ASICS Los Angeles Marathon
Los Angeles, United States · March · Independent
Why people love it
- Closed streets past Chinatown, Echo Park, Hollywood and Rodeo Drive across 42.2 km (26.2 mi).
- 126 cheer zones; runners rate the crowds as the best part of the day.
- 19 aid stations about every 1.6 km (1 mi) from 3 to 40 km (2 to 25 mi).
- Free shuttles to the Dodger Stadium start from three pick-up areas.
Watch out for
- Rolling hills: 287 m (943 ft) of climbing, so the 69 m (226 ft) net drop is misleading.
- From 29 to 42 km (18 to 26 mi) you run back along shadeless streets; heat can build.
- No shuttle from the finish; plan the return by Metro or rideshare.
- Arrive at Dodger Stadium from about 4:00 am for the 7:00 start.
- Bibs must be collected in person at the expo; there is no race-day pickup.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.1
RaceRaves gives 4.3 of 5 from 126 ratings, FindMyMarathon 4.8 from 17. Most call it a bucket-list city tour; complaints: hills, heat, finish. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
Expo and 19 aid stations ran well, but runners report a long gear-check wait, no shuttles from the finish and a crowded start. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
Big crowds, pace groups and a 6.5 hour cutoff help. But 287 m (943 ft) of climbing, a 3:00 am arrival and heat add difficulty. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.4
Only a 69 m (226 ft) net drop across 287 m (943 ft) of gain. The Boston qualifying rate was 1.4% in 2026. · High confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.2
Dodger Stadium, Chinatown, Echo Park, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. The late San Vicente and Century City stretch is plainer. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
Wide boulevards, but a crowded start and Century City finish. The out-and-back from 29 to 42 km (18 to 26 mi) is shadeless. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
City asphalt. One 2025 reviewer mentions potholes past 32 km (20 mi). Little other direct evidence. · Low confidence
- Road closuresFully closed4.6
Rolling closures from 3:00 am across downtown, Hollywood and Beverly Hills, kept for 6.5 hours after the last starter. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling2.8
287 m (943 ft) of gain and 356 m (1,169 ft) of loss. Rolling, with multiple sustained grades. · High confidence
- Net downhillEven3.4
Net drop of about 69 m (226 ft). Boston eligible, but runners say it is rolling, not the downhill it is advertised as. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.2
Free shuttles from 3 locations, but 3:00 am arrivals for a 7:00 start, cold waits at Dodger Stadium and a long gear-check line. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.9
Pace leaders from 3:00 to 6:30 and a race app with live tracking. Some 2026 runners had bib and tracking confusion. · Medium confidence
- Crowd supportElectric4.5
126 cheer zones, and reviewers call the crowds the highlight, loudest in Hollywood. One 2025 runner says crowds thin after 32 km (20 mi). · High confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
19 aid stations about every 1.6 km (1 mi) with water and electrolyte drink, gels only at 19 and 29 km (18 mi), plus medical and toilets. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm4.0
Typical start conditions show a light north wind of about 5 km (3.1 mi)/h (3 mph). No wind complaints found. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.8
Starts of 10 to 13 °C (50 to 55 °F), but 2015 reached 24 °C (76 °F) and the 2026 forecast hit 28 °C (82 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Rain is rare in March, but warm spells in 2015 and 2026 forced heat measures. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
Metro reaches Hollywood and Century City, but a point-to-point route means few repeat viewing spots. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
The high point is 172 m (566 ft) and the low point 61 m (203 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityPlentiful4.6
A huge hotel stock downtown, in Century City, Hollywood and Santa Monica. · High confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.7
Large-city race-weekend pricing; team packages bundle a pricey Century City stay. Little direct price data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.8
The start is 19 km (12 mi) from the finish. A shuttle goes to the start, none back, and only the Metro E Line returns. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.7
The airport is about 32 km (20 mi) away; Burbank and Long Beach are also in range, plus Amtrak and Metro. · High confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.2
Free expo at Dodger Stadium, but bibs must be collected in person with no race-day pickup, and the stadium has no transit. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.6
Varied food, sightseeing and neighbourhoods along the course. · High confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early2.6
2026 general entry sold out. The remaining route is charity teams with a fundraising pledge of about $725. No qualifying time. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.4
Fee not published on pages found. Reviewers praise the medal, expo and aid but dislike transport and finish logistics. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Los Angeles, Southern California, United States
- Typical month
- March
- Latest or next date
- 7 March 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 21,900 athletes
- First held
- 1986
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 287 m (940 ft)
- Descent
- 356 m (1,170 ft)
- Start time
- 07:00
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Asphalt city streets, fully closed on a rolling basis
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 10–20 °C (50–68 °F)
- Humidity
- About 68% at the start, dry later
- Altitude
- 172 m (565 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Los Angeles International (LAX), 32 km (20 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown LA, Century City, Santa Monica
- Booking
- Downtown LA hotels have free early-morning shuttles to Dodger Stadium (about 4:00 to 6:00 am). Century City hotels are next to the finish.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · mixed-positive
Overall 4.3 of 5. Runners 2024 to 2026 praise the landmark route, Rodeo Drive crowds and aid, and call it a bucket-list run. They warn about hills, heat on the exposed late out-and-back, a crowded start, long gear-check waits and no transit from the expo or finish.
