| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| H (°F) | 70 | 59 | 63 | 64 | 69 |
| L (°F) | 47 | 50 | 54 | 54 | 54 |
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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.
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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….
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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.
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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.
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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.
The marathon itself was everything I wanted it to be. Amazing scenery, supportive crowd, gigantic medal. I came prepared for hills, and didn't find them that challenging at all. Great … MORE
The marathon itself was everything I wanted it to be. Amazing scenery, supportive crowd, gigantic medal. I came prepared for hills, and didn’t find them that challenging at all. Great swag by all the sponsors, and the course was very carefully picked to be super representative of LA. Loved that. I wish the beer was local, though.
Getting to the marathon, on the other hand, was horrible. We planned to Metro to Union Station, and booked the 6 AM shuttle. We got to the Highland station at 5:00 AM, only to find that they don’t allow parking before 7 AM. So, we panicked and decided to drive direct to Dodger Stadium because we live ten minutes from it. Huge mistake. We sat in traffic for an hour and thirty minutes. We ended up sprinting to the gear drop, and missed our corral closing.
Then, after crossing the finish line, there were no restrooms in the finish festival. None of the restaurants would let me use the bathroom, and I ended up bleeding through my pants (time of the month). We skipped the finish festival as a result, and go on the Metro to go back to Union Station with the plan to Uber back to the stadium. No Uber would pick us up from the station. While it was awesome to have Arrowhead handing out full cases of water as swag, carrying them this whole distance was proving to be a pain. We finally got an Uber, but roads were still closed around the stadium (ten hours later) and it took a while to get in.
The marathon itself was amazing, and I’ve already signed up for next year. But the transportation issues were ridiculous. I’m debating which sounds less hellish- driving to Santa Monica and paying $25 for parking, and shuttling to the start line at 4 in the morning, or driving to Union Station and parking there and dealing with our horrible Metro system again.
This was the best (and hardest) 26.2 miles of my life. What an amazing race seeing all the sights in LA! It is basically a running tour of the best … MORE
This was the best (and hardest) 26.2 miles of my life. What an amazing race seeing all the sights in LA! It is basically a running tour of the best of LA. There was tons of pre-race communication. Almost too much, although the frequent updates were much appreciated this year with the uncertainty of the coronavirus. They email a nice final instructions packet that has all the info you need. The expo is at the convention center in DTLA on Friday and Saturday. Unless you pay for the VIP hospitality you need to pick up bib before race day. Take the metro to the convention center if you can as parking is very expensive (the expo line goes from santa monica right to the convention center). The expo was big and crowded as expected. There was a line to get in but once in bib and packet pick up was smooth. Bib numbers are assigned beforehand and you just line up by number. My Conqur LA challenge sticker was right on my bib making that part easy. Then you pick up shirt and gear check bag. Shirt is nice and tech quality but it’s sized a little small. The expo had all the typical booths and you could get any race day needs you forgot. There were lots of things to try at the expo but very little samples to go home with. The only thing I came away with that I didn’t pay for besides the shirt was a small clif bar. For race day parking you can park at santa monica and take a shuttle to dodger stadium or you can park at dodger stadium but there is no shuttle back. This is really my one major complaint about the race. I live really close to Dodger stadium (and therefore very far from santa monica) so I parked at Dodger stadium but getting back there to get my car was a mess after the race. If you are coming from out of town I’d recommend staying in Santa Monica. After reading other reviews I thought I would add that I woke up at 3am and arrived at the stadium around 4am. While I had to wait at dodger stadium for many hours it seems worth it to be up so early as there was no traffic getting in and parking there was super easy for me. Lining up for the race was not the most organized but seemed about as organized as possible for a race with >20,000 people. Try to get a seeded corral if you can. The open corral was sort of a free for all but it moved surprisingly fast and I was happy to be at the start line only 20 minutes after the first runner started. The course is difficult and crowded but absolutely amazing. Luckily it is net downhill but most of the downhill is in the first 2 miles and last 3 so there is a lot of uphill in the middle. There are only 2 bigger hills in the first few miles downtown but lots of slight inclines throughout the race. The course is designed to go through as many landmarks as possible. It starts at Dodger stadium, then Chinatown, then DTLA, then Echo Park and then goes through my usual hangout spots Silver Lake and Los Feliz so it was fun to run past all my favorite cafes and coffee shops (I didn’t realize how many coffee shops I love in Silverlake until I literally ran past all of them). The next part was the most