Foundation and the City of Santa Monica learn to compromise and play nice again. In the meantime, the first 20 miles are still iconic and enjoyable.
-Miles 1-5: It’s a mad, crowded rush out of the starting line! One thing I noticed this year was the rows of port-a-potties along the early route in Dodger Stadium. If you’ve been cooped up in the starting chute for nearly an hour, here’s your last chance to do your business! Out of the stadium, the first few miles wind through Chinatown, Downtown LA, Little Tokyo, past Olvera Street, Bunker Hill, the Civic Center, Disney Hall, and the DWP building. This stretch features the most buildings, most turns, most (small) hills, and the tightest streets for the course, but it’s very memorable. The best part is the epic taiko drums giving you a boost up the hill around Mile 4 on 1st St!
-Miles 5-10 : After all the Downtown twists and turns, the course settles into a pleasant run through Echo Park and Silver Lake. There’s a big climb to start, then it quickly flattens out into wide streets. There aren’t as many major attractions, but the architecture here is historic and unique. The cozy, quieter neighborhoods make for a smooth run all the way to Little Armenia.
-Miles 10-15: Say cheese, you’re in Hollywood! Enter a long, flat, turn-free journey down Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd. The crowds grow rowdier, music gets louder, and landmarks on your left and right start to look familiar: the Pantages Theater, Capitol Records Tower, Grauman’s Chinese Theater. And the parade of movie/series billboards along the streets are a constant reminder you’re in the capital of entertainment—Moon Knight! CODA! Power of the Dog! The Girl From Plainville! The Mitchells vs the Machines! This year, the Marathon just happened to intersect with the week of the Academy Awards. Several blocks around Dolby Theater are surrounded by scaffolding and glitzy decorations, ready for red carpet festivities. Slow down for a selfie with the super-size golden Oscars statues, this doesn’t happen very often. But today’s the marathon, YOUR marathon—and YOU’RE the star! Eyes on the real prize, keep those legs running! Dance through West Hollywood and keep it moving.
-Miles 15-18: Zip through one of the most famous zip codes in the world: Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Here, the glamour shifts from billboards to the fancy storefronts and windows. The elevation drops a bit, and things get quieter. Focus on your running… and not on the luxury goods you see on Rodeo Drive, where items cost slightly more than your race fee!
-Miles 18-22: Towering glass skyscrapers mean you’re nearing Century City. Just past Mile 18, you start to see elite runners returning from the out-and-back portion on the other side of the street. It’s slightly thrilling to see them approach the finish line. But slightly demoralizing to realize you still have more than 6 miles to go. Crowd support here is great because it’s close to the finish line. So you keep going, and going, and the elevation gain from Miles 19-21 just sap your legs… where’s that turn-around point? Is it around this corner? No… This corner? Still no… It feels so paradoxical and unnatural that you’re running further AWAY from the finish line to get to the end. The crowd support thins out significantly around the Veterans Administration area, especially around the 405 and crossing that awful uphill bridge. Quiet and lifeless just when you need energy the most. Ugh.
-Miles 22-26.2: Finally hitting that Brentwood turn-around point is a relief. The crowd support here is loud and commendable. But memories of the last wretched 4 miles are about to become a crushing reality again. You did the “out”, now you gotta go “back”, on aching legs. It’s brutal, and not helped by the fact that there’s only one official water station in the final 4 miles. I appreciate many of the unofficial support stations from spectator groups, but it’s hard to know exactly what you’re getting each time. I dodged one station offering beer (not now!), and picked up a cup of red liquid from another, ready to gulp it down… only to almost choke on all the crushed ice that I wasn’t expecting after hours of pure water or pure liquid Nuun. Note to race organizers: we need more stations down the final 4 miles!
