Los Angeles Marathon

Location: Los Angeles, California
Country: United States
Website: https://www.lamarathon.com
2025 Marathon Date: 16/03/2025
2026 Marathon Date: 08/03/2026
Winning Time 2025: 2:07:56
% Sub-3s: 5–10%
# Sub-3s: 100–499
Total Runners: 20k–30k

The Los Angeles Marathon is one of the most recognisable road races in the United States, taking place each spring in California’s largest city. Known for its scenic urban route, the event draws tens of thousands of participants and provides a compelling race-day experience across LA’s varied neighbourhoods.

The point-to-point course starts at Dodger Stadium and winds its way west through downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Westwood before finishing in Century City. The terrain includes several rolling hills in the early and middle stages, but finishes with a largely downhill final 10K. This net elevation drop makes it a viable option for faster running, particularly for those who pace the first half conservatively.

Weather conditions in March are usually dry and mild, with race morning temperatures ranging from 10–15°C. While occasional sun exposure is likely, humidity is low, and prevailing winds are typically light. The city’s air quality and heat can vary, but recent years have seen stable running conditions and strong finish rates.

The marathon benefits from a festive, city-wide atmosphere. Crowd support is particularly strong in popular districts like Hollywood and Brentwood, and the route offers visual variety with palm-lined streets, urban skylines, and historic landmarks. Aid stations and logistical support are well-managed, reflecting the scale and professionalism of the event.

For sub-3 runners, the Los Angeles Marathon combines high-quality organisation with a relatively fast second half. It’s not a textbook flat course, but experienced runners can use the early undulations to their advantage by conserving energy for a strong negative split. The race’s competitive depth and volume of sub-3 finishers also provide plenty of pacing company.

While LA’s size and traffic may deter those seeking a quieter experience, the city’s marathon remains a bucket-list race for many. For runners looking to combine performance goals with a landmark American event, the Los Angeles Marathon strikes a rewarding balance between spectacle and substance.