fun for me. I generally avoid places like Hollywood, the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills so this was actually my first time after nearly 6 years of living in the LA area that I saw Grauman’s Chinese Theater and Chateau Marmont and my first time going down Rodeo drive. It was fun to pretend to be a cheesy tourist. After Rodeo drive the course is a little more boring but that is where the spectators come out. The last 3 miles of the course through santa monica are downhill and super fast so save your energy. I was able to run pretty much the entire last 3 miles. Unless you are a really fast runner just walk the inclines in mile 22 and save your energy. I saw so many people struggling to keep running form that mile only for me to fly past them on the downhill. The course ends along Ocean Ave in Santa Monica. There was plenty of course support with aid stations almost every mile and plenty of spectators giving out goodies. However the aid stations were kind of slow handing out drinks but I think it may have been due to the last minute changes due to coronavirus. At the finish line you get your medal which is really nice. It isn’t the biggest or flashiest medal but it is beautiful and classic. If you do the Conqur LA challenge (Santa Monica Classic, Pasadena Half and LA marathon) you get an additional medal which is huge. Finish line had typical food and water. I skipped the finish festival since it was packed and I don’t drink alcohol so can’t comment. Getting back to Dodger stadium was a pain. I took the train to my favorite vegan burger joint on the East side of town for a post race meal and then took an uber back but apparently the uber was supposed to enter at a different gate than the one we entered in the morning so it was an adventure figuring out where to drop me off. We eventually figured it out and my uber driver ended up getting a huge tip from me (it may have been nice if how to drop someone back to their car at dodger stadium was mentioned in the instructions or even nicer if they provided shuttles back). Aside from the mess getting back to dodger stadium, overall this was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it. While I did manage to PR (it was really only because this was my second marathon and I avoided the mistakes of my first) this is not a great PR course. There is a ton of weaving around crowds and it’s almost impossible to get the tangents right so my GPS said I ran 27 miles. Also the course is pretty difficult. So don’t run this race to PR instead run the race to enjoy all that LA has to offer. If you were only to run one marathon in your life this would be a great choice given how awesome it is. Plus is it one of the biggest, if not the biggest, marathon in the US without qualification or lottery to enter. I am moving out of LA this summer which means I won’t be able to make this a yearly race but I am hoping to come back and run it again in 5 years for the 40th anniversary.
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This race was tough. It was my first time running any marathon. The event was well organized. The shuttles to the starting line were greatly appreciated. MORE
This race was tough. It was my first time running any marathon. The event was well organized. The shuttles to the starting line were greatly appreciated.
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The course has some hills that are challenging especially around mile 5 in little Tokyo. You get hit with a steep hill that is very rough! You get to see … MORE
The course has some hills that are challenging especially around mile 5 in little Tokyo. You get hit with a steep hill that is very rough! You get to see all the best LA spots without the traffic which is nice. It’s basically a LA tour on foot. Finishing at Santa Monica is gorgeous! Would run again
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The only negative about the race would be the pot holes all over the streets of LA which can be a distraction to running a faster race. Other than that … MORE
The only negative about the race would be the pot holes all over the streets of LA which can be a distraction to running a faster race. Other than that the production of the race was well executed and you get to run on the streets that you would usually drive on. The crowd was great and cheering all race long. They also did a good job on security which is important especially when you have this much gathering of people.
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LA Marathon does it right - The course highlights are incredible, from starting at Dodger Stadium, through downtown LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica finish - it is an … MORE
LA Marathon does it right – The course highlights are incredible, from starting at Dodger Stadium, through downtown LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica finish – it is an awesome course!
I took the shuttle from Santa Monica which smooth, they could add more portapotties, but what race couldn’t have more? Start was a bit hectic, but probably as organized as could be with 24,000 runners participating.
One of the highlights had to be the crowd support and aid stations. All throughout the race, it felt as if the entire LA community came out to support, and was instrumental in me finishing the last 10k. There is more than enough aide throughout the course; I only had to carry a few extra gels but hydration was taken care of.
The first early hills are not bad as they come early in the race (miles 3-6), but what really hurt me was after mile 20, the long gradual uphill parallel to the 405 freeway slowed my pace down drastically. However, with some better training and hill work, you should be able to have enough strength to take advantage of the long 2 mile downhill towards Santa Monica and the finish.