-The out-and-back is not fun, and it combines with a lackluster final stretch towards the Century City finish line. You run down Santa Monica Blvd, with huge crowds and what feels like the finish, and then the course makes a sharp right-turn onto Avenue of the Stars. You go for another 0.1 mile or so, and the course just… ends. It feels anti-climactic not being able to see the finish line from a distance. You don’t get to build any speed for a final burst. Instead, you’re forced to slow down for a turn, and the finish line seems to drop down out of nowhere. Since we can’t see the finish line, I think it’d be helpful if the organizers added a few distance markers counting down the final 500 m, 250 m, then 100 m, in succession to build some anticipation. The former Santa Monica finish line felt amazing because you could smell the sweet ocean air about a half mile out, hear the crowds, see green palms and blue waters. All these signals made your brain kick into overdrive for a furious sprint to the finish line. For next year, if we can’t get back Santa Monica, I’d recommend shortening the out-and-back by a quarter mile or so, and add that to the Avenue of the Stars after the corner-turn for a speedier finish.
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-In terms of on-course scenery, there are so many iconic LA landmarks. It’s hard to beat Dodger Stadium, Chinatown, Disney Concert Hall, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and the Oscars. The weather during race weekend was great: a brief few days of cool clouds after a hot week. Race day temperatures started in the low 50s and ended in the upper 60s. I think more aid stations are needed in the final 4 miles, and some entertainment/crowds around the 405 and VA area would be much appreciated. Other than that, water and support felt great for most of the race.
Post-race:
-Finish the race, grab your medal(s), wrap up in a foil blanket, and pick up some snacks. Post-race refreshments included bananas, Qure water, Teddy Graham crackers, pretzels, Ritz crackers, Cheez-Its, Quantum energy squares, peanut butter + cheese crackers, animal crackers, and more. If you have the energy to smile, there are multiple stations where you can pose with your medal for the FinisherPix photographers. One thing I didn’t like was that the finisher chute along Avenue of the Stars was definitely shortened compared to last year. They moved up the medical tent and gear check trucks so the chute ends abruptly at Constellation Blvd. Last year, there was another half a block of Avenue of the Stars where you could stretch, relax, and pose for pictures. This year, you’re quickly rushed out of the finishing area and squeezed into the official exits near the beer festival. I’d like a little more time to breathe after a marathon, this feels too hectic.
Swag:
– The 2022 race shirt came in navy blue, with palm tree and runner silhouettes in light blue/red/white. It’s colorful and an upgrade from last year’s light gray design. The finisher medal is a round, solid chunk of silver, with a blue backdrop highlighting silver stars, palm trees, Dodger Stadium, and the LA Marathon logo. If you run the 5k, then then you’ll also earn the Double Play medal: a rounded rectangle of silver, split diagonally with images of the 5k and marathon on each half, colored in red/navy/light blue. The backs of both medals feature the McCourt Foundation logo, along with a blank spot to etch your finishing time.
The Bottom Line:
-The first 20 miles of the LA Marathon are really strong. Strong enough that I might consider racing again. But the organizers really need to do something about that finish. Bring back Santa Monica! Please. But if you can’t, then eliminate the out-and-back. LA is a wonderful city, offering so many world-class sights and sounds. Why ruin the course and make us trudge through the same 3 miles twice at the end?
LA marathon 2022
I liked the LA marathon but they did a horrible job opening up the streets 5 hours, YES 5 hours later and mile 20-26 tbey didn’t have water stations. The … MORE
I liked the LA marathon but they did a horrible job opening up the streets 5 hours, YES 5 hours later and mile 20-26 tbey didn’t have water stations. The most crucial miles of the whole race, THEY DIDNT HAVE WATER. They had minors there who finished a lot later than me and they didn’t have water for them or even for I. They made us run on the footpath, last year tbat was not the case, tbe finish line was running into the footpath!! If I’m paying $270 and I’m didn’t get water the last 6 miles or electrolytes. That was horrible. LA’s bib this year was cheap and not water proof!!! It was hard to find shuttles for in the am. LA needs to do better!!!!
