City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)

4.0

WhereLos Angeles, CA, United States

Start time09:00

Sub-events

16March

Marathon

Distance: Marathon

Start time: 09:00

Loading ad...

Race Details

SUMMARY: Iconic Stadium to the Sea course begins at Dodger Stadium and finishes in Santa Monica, running past every major landmark in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Marathon is an event that showcases the vibrancy and diversity of the city, drawing runners from all over the world. The race starts at the iconic Dodger Stadium and weaves through the heart of Los Angeles, passing numerous landmarks and neighborhoods, each offering its unique charm and energy. This marathon, whether it's a runner's first or their fiftieth, provides a memorable experience filled with challenges, achievements, and the support of enthusiastic spectators. Participants gather early in the morning, ready to take on the course. The initial descent from Dodger Stadium can be tough on the legs, but the excitement of starting such a prestigious race keeps spirits high. As runners make their way through the city, they encounter rolling hills and vibrant communities, all the way to the finish line by the Santa Monica coast. The route is filled with entertainment, including live music and cheering sections, which provide much-needed motivation. The marathon is known for its excellent organization, with plenty of aid stations offering water, snacks, and even ice towels to keep runners cool. Volunteers and spectators are stationed throughout the course, handing out refreshments and cheering on the participants. The festive atmosphere is infectious, making even the toughest stretches enjoyable. Upon reaching the finish line, runners are greeted with applause and an array of post-race amenities. Medals, food, and space blankets are provided to help runners recover and celebrate their accomplishment. The finish area, set against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, offers a beautiful and relaxing environment for participants to unwind. The Los Angeles Marathon is a well-organized event that captures the essence of the city. From the bustling expo to the energetic crowd support, every aspect of the race is designed to create a positive and unforgettable experience. The combination of a challenging yet rewarding course, outstanding organization, and the vibrant spirit of Los Angeles makes this marathon a standout event for runners of all levels.

Training Plan

Free 20 week Basic Marathon Training Plan

A detailed plan created by our Head Coach designed for help you prepare for your first marathon.

Download now

Reviews

general:4.1

course:4

organization:3.9

spectators:4.5

Joyce Lam

April 07, 2024

Excellent big city marathon

Expo The expo was outside Dodger Stadium and was kind of confusing and a lot of walking to get to the actual entrance. There were loads of stalls and freebies, plus food. Since I had come straight from the airport, I needed to get a rideshare out but there wasn't a designated spot so it was more walking to get far away enough from the stadium to get picked up. Race morning I stayed near the finish line, so it was easy to get a shuttle from there to the start back at Dodger Stadium. I hadn't found any info about how long the ride would be, so I ended up being incredibly early. The only thing confusing was the corral set up - there were corrals A-E that you had to submit a qualifying time for, and then a massive open corral with incredibly fast people who then overtook the slower folks in the earlier corrals. Course Really fun course that went past lots of sights. It was pretty crowded for the first few miles especially since there were quite a lot of turns, but after that it was pretty smooth sailing. There were some rolling hills but I didn't really notice them because there was so much to see and so many people cheering. It's always tough running past the finish and then doing an out-and-back, but the huge amount of cheering sure helped a lot. There was a good amount of entertainment on the course too, with a lot of variety: a string quartet in evening wear on rodeo drive, a killers tribute band, taiko drummers etc. Aid stations There were so many! It was great because it was sunny and pretty hot at the end, so having frequent water was very appreciated. Spectators were also handing out water, snacks, beer, ice towels. Finish line There was lots of food and ice towels and space blankets. The chute takes you straight past the bag drop trucks so it seemed really smooth. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the race, and loved the big city atmosphere. The organization was great, and was the best fun I've had in a marathon for years.

5.0

Cesar Bolanos

January 05, 2024

Amazing route bring it back!!! 2004

Amazing marathon experience being it was my first. Also, the route was not the same as it is now, I loved it.

5.0

Justin Villere

March 22, 2023

Good race, limited by curious decisions

Overall, I'm glad I ran it. Nice way to see a lot of Los Angeles. Great spectators for much of the race. Good food/drink support and volunteers. Expo is huge, befitting a big city marathon. Some negatives that hold it back from being a top-notch race: Understanding that there are probably logistics and permits that the general public isn't aware of, it seems like an odd decision to shuttle participants to the start-line and encourage parking in the city, when Dodger Stadium's parking lot would be tailor-made to welcome so many cars. Since it seemed like the half-marathon is de-emphasized in importance, count me as one that would prefer the race continue on to the coast and finish there, which would be so cool. Right now, miles 20-24 are the worst of the course - it's on beat-up pavement next to the freeway, and the course doubles back on itself. Would be cool to go to the coast! There is no shuttle back to the start, so I took the bus. The first 1/2 mile has a brutal descent off a hill out of Dodger Stadium, which trashed my quads early. It's a massive race, and if you get caught towards the back at the start-line, it takes a long-time to break free. I was on a sub-4 pace, but didn't have elbow room until mile 8-9. (This aint a PR race, too many hills and crowds.) The website could also be more comprehensive. Most of the FAQs are dismissive one-sentence answers, which is more frustrating than helpful. Overall, it was fine, but if you're looking for a California race, I imagine there are better ones out there.