The LA Marathon was my first West Coast marathon and it did not disappoint! I traveled to LA after a week of skiing in Utah, and I was nervous about running such a big race, but was excited for the experience.
The expo was large but very well organized. Parking was relatively easy, and the expo was set up in a logical way to get your bib and shirt first and then shop. The marathon sponsor had lots of branded gear, and I ended up with a nice running jacket and some smaller swag items to take home.
The morning of the race was truly the only downside; I greatly underestimated the time to drive from Venice Beach to the start line at the stadium, and we sat in traffic for an hour. I should have taken one of the shuttle buses! I ended up hopping out of the car and running to the start with only minutes to spare. The bright side to this method was missing the long lines for security and porta potties!
The course was so fun! I hadn't spent much time in LA, so it was such a cool and unique way to see some of the famous landmarks! I fell in with a pace group and the pace group leader acted as tour guide, shouting out the famous places and people. It was a blast! The course is a bit hilly, but I expected that.
The last few miles, while the most painful for me (lingering injury), were the most beautiful. I loved running along the ocean down to the finish line! Despite the crowds, I was able to find my boyfriend quickly, grab a snack, and get moving.
I would definitely recommend this race as a fun city marathon!