Course is horrible
This website needs to be updated. The course hasn't ended in Santa Monica since 2020. It ends at Ave of the Stars as of 2021. You pass the finish line … MORE
This website needs to be updated. The course hasn’t ended in Santa Monica since 2020. It ends at Ave of the Stars as of 2021. You pass the finish line and have to do an out and back for about the last 8 miles total to finish. The last 8 miles are tough, it really messes with my mind to pass the finish line, when I’m struggling and watch other people ready to finish. Much of what it takes to complete a marathon is your mindset and this course makes it nearly impossible to stay in good spirits. Everyone I was next to on the course was saying the same thing, that they aren’t signing up again because of the course.
In addition the markers aren’t placed correctly. It is more than 26.2 miles. I’ve worn a Fitbit, apple watch, and Garmin and they are all pretty consistent at 26.8 miles at the finish. I’ve also driven my car on the route and have come up with the same distance as my watches.
Rant over. Sorry I literally finished the race today, got home and posted.
So Much Fun
This is such a well done race and a lot of fun to run. The course itself is not so hard and passes through all kinds of fun spots in … MORE
This is such a well done race and a lot of fun to run. The course itself is not so hard and passes through all kinds of fun spots in the LA area. The vibe during the race is very positive with lots of spectator areas and plenty of refreshments. Even the placement of the taiko drummers on the one semi-challenging hill was brilliant.
Complete Cluster F**k
As you can probably tell from the title, I absolutely hated the new finish venue. My misadventures with the new finish venue started at 3 am. For $22, I pre-purchased … MORE
As you can probably tell from the title, I absolutely hated the new finish venue.
My misadventures with the new finish venue started at 3 am. For $22, I pre-purchased parking at the finish and planned on taking the 3 am shuttle to the start. We were not given any directions on how to get to the parking structures around road closures. Participants were simply told to use their GPS. That’s great… but Google had not yet been updated with the road closures. Every direction my GPS tried to take me was blocked off. When I pulled over and asked for directions, I was told to try approaching the parking lot from the other side. That was blocked off too. FINALLY I noticed a road that was blocked off with barricades and a ‘Road Closed’ sign. However, up on the sidewalk I saw a smaller sign instructing ‘Prepaid Parking Turn Right.” Since there was no one manning the barricades and I had been driving around for half an hour, I drove around them. About 150 feet later, I saw another sign instructing ‘Prepaid Parking Continue Straight.’ So I was supposed to drive around the unmanned barricades with the ‘Road Closed’ sign?! I got to my parking lot and I was only the 3rd car to park. When I got to the buses at about 3:40 am, our bus driver told us we were only the 4th bus to depart for the race. Every person on the bus had had the same experience with parking. We reported the problem to race officials in hopes they would fix it for runners arriving after us.
Things improved once I was on my way to the starting line.
Due to Covid and to “prevent crowding” there was no race morning gear check. If you wanted to check a bag, you needed it to check it Friday or Saturday at the Expo. I found this frustrating as everything I gear check is stuff I use BEFORE the race. I simply gear check it because I want it back later. Since I couldn’t gear check on race morning, I had to purchase a travel sized container of sunscreen (and thus not use my normal trusted brand) and bring a jacket I planned on tossing.
The marathon itself was fine. I noticed significantly fewer crowds, specifically as we were running through Echo Park. No chili dogs this year!
I didn’t hate the dreaded new out-and-back as much as most people. It was rather boring and unimaginative, but it was nice that members of my run club had two opportunities to connect with me on course.
The layout of the finish was very badly planned out. Although my parking lot was right by the finish, it was extremely difficult to get to. It was really frustrating navigating around the fenced off areas of not just the finisher chute, but also construction and construction equipment. My plantar fasciitis flared up very badly once I was no longer running. There were plenty of tears and cussing as I was trying to get back to my car.
At one intersection, 2 nearby hotel staff members were out directing traffic while the 3 or 4 officers who were actually assigned to the intersection took a more passive role. Pedestrians tried to cross the street along the fence that bordered the construction site, but the officers yelled for the runners to cross the street in the cross walk, to then cross the street again in the other cross walk. Since the road was blocked due to construction, all of cars were trying to turn. By forcing the pedestrians to cross in the cross walk, they limited the number of cars that could turn with each light rotation. If they had allowed pedestrians to cross along the fence that blocked off the street, there would have been significantly less impact on traffic. Instead, they turned a cluster into a cluster f**k.