“The LA Marathon should be on every runner's bucket list.”
- FindMyMarathonRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Rated 4.8 of 5 across 2013 to 2024 reviewers. They like the crowds, aid and shuttles from Santa Monica or downtown, but many stress it is rolling, not the downhill it is advertised as, with climbs around miles 19 to 24 (km 31 to 39).
- MarathonGuideRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Rated 4.6 of 5. A 2026 first-timer found the day well supported and exciting. Older reviews praise the first 18 miles (29 km) and crowds, and warn of rolling hills and a hard late stretch.
- Fat Marathoner guideRaced 2027 · article · neutral
Course guide giving 287 m (943 ft) gain, 356 m (1,169 ft) loss, a 6 h 30 min cutoff, about 27,000 starters, 126 cheer zones and water plus Electrolit about every 1.5 miles (2.4 km). A preview, not a first-person report, with no runner critique.
- Time Out Los AngelesRaced 2026 · article · neutral
Describes the Stadium to the Stars route past downtown, Echo Park, Hollywood and Brentwood. Notes the finish no longer reaches the Santa Monica beach because the city quoted much higher costs, and that the 2015 race was a hot and trying day.
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- CBS Los Angeles (2015)Raced 2015 · article · Mixed
Record heat in 2015: 24 °C (76 °F) at the finish. Organizers moved the start 30 minutes earlier, added cooling buses, and fitted all 24 aid stations with water and sports drink. Shows the race reacts to heat but is exposed to it.
- CBS Los Angeles (2024)Raced 2024 · article · neutral
Over 25,000 people took part in 2024; 12 patients were treated and 7 went to hospital. Describes the route through downtown, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood and Brentwood.
- Daily Bruin (2026 gallery)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Photo gallery showing tens of thousands of spectators and volunteers on closed streets, runners from 63 countries, and a mile-18 (29 km) early-finish option with medal added because of rising temperature.
- FOX 11 Los Angeles guide (2026)Raced 2026 · article · neutral
Lists rolling closures from 3:00 am, free participant shuttles from Century City, Union Station and downtown hotels, and no shuttle from the finish back to the start. Warns of Dodger Stadium traffic from 4:00 am.
- Official 2026 runner guide (McCourt Foundation)Raced 2026 · article · neutral
Organiser document (treat as marketing). Confirms 19 aid stations, pace leaders 3:00 to 6:30, seeded corrals A to E, 6 h 30 min road closure, a clear-bag gear check, and sold-out general entry.
- Fleet Feet course guideRaced 2024 · article · mixed-positive
Mile-by-mile guide from local runners: steep drop out of Dodger Stadium, sharp rollers at miles 4 and 5 (km 6 to 8), the worst climb at miles 20 to 21 (km 32 to 34), and a gradual rise to the finish. Beverly Hills is quiet; the out-and-back is packed. Warns of 30 to 45 minute stadium traffic and long toilet lines.
“it's two miles out of 26.2”
- Athletics Illustrated (2026)Raced 2026 · article · neutral
2026 report: warmer than expected for early March, with a near tie for the men's win in 2:11:18 and Priscah Cherono winning in 2:25:20. Few runners took the mile-18 (29 km) medal option; a linked opinion piece called for a heat contingency plan.
- Marathon Handbook (2026 mile-18 option)Raced 2026 · article · Mixed
Forecast of about 13 °C (mid-50s °F) at the 7:00 start rising to about 28 °C (low 80s °F) led organisers to add misting stations, extra ice and medical support, and a 29 km (18 mi) early finish with a medal, which drew wide complaints from runners.
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Sources
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