Medal was HUGE! I’ll definitely run this one again! It was a great experience exceptionally ran by the volunteers and directors.
Almost everything went off without a hitch. transportation from Santa Monica to Dodgers stadium was fast, Snacks were set up by the time I arrrived to start line (420ish AM) … MORE
Almost everything went off without a hitch. transportation from Santa Monica to Dodgers stadium was fast, Snacks were set up by the time I arrrived to start line (420ish AM) 2 things before start couldve been better. More port a potties (lines were ridiculous once more) and Open corral was a nightmare. there was a fence separating corral from general open area, which somehow became part of the open corral as well, so everyone who line up to the left of the fence, ended up at the very back of OC. Course itself was once again fantastic. Aid stations and volunteers were plentiful, crowds were once again energetic. At mile 23, they did kind of spill onto the course so It was kind of tough to zig zag around everyone. Appreciate the love, but it did get alittle hectic there. Hills in the first 5 or 6 miles are not too bad. The ones that seem to get everyone are down on Santa Monica Blvd. Mile 22-26 is the best part of the course as its all downhill so you can make up some time, you feel the ocean breeze (even though you cannot see it yet) and you know you are literally just around the corner from the finish line. Medals were beautiful as was this whole experience. Will def be back next year to try and PB once more.
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This was an exceptional race in so many ways. The organization was first rate. I received a good amount of emails ahead of time (not too many, not too few). … MORE
This was an exceptional race in so many ways. The organization was first rate. I received a good amount of emails ahead of time (not too many, not too few). I felt prepared for all the logistics I needed. Race pickup was a piece of cake. No line, got my bib in less than 1 minute. The expo was good sized with lots to look at. The race itself was first rate. Dodger Stadium is a great place to start. Runners have access to the stadium so you can use the bathroom, stretch, etc. It wasn’t windy or rainy that day, but it would have been a nice reprieve from the elements if needed. Having Randy Newman’s “I Love LA!” blaring on the speakers was a great way to get me amped up to run. The start is a little congested at first, even with the wave start, but not too bad. I was running my pace within about 1/3 of a mile. There is a steep downhill to get out of the stadium parking lot, and a steep uphill around mile 4, but for the most part, the course is not hilly. Definitely more downs than ups. Perhaps one of the best parts of the race is the course itself. You see so many LA highlights. The race runs through Chinatown, Thai Town, Little Armenia, and you see tons of various Latino influences, and some Korean and Japanese influences as well. I loved that diverse aspect of the race. You run by some of the iconic images as well, City Hall, Disney Concert Hall, Echo Park, the Sunset Strip, Hollywood, Pantages Theater, Beverly Hills (including Rodeo Drive), with the icing on the cake being the finish at the beach. Once you finish, you continue along Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica and get your medal (I have 14 marathon medals so far and this one is by far the coolest!), space blanket, and lots of fuel. I had a couple bananas, some chocolate milk and passed on a lot of other food as well. Tons of good options to replenish. Most of the fans are waiting a few blocks after the finish. That is probably the only thing I would change about the race. There weren’t very many fans the last mile of the race since they were almost all gathered after the finish line. My family that met me there said that is where police were asking them to stay. The police also shut down cell service so make sure you have a location planned out ahead of time to meet your supporters. This is my second big race (I’ve done NYC) and 12 other mid to small races. This one ranks at the top for being first rate all the way around. If you want an authentic Los Angeles experience, the LA Marathon is an excellent pick.
Another great LA Marathon that ends in amazing Santa Monica. Great course was the same as the past 3 years. Excellent staff, supporters and volunteers. I will do it again … MORE
Another great LA Marathon that ends in amazing Santa Monica. Great course was the same as the past 3 years. Excellent staff, supporters and volunteers. I will do it again in 2020! My 4th in a row for this race.
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The race went off without a hitch - Lucked into great weather after a rather wet SoCal winter. Same course as last year. Not my best finish but I had … MORE
The race went off without a hitch – Lucked into great weather after a rather wet SoCal winter. Same course as last year. Not my best finish but I had a great time and met great people. Thanks to the support staff, organizers and volunteers. I will be in it again next year!