The ONLY positive change to this year was the expo. I greatly enjoyed it being outdoors at Dodger Stadium. It is normally inside the Convention Center where the price of parking is insanely high. It was free at Dodger Stadium. Most of all, I enjoyed not having to drive the streets of Downtown LA to get to the Convention Center. While I’m sure they only had it outdoors due to Covid, I can only hope it will be outdoors again in 2022.
I am running the LA Marathon again in March of 2022, but this is only because I previously registered. It is confirmed that we will be finishing in Century City again in 2022. I hated the finish venue so much that I would consider letting go of my LA Loyal streak if I hadn’t already registered.
For 2023, it is my hope that they create an all-new course if we cannot return to finishing in Santa Monica.
Stadium to the Sea > to the Stars
A good race, but registration snafus, combined with frustrating course choices and logistics by the organizers chipped away what should have been a great experience. Expo / pick-up: -I’m guessing … MORE
A good race, but registration snafus, combined with frustrating course choices and logistics by the organizers chipped away what should have been a great experience.
Expo / pick-up:
-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:
-I was dropped at Dodger Stadium (Golden State Gate) instead of taking the shuttle this year. I liked that this was fast and convenient on race-day morning, and saved me an extra hour of sleep. This is a great option if you’re able to secure transportation after the race from the Century City finish line. Basically, you’ll gain a bit more peace of mind in the morning in exchange for the hassle of navigating the post-race crowds to get a ride.
Pre-race:
-The race organizers frustratingly removed race-day gear check this year, and required gear to be checked at the Expo in the days before the race unless you paid for the Start Line Hospitality package. They ostensibly spun this as a covid precaution, but that doesn’t make sense when thousands of people still need to gather in lines for port-a-potties, snacks, water, etc. before the race, and then bunch up in crowded corrals. It felt like a McCourt Foundation money-grab to upsell the Hospitality package. *SIGH* And they got me. They got me because I wanted to keep wearing my comfy jacket, hat, and warm-ups for as long as possible on a chilly morning until the race started. Sure, the heated Hospitality tent featured chairs, water, coffee, bagels, pastries, bananas, Clif bars, yoga mats, foam rollers, private port-a-potties, and a goodie bag with a LAM blanket and bottle. Nice luxuries, but I could’ve gone without all that. I just wanted race-day gear check. Was it worth it? Probably not. Next time, I might just buy disposable warm-ups, and toss them aside for charity like so many other runners there. It’s frustrating because no matter what, I feel like I’m throwing money away. PLEASE bring back race-day gear check!
-Corrals: I didn’t realize I was supposed to receive a sticker on my bib for my assigned corral, so when I tried to enter, I was denied and told to enter the open corral! At the last minute, I had to hustle back to the registration tent to get a corral sticker, then hustle back in time for my corral. Not a huge deal, but these little registration and logistical issues start to add up, especially since I later found out I didn’t get a Double Play sticker either. Grr…
Course:
-I previously ran the LA Marathon in 2020, in what turned out to be the last time the course included a Santa Monica finish. I vastly prefer the “Stadium to the Sea” course over the new “Stadium to the Stars” course that ends with an out-and-back finish line in Century City. But until the McCourt Foundation and the City of Santa Monica play nice again, we’re stuck with this still-great but not-as-amazing tour of Los Angeles.
-Miles 1-5: Coming out of the gate, it felt like a mad, downhill tumble of humanity, just bodies pouring out of Dodger Stadium. The overall participant field was smaller this year, but the crowded rush out of the starting line is a fantastic feeling that I didn’t know I missed so much over the last 20 months! The first few miles wind through Chinatown, Downtown LA, Little Tokyo, past Olvera Street, the Civic Center, Disney Hall, and the DWP building. This stretch probably features the most buildings, most turns, most (small) hills, and the tightest streets for the course, but it’s very memorable. I loved the taiko drums as you struggle up the hill around Mile 4 on 3rd St!
