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City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon) Runner Comments
Back to City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon) Information & Reviews
Course 3.8 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 4.4
Number of comments: 473 [displaying comments 351 to 361]
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Ivan Levinrad from Savannah, GA
(3/12/2004)
"Late Start = TOO HOT!!!!!!!!" (about: 2004)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This could be one of the greatest marathons in the USA if the organizers would move the start to an earlier time. It is just too hot and dangerous starting at 8:30 AM. The spectators are fantastic-thanks for ALL the support. | |
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H. T. from Los Angeles
(3/11/2004)
"A real challenge for the first marathon" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 As this was my first marathon, I didn't know what to expect, but I definitely didn't expect this (heat). I think the course was a good challenge. I liked the organization but can't compare to other marathons (yet!!!), and the fans were amazing because they helped me when I needed it most. This is my home marathon and I'm sure I will run it again. | |
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T. R. from Los Angeles, CA
(3/11/2004)
"A good race to try once--and only once" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The Bad: it's said in every post--but the 8:30 start time IS much to late. The start area is to cramped and chaotic. Much of the course can be pretty uninteresting. The Good: the support from the crowd. The crowd isn't as large or as deep as NYC/Chicago/Boston, but they go out their way to give you a hand. With the extreme temperatures of 2004, the water/hoses/oranges/bananas/candy given out by the crowd probably prevented a lot more people from ending up with heat related illnesses. Having your name on your bib is a nice touch and the free cell phone runners who let you make a call mid-race are also pretty cool. Overall: an interesting experience. Glad I did it ONCE. Unless they were to change the start time I wound not even consider doing it again. People train much too hard to have it derailed by the inevitable warm So. Cal. temps from such a late start time. | |
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J. A. from San Diego, CA
(3/11/2004)
"What a hot day, BUT..." (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 ...somehow I managed to PR! This marathon was my 3rd in 9 months. Oddly enough, I was still able to PR on this brutally hot day in LA. Official high = 87F, on the ground the temp. was ~95F! PROS: -Huge expo. -Name on the bibs...what a GREAT idea! -The course brings out the best in people spanning all races, ages, religions and cultures. -The FANS are the best ones I have ever seen at any marathon so far! People were yelling out my name so often I felt privileged. -Fans giving out oranges, bananas, candy, chips and other food. -The homeowners spraying us down w/ water was such a relief. -Special treat in that Ali and Jackie Joyner-Kersee were at the start. CONS: -Like everyone said, the late start is just brutal! -Course is slightly dull. LA has much more to offer. -Did I mention that it was HOT?! -Family reunion area a bit chaotic, but it's OK. Overall, I had such a great experience at the LA because of the sheer spectator support! Thank you volunteers! | |
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K. M. from Portland, Oregon
(3/11/2004)
"Hot!" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I have run the LA Marathon for the last three years. I grew up in LA, and when I lived in LA this marathon didn't exist, so I wanted to try it out. I consider myself a serious racer with the goal of running under 3:00. I live in Portland, OR, so I don't train in warm weather. This wll be my last LA Marathon venture, though, because the race is not set up for people who want to run a fast time. I worked really hard for eighteen weeks and when I woke up Sunday, the Santa Ana winds were blowing and I knew I had no chance. Very disappointing. I am a slow learner because the previous two years were warm too. I agree with the earlier writer who was frustrated by the walkers at the end. There were families with little kids in the way. I was having enough trouble just running upright and then I had to dodge familes. | |
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J. R. from Los Angeles
(3/11/2004)
"LATE, HOT, UGLY COURSE..." (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Like everyone else said, it was way too hot. I know no one can control that, but starting time can be controled. If the start time is late because of the bike race, hold the bike race on a different day. This is a marathon, not a bike race, and should be treated as such. The volunteers and organization were very good. Thanks to everyone who got their hoses out and cooled the runners down, handed out food and gave us support. There were some stretches where there were no spectators at all. That was a bit disappointing. If you really want to see crowd support you need to run Boston, it's unbelievable! Like lots of others said, for everything this city has to offer, the course is disappointing. Most of it is pretty ugly. I miss running through Hollywood and down Hollywood Blvd. past the Chinese Theater. What about more of the course staying downtown? Running by the Disney Concert Hall and other downtown landmarks? Not sure if I'll be back next year. | |