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This is a deceptively challenging course; the elevation map lures you into thinking it is primarily downhill, but there are plenty of long slow climbs that are fairly brutal. Really … MORE
This is a deceptively challenging course; the elevation map lures you into thinking it is primarily downhill, but there are plenty of long slow climbs that are fairly brutal. Really great course support, really enthusiastic crowds along the way, and really unique scenery make it a fun course — it’s basically a sightseeing tour of LA. Not sure why, but the course seems to be a quarter mile longer than it should be. Maybe just GPS/elevation induced errors, but I carefully started and stopped my watch (Garmin) on the start and finish pads and it reads 26.46 miles. All during the race the mile markers were consistently 0.25 miles beyond where my watch was indicating the mile transitions. Everyone I’ve talked to had the same problem — Garmin, Fitbit, whatever. That sort of thing can mess with your head late in the race, so just beware.
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The Aid Stations were awesome. The volunteers were very helpful. The race could be improved with more variations in the course route. The course was excellent. MORE
The Aid Stations were awesome. The volunteers were very helpful. The race could be improved with more variations in the course route. The course was excellent.
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A true running tour of LA - from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica. Some hills in the first 5 miles and then rolling hills from that point on. A classic … MORE
A true running tour of LA – from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica. Some hills in the first 5 miles and then rolling hills from that point on. A classic that can’t be missed in my opinion. I live in the area weather this time of year can vary greatly from heat wave to hard rain – be prepared for whatever the weather is that year.
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It was a cool course. Got to see the famous and beautiful sites of Los Angeles. Definitely not a flat course. A few challenging hills. Well organized and great support. … MORE
It was a cool course. Got to see the famous and beautiful sites of Los Angeles. Definitely not a flat course. A few challenging hills. Well organized and great support. Wonderful volunteers out there too.
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This race in my bucket list for a while and finally I had the courage to do it. I couldn't be happier. Running through the streets of my own city … MORE
This race in my bucket list for a while and finally I had the courage to do it. I couldn’t be happier. Running through the streets of my own city was awesome, the aid stations were amazing and all the entertainment along the race was so overwhelming.
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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.
Amazing Marathon. Horrible In and Out.
The marathon itself was everything I wanted it to be. Amazing scenery, supportive crowd, gigantic medal. I came prepared for hills, and didn't find them that challenging at all. Great … MORE
The marathon itself was everything I wanted it to be. Amazing scenery, supportive crowd, gigantic medal. I came prepared for hills, and didn’t find them that challenging at all. Great swag by all the sponsors, and the course was very carefully picked to be super representative of LA. Loved that. I wish the beer was local, though.
Getting to the marathon, on the other hand, was horrible. We planned to Metro to Union Station, and booked the 6 AM shuttle. We got to the Highland station at 5:00 AM, only to find that they don’t allow parking before 7 AM. So, we panicked and decided to drive direct to Dodger Stadium because we live ten minutes from it. Huge mistake. We sat in traffic for an hour and thirty minutes. We ended up sprinting to the gear drop, and missed our corral closing.
Then, after crossing the finish line, there were no restrooms in the finish festival. None of the restaurants would let me use the bathroom, and I ended up bleeding through my pants (time of the month). We skipped the finish festival as a result, and go on the Metro to go back to Union Station with the plan to Uber back to the stadium. No Uber would pick us up from the station. While it was awesome to have Arrowhead handing out full cases of water as swag, carrying them this whole distance was proving to be a pain. We finally got an Uber, but roads were still closed around the stadium (ten hours later) and it took a while to get in.
The marathon itself was amazing, and I’ve already signed up for next year. But the transportation issues were ridiculous. I’m debating which sounds less hellish- driving to Santa Monica and paying $25 for parking, and shuttling to the start line at 4 in the morning, or driving to Union Station and parking there and dealing with our horrible Metro system again.
Absolutely Amazing! A must run!