-Miles 5-10 : After all the Downtown twists and turns, the course settles into a pleasant run through Echo Park and Silver Lake. There’s a big climb to start, then it quickly flattens out into wider streets. There aren’t as many major attractions, but I ran my fastest segments here. There’s something about the cozy, quieter neighborhoods that made for a smooth run.
-Miles 10-15: Hello Hollywood! Welcome to a long, flat, turn-free journey down Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd. The crowds start to get rowdier, music gets louder, and landmarks start to catch your eye: the Pantages Theater, Capitol Records Tower, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Chateau Marmont… Oh, and it’s not just the buildings, but the endless parade of billboards that remind you you’re in an entertainment town—Eternals! Red Notice! Ghostbusters! Encanto! King Richard! Finch! House of Gucci! Every major movie studio, TV network, and online streamer has shelled out big bucks to be seen here. But remember, just for today, YOU’RE the star! Keep running!
-Miles 15-18: The glamour shifts from billboards to the fancy storefronts and windows of Beverly Hills. The elevation drops a bit, and things get quieter here. This gives you a chance to focus more on your technique, your form, your breathing… and not on the luxury goods you see on Rodeo Drive.
-Miles 18-22: Century City and West LA killed me last year, so I went into this part wary of “The Wall”, but still confident in my training. Around Mile 19, you start to see elite runners returning on the other side of the street from the out-and-back portion. I felt a slight motivation boost seeing all that speed. But once that subsided, the other factors of the out-and-back started creeping up: you see a water station at the other side of the street but you don’t get to drink from it, hills start to take a toll, you begin looking for the turn-around point (Are we there yet? No… Is it around this corner? No… This corner? Still no…). And then your exhausted brain starts yelling, “Wait, we’re running AWAY from the finish line that we saw? This feels wrong!”
-Miles 22-26.2: Finally reaching the Brentwood turn-around point is a huge relief. The crowd support here is an immense boost, and water has never tasted sweeter than it does at the station here. But remember the rough 4 miles you just went through? You get to do it again, buddy, only with legs that are achier and more cramped than before. Brutal. I trudged through on absolute fumes. Was it just my dead-tired imagination, or were there fewer water stations during the last 2 miles?
-Anyway, as much as I dislike the out-and-back, I also wasn’t a fan of the final stretch towards the finish line because it’s such a momentum killer. Running down Santa Monica Blvd, you approach huge crowds and what feels like the finish, and just then the course makes a sharp right-turn onto Avenue of the Stars. You gotta go for another 0.1 mile or so, and the course just… finishes. It feels slightly anti-climactic not being able to see the finish line from a greater distance, so you don’t get to build up speed for that final burst. Instead, you’re forced to slow down for a turn, and THEN you see the finish line right ahead. It just feels weird. I’m probably being nit-picky, but the old Santa Monica finish line felt amazing because you would start smelling the sweet ocean air about a half mile out, hear the crowds, see green palms and blue waters, then your brain would kick into overdrive for a straight sprint to the finish line. For next year, if we can’t get back Santa Monica, I’d recommend shortening the out-and-back by a quarter mile or so, and add that to the Avenue of the Stars after the corner-turn for a speedier finish.
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-There are so many iconic Los Angeles landmarks on this course, it’s hard to ask for more. Weather was perfect, slightly cloudy, starting in the upper 50s and ending in the low 60s. This is one area where a November race beats out the usual March date. Maybe it’s just because I was basically running on an empty tank, and my desperate, thirsty brain was exaggerating the pain, but it felt like there were fewer water/aid stations in the final 3 miles or so? Other than that, water/aid support felt strong throughout.
Post-race:
-The finisher chute along Avenue of the Stars was pretty good. Grab your medal(s), wrap yourself up in a nice foil blanket, and pick up refreshments. My bounty included bananas, Qure water, Teddy Graham crackers, pretzels, Ritz crackers, Cheez-Its (a salty sodium-boost after a race is underrated!), mini Clif bars, peanut butter + cheese crackers, and more! Keep moving, keep munching, keep stretching. I skipped the entertainment and beer garden (presented by Heineken) at the Finish Festival, but it’s a nice option if you want to hang around with friends and family.
