The granddaddy of the Westcoast. My 5th year running this event and 4th time on the newer Stadium to sea course. My marathon weekend kicked off checking into the downtown Sheraton hotel. Even though I reside in La County, I always prefer to experience the whole event by staying at a race hotel.
The La marathon expo is always grand. This year it went back to being indoors at the Los Angeles convention center, which I loved. Plenty of vendors & freebies!
Race morning kicked off by being at shuttle from hotel to the Los Angeles Dodger Stadium! And its a sight to behold. 25k runners right outside of Dodger stadium waiting to run! Race kicked off at 7am, with the a quarter mile downhill out of Dodger stadium. First 6 miles wind through downtown Los Angeles, passing by Echo Park. This past of the course has plenty of climbing through downtown La around the home of the Los Angeles Lakers, Staples center. After mile 6, you enter Sunset Blvd and start checking off the famous landmarks. Whiskey go go bar. The troubadour. Hollywood walk of fame. The streets don't lack crowd supporters here! Miles 13 you pass through the vibrant West Hollywood with a welcoming vibe by Drag Queens! You leave Hollywood and enter the glamorous city of Beverly Hills. Fatigue started to set in here for me but at mile 16 I ran right by where my better half's office is on Wilshire & Beverly Blvd so I felt her in spirit. The marathon really starts at mile 20, as you enter the last big Hill of the course in the Veterans Hospital. After that I knew i could cruise the downhill last 6 miles of San Vicente Blvd into Santa Monica onto the ocean Blvd. The only drawback to this race for me is the finish line. Its thousands & thousands of runners and spectators all crammed into one thin stretch of Ocean Blvd. This particular year was a hotter than comfortable 85+ degrees so it didn't make it comfortable to look for family after. Finish time was just north of 4hrs for me. This race will always hold a special place in my heart as it was my first marathon completed in 2009 so I am sure I will be back!