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M. S. from Minnesota
(3/11/2004)
"Too hot" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 In my view, every completed marathon is a good marathon; LA too. This one was just too hot. 87 degrees at the finish. The late start (8:30) didn't help. But it was well organized and great fun. Thanks LA. | |
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J. J. from Redlands, CA
(3/11/2004)
"Tough run due to heat" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is the 2nd year in a row I ran LA and probably my last. I do think the LA fans are the best anywhere but the course is deceptively difficult. The first 13 are relatively flat and easy while the final 13 has a slight incline most of the way. I was doing fine until I started cramping between miles 19-20. Those last 6 miles it seemed like I was shuffling along with the walking wounded. I'm sure it had a lot to do with the heat but this is the first time in 7 marathons that I ever thought, 'Why am I doing this?'. The organization and fans are the best around. There were always people cheering you on or handing you some sort of fruit/candy/beer/bagels... I just wish the weather would cooperate. Overall, I think this is a great big-city race. I wish they could start this race at 7:00am or 7:30am in future years. | |
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C. D. from Redlands, CA
(3/10/2004)
"Why did I think this was a good idea?" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 If the organizers of the LA Marathon ever needed a reason to change the late start time, the 2004 race has got to be it! As soon as I passed mile 4 I knew this was going to be trouble. I crossed over the start line at about 8:45 AM and the heat was already intolerable. No trees, no breeze. Early along the course I saw runners in trouble. At mile 8 or 9 they had temporarily run out of H2O, and as a slow runner I never saw a Cliff Shot available anywhere on the course. At mile 13 I saw the first of what was to be many downed runners being treated and transported by paramedics. I had driven the course many times before race day and although I was aware of the treeless, urban surroundings, it was maginified in the heat. With so many interesting areas in LA, why did they choose to show off some of least appealing? The marathon is once a year and sparks interest across the nation and the world. We could put a better face forward - AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, give the runners a better course. It isn't that difficult of a course if you have trained on hills. There are only two places that might slow you down a bit, but the tedium of the worst of So. Cal one-story-stripmall, architecture is, well, boring. (Hancock Park is the exception.) But I must say the crowds were just great! I felt such enthusiasm from the spectators all through the course. They provided ice, fruit, water, popcorn, candy and moral support. They screamed and yelled until they were hoarse... the cheerleaders were so energetic it was contagious! They all deserve a HIGH FIVE!! The finish line was a single lane of people positioned to take off your chip which can get backed up and HOT!!! Then you get your medal and then you have to walk to the penned-in family meeting area for water and after race snacks. I didn't go there since my hotel was closer than the greeting area. This was my first marathon and my goal was to finish. I only wish I could have run faster so I could have put this experience behind me more quickly!! This race is not one I would reccomend to first-time marathon runners. San Diego here I come!!!!! | |
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A. B. from Kansas City
(3/10/2004)
"Great Marathon - Just really hot!!!" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I really enjoyed this marathon. The crowd support was great, which helped make up for a course that lacked scenery and shade. Shade would have been nice as temperatures got into the 80's within the first hour. Being from Kansas I started to melt shortly after the start. However, the course was well stocked with water stops - at least every mile. And there were always someone handing out oranges, bananas, candy, etc. every few miles as well as hosing/spraying you down with water. Pros: - Having your name on the bibs. I never went more than a couple of minutes without hearing a ?doing great, Andy? or ?look good, Andy?. - Crowd Support ? can?t imagine it could get any better. - Sub-4-hour Corral ? I felt like an elite runner getting to start in this area. - Muhammad Ali starting the runners off. - Great expo - The Sprint telephone people allowing you to call your spectator contingent during the race. - Mile markers were easily seen as they were banners that stretched across the street. - Cliff Shots at mile 10 & 18. Cons: - With so many nice areas in LA the course is not very scenic. - Hot, Hot and Hot!!! - No shade whatsoever. - 8:32 start time is way too late. This is definitely not a PR course, as there are quite a few hills during the second half of the race, and if I haven?t mentioned it yet, it can sure get hot in LA in March. However, this is a very fun event, and if they ever decide to move the race time to 6:00 a.m. I'll be the first one registering to run it again. |
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