Swag:
– The 2021 race shirt came in light gray, with the big new red/teal/blue LA Marathon logo featured in the middle. It’s a nice design, though not as eye-catching as last year’s light blue shirt. I liked how hefty the finisher medal is. It’s a big, round chunk of silver and blue, with the marathon logo up top, and an illustration of LA City Hall, the Hollywood sign, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. I also ran the 5k the previous day, and earned the Double Play medal. It’s a similarly chunky silver medal shaped like a chevron shield, with mini versions of the same LA landmarks along with a mini Dodger stadium. The backs of both medals feature the McCourt Foundation logo, along with a blank spot to etch your finishing time. I’m surprised they didn’t upsell an engraving option for this.
The Bottom Line:
-I had a really great run at the 2021 LA Marathon. I’m not thrilled with the registration snafus (Double Play without the 5k; missing my Double Play, Hospitality, and corral stickers) and course planning (gear check, abandoning Santa Monica, adding an out-and-back, a weird finish line). These are fixable issues, and I hope the race organizers make the proper adjustments because the foundation of the LA Marathon is really strong: great weather, enthusiastic runners, so many iconic landmarks, amazing energy, and unbeatable crowd support throughout the city of Los Angeles. I’m hopeful for an even better race next year.
Still 5 Star Race, Old Course Was Better
This is my 2nd year running LAM. This is for the revised "Stadium to the Stars" course. Production was again, top notch. I know some people were upset that the … MORE
This is my 2nd year running LAM. This is for the revised “Stadium to the Stars” course.
Production was again, top notch. I know some people were upset that the expo was moved from the convention center to Dodgers Stadium, but I thought it worked really well. It was cool to have all the Dodgers monuments around. I hope they keep this. The only lame part is that bag check could only be done at the expo instead of on race morning. Not sure why the change besides maybe saving money?
Parking on race morning was pretty easy and the shuttles mostly ran well. We unfortunately had the wimpiest shuttle driver ever, so despite leaving super early we barely arrived at the start line. Thankfully there were plenty of porta pottys and we did not have to wait long to use the restroom and rush over to the starting corrals. Race started on time.
There were a ton of water and fuel stations. In fact, there were maybe too many because I started skipping them after a while due to my bladder starting to get too full. I really can’t fault the production.
Crowd support was great throughout, but there was noticeably less people. There was also less than half the runners, so it makes sense. I’m not sure how much of this was due to the course change and how much due to all sorts of other factors… pandemic, a lot of fall marathons, etc.
As expected, the scenery suffered because instead of Santa Monica, you run back through what is essentially suburbs. I didn’t think it was horrible because it was nice being able to see friends and groups cheering twice along the course. However, it would definitely be better if they would go back to SM or if they just change the course so there’s no out and back portion at all.
I didn’t think there was a noticeable difference in course difficulty. The changes amount to 50 ft more in elevation gain. However, I ran this race at my long run pace and wasn’t trying to PR so I can see how the course changing from a straight descent into Santa Monica to rolling terrain and the finish being right up a hill would be demoralizing. Personally, I liked the hill ending.
The finish line had plenty of water and snacks. There were free massages at the end and the wait was not long at all. Entertainment was kind of “meh.” There was live music, but the crowd didn’t really seem into it. There was also a beer garden where they just stopped taking drink tickets and were giving everything out free so if you drink, that might be a plus for you.
Getting back to parking was a bit of a pain. There were no signs, none of the volunteers really knew how to get back there and the police made some questionable traffic decisions. I won’t get into it here, and it’s not really the race director’s fault.
In terms of swag, the shirts were fine, but kind of odd in construction. The medal was pretty good too, but a step down compared to last year. I really dislike that they removed the classic “The City of Los Angeles Marathon” on the back and replaced it with a McCourt Foundation logo.
TL;DR New course not as good, but nowhere near as terrible as people were making it out to be. Still a very well produced race. I recommend and will be back next year.
