Back to City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon) Information & Reviews
C. J. from Granada Hills, CA
(3/8/2005)
"Drop the bike ride and start at 6:30 am" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This was my 3rd LA Marathon and 7th total marathon. The organizers need to realize that this is a marathon first and if they want to have their bike ride they should have it at a different time. The heat has much more of an impact on us runners: we are out for a much longer time, our activity is much more strenuous, and we are doing it for a finishing time! The marathon should be first and foremost the key event. It's not fair for those of us 5:30 finishers to have to run down shadeless Olympic Blvd. at 1:00 in the afternoon. Drop the bike ride and start the marathon at 6:30. My comments for 2005: As usual, the fan and volunteer support was outstanding. They make me proud to be an Angeleno. They should drop the water station at mile 1. At the start line there needs to be better marking of where to line up for expected finshing times. Not necessarily corrals (which they now have for sub-5:00), but at least have signs posted so you have an idea of where you should be and don't get trampled. The course needs a better street than Olympic to spend miles 22-25.5 on since there's little shade. The post-race area needs a better exit plan so people can exit onto 5th street. | |
f. s. from la
(3/8/2005)
"See parts of LA that most don't see" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 2 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Did it 2 years ago and there was a lot more support at this one. | |
Ricardo Hurtarte from Fontana, California , United States
(3/7/2005)
"Spectacular! Gives great hope and encouragement!" (about: 2005)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Running in this marathon gave me great inspiration with the determination and motivation to believe you truly can accomplish what you set your mind on! Thank you to the City of Angels for making my dreams really come true! | |
B. G. from now, Los Angeles. Orig. Brighton, Eng.
(3/7/2005)
"Thanks for the Chance." (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Thanks for giving me the incentive to get back into some shape after a total hip replacement last July (2004). My slowest L.A. Marathon so far, but given the jubilance & enthusiasm of the people, truly a great experience. Thank you, Commissioner Jane Jones. | |
J. E. from Irvine, California
(3/7/2005)
"Well organized, SPECTATORS ARE THE BEST!" (about: 2005)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Everything was perfect except there could be more bathrooms, especially the first half (long lines in the first half, no lines in the second half.) Sponsors and spectators handed out everything including water, Gatorade, ice, sponges, oranges, bananas, Clif Shots, candy, pretzels, and first aid. | |
T. S. from Los Angeles, CA
(3/7/2005)
"LATE START!" (General Comments)
3 previous marathons
| 2 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 These late starts are horrible. I ran LA in 2004 and 2005. Although this year the weather was much better (70's, compared to upper 90's in 2004), the heat is still there, and with little wind on the course, it makes this a killer course. I, too, have seen people pass out from exhaustion, especially during the uphill climb from mile 21-25. This is not a beginner's course at all. | |
M. S. from Los Angeles
(2/27/2005)
"Late Start Time Is Irresponsible" (General Comments)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 Less than a week from the start of the 2005 LA Marathon, weather predictions are for 80+ degree temps on the date of the race. The highlight of last year's marathon for all runners was the heat along with the sight of people dropping over and ambulance sirens throughout the course as people were rushed to the hospital. It is absolutely irresponsible for this race to start as late as it does. Heat KILLS. The organizer of this race sacrifices the well being of runners, many of them novices who just don't know any better, for the sake of TV schedules and higher TV revenue. Given the history of this race and prior years where the heat has been an issue, starting this race as late as it starts, with full knowledge by the organizers of the risks, is nothing short of criminal. Although I have personally run this a few times before, never will I again. This marathon is a disgrace to the City of Los Angeles. | |
Steve Stillman from Redondo Beach, Ca
(2/21/2005)
"LA Marathon Could Be Better" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 LA has got lots of great things to see. There are miles of beaches, Griffith Park, the Hollywood Hills, the Santa Monica mountains, Hollywood Blvd., theme parks, movie stars' homes, etc. And you won't see any of them while running the LA Marathon. What you will see are all those neighborhoods you go out of your way to avoid during the other days of the year. Plus it can be hot and smoggy during this time of the year. I ran the LA Marathon in 2004 and it was hotter than hell because of the weather and because of the late start time. As I ran the course I saw runners passed out in the gutter all over the place. Why they don't do a point-to-point course straight down Wilshire Blvd. to the beach and then along the bike path at the beach is beyond me. If you're looking for a marathon in Southern California there are plenty to choose from with better courses (Catalina, Carlsbad, Rock 'N Roll). | |
M. R. from Los Angeles
(11/28/2004)
"good support... ugly route" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first experience running a marathon. Although the temps reached 92, the fan support was great. People were on the street with hoses trying to cool off the runners! There were plenty of water stations and fuel along the route... people even passed out bananas and oranges. The course goes through parts of LA though that I don't understand. Who designed this? There are so many colorful areas of LA and it seems that this course avoids them all. Who really wants to run through South Central, Korea Town, and business districts??? Ugly. What about Griffith Park and the Observatory, Little Tokyo, City Hall, Hollywood and the Sign, Alvero Street, the William Shakespeare Bridge, and the Memorial Bridge. I recently ran NY... what a difference in community pride and support and all 5 boroughs! I'm an Angeleno... and I'm not proud of the course, and probably won't run it again unless they reroute it. | |
Aimee Wyatt from Los Angeles
(11/8/2004)
"High-fives from start to finish" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have finished all 19 LA Marathons and 2004 was just about the warmest. Even so, spirits remained high and the great fans along the course helped with water, encouragement and lots of high-fives to keep runners of all shapes, ages, and fitness levels going and going. Time to start training for #20 next March! |
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