The Full Marathon starts next in Downtown Long Beach in the same spot that the Long Beach Grand Prix racecars start. Runners enjoy the sunrise while starting their journey through the 36th largest city in the United States. After a slight climb over the Queensway Bridge, runners circle the picturesque Shoreline Park Lighthouse and around Rainbow Harbor. A slight ocean breeze and cheering spectators greet runners as they pass by the start and finish Festival area at mile 6.5. Three miles next to the Pacific Ocean and a CLIF shot at mile 10 prepare full marathoners for the miles ahead, but not before a visit to the friendly Belmont Shore neighborhood. After passing The Split, runners head to Marine Stadium, pass Blair Field and Wilson High School and head to California State University, Long Beach. The campus is alive with cheerleaders, the CSULB band, sports teams, organizations and clubs, sororities and fraternities, faculty and the school Mascot, Prospector Pete. A quick 5K and a few minor hills on campus leaves runners with only 10K to go. Runners head back to Ocean Boulevard and make their way via a downhill finish to the Finish Line Festival where they are presented with their hard-earned medal and a full post-race festival with a great band, a beer garden, and plenty of food.

Long Beach Marathon

Post-Race Review/ Results

Women: Timchina gets help from last year's winner; timed in 2:36.18, she pockets $7,000

Larisa Timchina of Russia won Sunday's Long Beach Marathon in California and pocketed $7,000 along the way. She crossed the tape in 2:36:18. She trained for the race with last year's champ, fellow Russian Lyubov Denisova.

Russian rushin' home with first victory
at Long Beach Marathon

Men: Kamau makes it two in a row by breezing to 18-second win over Deacon, Chimukoko

Joseph Kamau of Kenya held the lead in the final six miles of the Long Beach Marathon and went on to win in 2:16:46, the second victory in this race for him. Bruce Deacon, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, finished 18 seconds back with a time of 2:17:04.

Marathon Summary

Marathon Results