Awesome Course through LA
This race was such heart break for me. The swag and expo were great. Love the race shirt, love the medal. The course turned out to be the last year … MORE
This race was such heart break for me.
The swag and expo were great. Love the race shirt, love the medal.
The course turned out to be the last year it’d be from Dodgers Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier. Support was amazing. Water, electrolyte, and gel stops were plenty. I don’t know that I have much to offer besides what others have said about the course, but let me tell you about my race…
I had a horrible race. I got really sick a week before. I thought I’d be fine the day of, but I wasn’t. Completely cracked halfway through and walked the last 10 miles or so. I was just kept walking and holding back tears because of how disappointed I was. Fortunately, the crowd was extremely encouraging and kept me going until the finish. I have a very vivid memory of being in crazy pain right before reaching the final stretch along Ocean in Santa Monica. Someone had erected a giant sign (size of a car) that said “You Don’t Know How Strong You Are.” I was ready to quit and then I saw that and it gave me the final push.
I am not done with this one. I need redemption.
A Fine Run
The aid stations were fine. The most unique part about the race was the course. The way to improve the race is to have more nutrition on the course. The … MORE
The aid stations were fine. The most unique part about the race was the course. The way to improve the race is to have more nutrition on the course. The experience was excellent.
Another great LA Marathon
We lucked out with perfect weather - since then it's been rainy and not so nice. The start was not as organized as they are doing construction at Dodger Stadium … MORE
We lucked out with perfect weather – since then it’s been rainy and not so nice. The start was not as organized as they are doing construction at Dodger Stadium so getting into the corrals was not quite as easy this year. Once the race started it felt like the same course as the last couple of years. Crowd and volunteer support were awesome. Hoping that other races this year will follow suit and go on as planned with no delays or cancellations….
Nobody walks in LA
There were concerns this year regarding COVID-19 and I believe the race planners did their best to keep runners safety a priority and to increase sanitation efforts. Arriving to the … MORE
There were concerns this year regarding COVID-19 and I believe the race planners did their best to keep runners safety a priority and to increase sanitation efforts. Arriving to the race was chaotic – the freeway off ramp was backed up and it took 30 minutes to drive the last mile to the stadium. Buses were backed up as well and dropped of runners just minutes before the race started. Due to construction, runners were not allowed in the stadium so we were in the parking lot instead (which some areas were muddy and slippery). There was LOTS of porta potties which was much appreciated. The race itself went very well. I noticed all the volunteers at the water stations wearing gloves. There was plenty of porta potties along the race route as well. The last 8 miles were the most enjoyable due to the crowd support, bands, cheerleaders, and others playing music. I was a bit surprised that spectators were not allowed at the finish line and I was really disappointed that there wasn’t any music. Completing a marathon is something to celebrate, but the finish line was so quiet – it was creepy and depressing. I wanted to wait for my friend who was only a few minutes behind me but I was told I was not allowed to wait and I had to keep moving. We had to walk about another 1/4 mile to exit the finish line area. The roads had barricades to keep the spectators out and they were crowding the exit route for the runners and made it difficult for us to get past them. LA traffic is almost always a guarantee to be a challenge. Due to all the traffic and road closures, it took almost three hours to get home (normally a one hour drive without traffic). While I felt the best while running this race, I will not run it again due to the stress of getting to the race and back home.
Great Race, But Lacks Details
This was my first time running the LA Marathon. Pre-race: I found it odd that i never received any kind of pre-race email communication until maybe 4 or 5 days … MORE
This was my first time running the LA Marathon.
Pre-race: I found it odd that i never received any kind of pre-race email communication until maybe 4 or 5 days before the race. All of a sudden, there was a massive runner information packet that was sent and was just a lot to digest in a small amount of time.
Expo: The expo was great. Swag bags left a lot to be desired. We only received a tech shirt. For a $200 race fee, I was expecting something more, like some socks or something at least! There wasn’t much to shop for at the expo other than Asics shoes, standard t-shirts, tech shirt, and socks. I didn’t see anything like a finisher jacket.