This was the best (and hardest) 26.2 miles of my life. What an amazing race seeing all the sights in LA! It is basically a running tour of the best … MORE
This was the best (and hardest) 26.2 miles of my life. What an amazing race seeing all the sights in LA! It is basically a running tour of the best of LA. There was tons of pre-race communication. Almost too much, although the frequent updates were much appreciated this year with the uncertainty of the coronavirus. They email a nice final instructions packet that has all the info you need. The expo is at the convention center in DTLA on Friday and Saturday. Unless you pay for the VIP hospitality you need to pick up bib before race day. Take the metro to the convention center if you can as parking is very expensive (the expo line goes from santa monica right to the convention center). The expo was big and crowded as expected. There was a line to get in but once in bib and packet pick up was smooth. Bib numbers are assigned beforehand and you just line up by number. My Conqur LA challenge sticker was right on my bib making that part easy. Then you pick up shirt and gear check bag. Shirt is nice and tech quality but it’s sized a little small. The expo had all the typical booths and you could get any race day needs you forgot. There were lots of things to try at the expo but very little samples to go home with. The only thing I came away with that I didn’t pay for besides the shirt was a small clif bar. For race day parking you can park at santa monica and take a shuttle to dodger stadium or you can park at dodger stadium but there is no shuttle back. This is really my one major complaint about the race. I live really close to Dodger stadium (and therefore very far from santa monica) so I parked at Dodger stadium but getting back there to get my car was a mess after the race. If you are coming from out of town I’d recommend staying in Santa Monica. After reading other reviews I thought I would add that I woke up at 3am and arrived at the stadium around 4am. While I had to wait at dodger stadium for many hours it seems worth it to be up so early as there was no traffic getting in and parking there was super easy for me. Lining up for the race was not the most organized but seemed about as organized as possible for a race with >20,000 people. Try to get a seeded corral if you can. The open corral was sort of a free for all but it moved surprisingly fast and I was happy to be at the start line only 20 minutes after the first runner started. The course is difficult and crowded but absolutely amazing. Luckily it is net downhill but most of the downhill is in the first 2 miles and last 3 so there is a lot of uphill in the middle. There are only 2 bigger hills in the first few miles downtown but lots of slight inclines throughout the race. The course is designed to go through as many landmarks as possible. It starts at Dodger stadium, then Chinatown, then DTLA, then Echo Park and then goes through my usual hangout spots Silver Lake and Los Feliz so it was fun to run past all my favorite cafes and coffee shops (I didn’t realize how many coffee shops I love in Silverlake until I literally ran past all of them). The next part was the most fun for me. I generally avoid places like Hollywood, the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills so this was actually my first time after nearly 6 years of living in the LA area that I saw Grauman’s Chinese Theater and Chateau Marmont and my first time going down Rodeo drive. It was fun to pretend to be a cheesy tourist. After Rodeo drive the course is a little more boring but that is where the spectators come out. The last 3 miles of the course through santa monica are downhill and super fast so save your energy. I was able to run pretty much the entire last 3 miles. Unless you are a really fast runner just walk the inclines in mile 22 and save your energy. I saw so many people struggling to keep running form that mile only for me to fly past them on the downhill. The course ends along Ocean Ave in Santa Monica. There was plenty of course support with aid stations almost every mile and plenty of spectators giving out goodies. However the aid stations were kind of slow handing out drinks but I think it may have been due to the last minute changes due to coronavirus. At the finish line you get your medal which is really nice. It isn’t the biggest or flashiest medal but it is beautiful and classic. If you do the Conqur LA challenge (Santa Monica Classic, Pasadena Half and LA marathon) you get an additional medal which is huge. Finish line had typical food and water. I skipped the finish festival since it was packed and I don’t drink alcohol so can’t comment. Getting back to Dodger stadium was a pain. I took the train to my favorite vegan burger joint on the East side of town for a post race meal and then took an uber back but apparently the uber was supposed to enter at a different gate than the one we entered in the morning so it was an adventure figuring out where to drop me off. We eventually figured it out and my uber driver ended up getting a huge tip from me (it may have been nice if how to drop someone back to their car at dodger stadium was mentioned in the instructions or even nicer if they provided shuttles back). Aside from the mess getting back to dodger stadium, overall this was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it. While I did manage to PR (it was really only because this was my second marathon and I avoided the mistakes of my first) this is not a great PR course. There is a ton of weaving around crowds and it’s almost impossible to get the tangents right so my GPS said I ran 27 miles. Also the course is pretty difficult. So don’t run this race to PR instead run the race to enjoy all that LA has to offer. If you were only to run one marathon in your life this would be a great choice given how awesome it is. Plus is it one of the biggest, if not the biggest, marathon in the US without qualification or lottery to enter. I am moving out of LA this summer which means I won’t be able to make this a yearly race but I am hoping to come back and run it again in 5 years for the 40th anniversary.
