The 36th Los Angeles Marathon takes place on Sunday, twice late and with a new route. An estimated 15,000 runners – including many of the fastest in the world – from dozens of countries will take part.
Whether you’re running, watching, or just want to avoid the road closures, here’s everything you need to know:
Where is the course going?
The runners follow a 26.2 mile course that reflects what a group of tourists could traverse, albeit much, much faster and with no cameras around their necks.
The marathon begins at Dodger Stadium, turns downtown and drives under the Chinatown Dragon Gate, past Olvera Street and through Little Tokyo, before turning northwest past Echo Park Lake to Hollywood with all its dark glamor.
Beverly Hills is next before the course flows into Brentwood. From then on, it changes abruptly from the recent LA marathons. Runners will walk back down San Vicente, Sepulveda, and Santa Monica Boulevards before ending on Avenue of the Stars.
Why did the course change?
The last LA marathons ended on Santa Monica Beach. The setback from runners prompted the nonprofit McCourt Foundation, which owns and manages the event, to issue an open letter in August 2020 that read in part:
“The dramatic increase in costs cited by the City of Santa Monica… made staying in Santa Monica financially impossible. The City of Santa Monica was aware of this position at all times and was informed of the change of course in good time before the public. “
When does the race start and how long does it last?
Dodger Stadium gates open for parking at 3 a.m. on Sunday and wheelchair users start the marathon at 6:30 a.m. Elite women start 15 minutes later and elite men and the whole field start at 6:55 am
The marathon ends when it is over. It takes most runners between three and five hours to do this, and anything longer than six hours is a brisk walk. Bayelign Teshager from Ethiopia won the 2020 LA Marathon with a time of two hours, eight minutes and 26 seconds. In the women’s race, the Kenyan Margaret Muriuki won easily with a time of 2:29:27.
The LA marathon record of 2:06:35 was set in 2011 by Markos Geneti.
Will the marathon disrupt traffic?
Quite a lot and in many places, especially for those who drive early in the morning.
Rule # 1: Avoid Sunset Boulevard outside of West Hollywood. The runners are from Dodger Stadium on the sunset from Innes Ave. Walk to Figueroa St. from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunset is also served from 4 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. from Echo Park Ave: 45 p.m. from Highland Ave. to Doheny Drive.
Many major downtown streets will close from 4 to 10 or so, including Cesar Chavez Ave., Broadway Ave., Spring St., Los Angeles St., Main St., Temple St., Grand Ave. and other .
Since the race doesn’t end in Santa Monica, but runs through West LA back to Century City, iconic thoroughfares like Santa Monica Blvd., San Vicente Blvd., Wilshire Blvd, Rodeo Drive, Sepulveda Blvd. and Doheny Drive will be closed until the early afternoon.
Participants run in the 2020 LA Marathon.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For the Times)
Streets closed until 5:00 p.m. are Santa Monica Blvd. – in both directions – from Wilshire to Sepulveda and San Vicente Blvd. from Wilshire to Saltair Ave.
The freeway exits on the north and south side 110 around Dodger Stadium will be closed from 3 a.m. to around 9:30 a.m., as will the exits on the north and south line 101 through downtown and Hollywood from 3 a.m. to 12 noon. Southbound offframps on 405 on Santa Monica Blvd. and Wilshire Boulevard. will be closed all morning and into the afternoon.
How can I watch from home?
The marathon will be broadcast live on KTLA (Ch. 5 in Los Angeles) from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. The race will also be streamed internationally on KTLA.com, in the US via the KTLA app on Apple TV, Roku and Firestick, on Facebook.com/LAMarathon and on YouTube.com/KTLA.
Why does the McCourt Foundation sound familiar to you?
Frank McCourt, former owner of the Dodgers in Marseille, France in 2016.
(Claude Paris / Associated Press)
Because until 2019 it was owned by Frank McCourt, who together with his wife Jamie owned the Dodgers from 2004 to 2012. The McCourts were universally despised by Dodgers fans for using the team as their personal piggy bank, although Frank laughed last when he sold the team for a record $ 2 billion after a bitter divorce from Jamie.
The McCourts bought the LA Marathon in 2008 and two years ago donated their for-profit Conqur Endurance Group, which ran the marathon and associated events, to a not-for-profit family foundation run by a cousin, Brian McCourt.
The marathon has raised approximately $ 58 million over the course of its history, which the McCourt Foundation says has supported more than 70 community groups in the LA area. This year the foundation is working with 45 local and national charities.
Can we celebrate when it’s over
What the organizers call the Finish Festival will take place on 10058 Constellation Blvd. near the finish line and next to a Heineken sponsored beer garden. So expect foam of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties. Live entertainment from online phenomenon singer Tai Verdes will take place at 12:30 pm
And don’t forget this!
- Next year’s LA Marathon will return to its usual spring date. Registrations for the marathon on March 20, 2022 are already brisk, according to spokesman Dan Cruz.
- Runners must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results in order to participate.
- Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday. So if you forget that the clocks go back an hour, you are very early.
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