Race Day: I took the 5am shuttle and didn’t have a problem getting from Santa Monica to Dodger Stadium. I would say I was in line for maybe 15 minutes at most. Oh man! The start line area! The is for the 5k and the marathon–It seemed to be a bit chaotic and disorganized in the way of layout. I exited the bus looking for the food/water station, but it took maybe 15 minutes of needless walking to find it. There were signs, but the arrows pointed in a general direction with no “follow-up” arrows further down to direct you on where to go. The blackout fences made if even more difficult to navigate. It was just a lot when you are trying to stay off your feet as much as possible.
The course: The course was great, a little hilly from miles 1-6, with rather large hill at mile 4. Course support was awesome with water/gatorade stations every mile. There was also plenty of port o potties. I was expecting more in the way of crowd support, not many people were out except in a couple of touristy areas.
Post race: The finish line area was in a great location in Santa Monica (Ocean Ave) with plenty of restaurants nearby. The post race snacks left a lot to be desired with only cheezits, animal crackers, wheat crackers, and water. I did not visit the beer garden. Again, exiting the finish area was difficult as the neighboring business were lined with that blackout fencing ALL the way around. I had hard time navigating to where I needed to go (dinner reservations off Ocean) even though the restaurant was literally across the street from the finish line. It added an extra mile of walking around the block to get to an opening to the sidewalk. We ended up catching one of those carts as my feet couldn’t take the additional steps.
All in all, it was a great race. There were some things that could be changed in the future to make it better. I would say this was a one and done for me.
Great course, production is declining
2020 was my 6th consecutive year running this marathon. The course is definitely the star, you'll pass almost every historic landmark in the 4 cities you run through. Despite corona … MORE
2020 was my 6th consecutive year running this marathon. The course is definitely the star, you’ll pass almost every historic landmark in the 4 cities you run through. Despite corona virus concerns, the communities were still out in full force to show their support for the race. Now, let’s get to the details.
Pre-race communications were good for the most part, with the exception of how and where to pick up the 35th anniversary medal. The assumption was that it would be handed out upon completion like all other challenge medal, but it had to be picked up at the expo. Everything else was communicated clearly and frequently.
I opted to park in Santa Monica and take the shuttle like always, it never goes smoothly. Participants continue to ignore the clear bag policy and no one bothers checking. I was on the 0500 shuttle and didn’t get to the stadium until after 0600, traffic was brutal and there was no dedicated lane for shuttles to enter, buses were still arriving when the open corral was starting. The start was also more cramped this year, understandable since there was construction and the stadium was closed.
Course support was great like always, plenty of water, Nuun, and Clif gels, can’t thank the volunteers enough. There also seemed to be adequate medical support. The finish chute was lacking in the nutrition department. Bottled water and a small cup of Nuun isn’t cutting it. In previous years there were full size bottles of Gatorade and muscle milk.
Now here’s where this race has gone downhill. The finish festival and “beer garden”. In previous years, Angel City was the official beer, with a couple of others added in the past two years (Corona Premier, 26.2 Brew). This year? Truly, Heineken 0.0, and I guess normal Heineken. Disgusting. People come from all over the world and you have a chance to have a local brewery host your beer garden and you choose and giant foreign brewery and a seltzer company owned by Sam Adams. I get that small craft breweries don’t have the finances to sponsor a beer garden for a large event like this, but at least try to get Golden Road and their Ab-Inbev (foreign owned, I know) to sponsor it. At least you get some locally brewed, decent tasting beer at the end. For the price of registration, the finish festival should be top notch, this is one of the worst I’ve ever seen.
All in all, it was another fun race. That being said, this may have been my final LA Marathon. You can’t charge people $200+ for a race and not provide a $200+ experience. I realize that Conqur is a non-profit now, but that’s not an excuse to cut corners. My suggestions? Fix the shuttle situation, hand out proper nutrition after the race, and get a real beer garden again. I’ll decide if it’s worth the money for 2021 once I see the sponsors they decide on.