Tough Race
This race was tough. It was my first time running any marathon. The event was well organized. The shuttles to the starting line were greatly appreciated. MORE
This race was tough. It was my first time running any marathon. The event was well organized. The shuttles to the starting line were greatly appreciated.
Best way to explore LA
The course has some hills that are challenging especially around mile 5 in little Tokyo. You get hit with a steep hill that is very rough! You get to see … MORE
The course has some hills that are challenging especially around mile 5 in little Tokyo. You get hit with a steep hill that is very rough! You get to see all the best LA spots without the traffic which is nice. It’s basically a LA tour on foot. Finishing at Santa Monica is gorgeous! Would run again
Scenic race in through the streets of LA
The only negative about the race would be the pot holes all over the streets of LA which can be a distraction to running a faster race. Other than that … MORE
The only negative about the race would be the pot holes all over the streets of LA which can be a distraction to running a faster race. Other than that the production of the race was well executed and you get to run on the streets that you would usually drive on. The crowd was great and cheering all race long. They also did a good job on security which is important especially when you have this much gathering of people.
Great Experience for my first marathon
LA Marathon does it right - The course highlights are incredible, from starting at Dodger Stadium, through downtown LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica finish - it is an … MORE
LA Marathon does it right – The course highlights are incredible, from starting at Dodger Stadium, through downtown LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica finish – it is an awesome course!
I took the shuttle from Santa Monica which smooth, they could add more portapotties, but what race couldn’t have more? Start was a bit hectic, but probably as organized as could be with 24,000 runners participating.
One of the highlights had to be the crowd support and aid stations. All throughout the race, it felt as if the entire LA community came out to support, and was instrumental in me finishing the last 10k. There is more than enough aide throughout the course; I only had to carry a few extra gels but hydration was taken care of.
The first early hills are not bad as they come early in the race (miles 3-6), but what really hurt me was after mile 20, the long gradual uphill parallel to the 405 freeway slowed my pace down drastically. However, with some better training and hill work, you should be able to have enough strength to take advantage of the long 2 mile downhill towards Santa Monica and the finish.
Medal was HUGE! I’ll definitely run this one again! It was a great experience exceptionally ran by the volunteers and directors.
Crowd support was awesome!
Almost everything went off without a hitch. transportation from Santa Monica to Dodgers stadium was fast, Snacks were set up by the time I arrrived to start line (420ish AM) … MORE
Almost everything went off without a hitch. transportation from Santa Monica to Dodgers stadium was fast, Snacks were set up by the time I arrrived to start line (420ish AM) 2 things before start couldve been better. More port a potties (lines were ridiculous once more) and Open corral was a nightmare. there was a fence separating corral from general open area, which somehow became part of the open corral as well, so everyone who line up to the left of the fence, ended up at the very back of OC. Course itself was once again fantastic. Aid stations and volunteers were plentiful, crowds were once again energetic. At mile 23, they did kind of spill onto the course so It was kind of tough to zig zag around everyone. Appreciate the love, but it did get alittle hectic there. Hills in the first 5 or 6 miles are not too bad. The ones that seem to get everyone are down on Santa Monica Blvd. Mile 22-26 is the best part of the course as its all downhill so you can make up some time, you feel the ocean breeze (even though you cannot see it yet) and you know you are literally just around the corner from the finish line. Medals were beautiful as was this whole experience. Will def be back next year to try and PB once more.
LA Done Right!
This was an exceptional race in so many ways. The organization was first rate. I received a good amount of emails ahead of time (not too many, not too few). … MORE
This was an exceptional race in so many ways. The organization was first rate. I received a good amount of emails ahead of time (not too many, not too few). I felt prepared for all the logistics I needed. Race pickup was a piece of cake. No line, got my bib in less than 1 minute. The expo was good sized with lots to look at. The race itself was first rate. Dodger Stadium is a great place to start. Runners have access to the stadium so you can use the bathroom, stretch, etc. It wasn’t windy or rainy that day, but it would have been a nice reprieve from the elements if needed. Having Randy Newman’s “I Love LA!” blaring on the speakers was a great way to get me amped up to run. The start is a little congested at first, even with the wave start, but not too bad. I was running my pace within about 1/3 of a mile. There is a steep downhill to get out of the stadium parking lot, and a steep uphill around mile 4, but for the most part, the course is not hilly. Definitely more downs than ups. Perhaps one of the best parts of the race is the course itself. You see so many LA highlights. The race runs through Chinatown, Thai Town, Little Armenia, and you see tons of various Latino influences, and some Korean and Japanese influences as well. I loved that diverse aspect of the race. You run by some of the iconic images as well, City Hall, Disney Concert Hall, Echo Park, the Sunset Strip, Hollywood, Pantages Theater, Beverly Hills (including Rodeo Drive), with the icing on the cake being the finish at the beach. Once you finish, you continue along Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica and get your medal (I have 14 marathon medals so far and this one is by far the coolest!), space blanket, and lots of fuel. I had a couple bananas, some chocolate milk and passed on a lot of other food as well. Tons of good options to replenish. Most of the fans are waiting a few blocks after the finish. That is probably the only thing I would change about the race. There weren’t very many fans the last mile of the race since they were almost all gathered after the finish line. My family that met me there said that is where police were asking them to stay. The police also shut down cell service so make sure you have a location planned out ahead of time to meet your supporters. This is my second big race (I’ve done NYC) and 12 other mid to small races. This one ranks at the top for being first rate all the way around. If you want an authentic Los Angeles experience, the LA Marathon is an excellent pick.
Another Great LA Marathon!
Another great LA Marathon that ends in amazing Santa Monica. Great course was the same as the past 3 years. Excellent staff, supporters and volunteers. I will do it again … MORE
Another great LA Marathon that ends in amazing Santa Monica. Great course was the same as the past 3 years. Excellent staff, supporters and volunteers. I will do it again in 2020! My 4th in a row for this race.
Another Great LA Marathon!
The race went off without a hitch - Lucked into great weather after a rather wet SoCal winter. Same course as last year. Not my best finish but I had … MORE
The race went off without a hitch – Lucked into great weather after a rather wet SoCal winter. Same course as last year. Not my best finish but I had a great time and met great people. Thanks to the support staff, organizers and volunteers. I will be in it again next year!
Memorable sightseeing course
This is a deceptively challenging course; the elevation map lures you into thinking it is primarily downhill, but there are plenty of long slow climbs that are fairly brutal. Really … MORE
This is a deceptively challenging course; the elevation map lures you into thinking it is primarily downhill, but there are plenty of long slow climbs that are fairly brutal. Really great course support, really enthusiastic crowds along the way, and really unique scenery make it a fun course — it’s basically a sightseeing tour of LA. Not sure why, but the course seems to be a quarter mile longer than it should be. Maybe just GPS/elevation induced errors, but I carefully started and stopped my watch (Garmin) on the start and finish pads and it reads 26.46 miles. All during the race the mile markers were consistently 0.25 miles beyond where my watch was indicating the mile transitions. Everyone I’ve talked to had the same problem — Garmin, Fitbit, whatever. That sort of thing can mess with your head late in the race, so just beware.
A Excellent Run
The Aid Stations were awesome. The volunteers were very helpful. The race could be improved with more variations in the course route. The course was excellent. MORE
The Aid Stations were awesome. The volunteers were very helpful. The race could be improved with more variations in the course route. The course was excellent.
Wow can't miss race
A true running tour of LA - from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica. Some hills in the first 5 miles and then rolling hills from that point on. A classic … MORE
A true running tour of LA – from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica. Some hills in the first 5 miles and then rolling hills from that point on. A classic that can’t be missed in my opinion. I live in the area weather this time of year can vary greatly from heat wave to hard rain – be prepared for whatever the weather is that year.
LA Experience
It was a cool course. Got to see the famous and beautiful sites of Los Angeles. Definitely not a flat course. A few challenging hills. Well organized and great support. … MORE
It was a cool course. Got to see the famous and beautiful sites of Los Angeles. Definitely not a flat course. A few challenging hills. Well organized and great support. Wonderful volunteers out there too.
Bucket list: ✔
This race in my bucket list for a while and finally I had the courage to do it. I couldn't be happier. Running through the streets of my own city … MORE
This race in my bucket list for a while and finally I had the courage to do it. I couldn’t be happier. Running through the streets of my own city was awesome, the aid stations were amazing and all the entertainment along the race was so overwhelming.