Overview
LA Marathon Runners
Photo courtesy of LA Marathon
When
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Timeline
12 Midnight - Finish line setup begins
2:00 AM - Course route taping begins
4:00 AM - Road Closure setup begins
6:55 AM - Wheelchairs start
7:00 AM - Hand cycles start
7:24 AM - Runners start
8:30 AM to 5:00 PM - Streets reopen by area
12 Midnight - Finish line area reopens
Start Line
Dodger Stadium
Finish Line
Intersection of California Av & Ocean Av, City of Santa Monica
About
The Los Angeles Marathon is an annual world-class running event held each spring in Los Angeles, California.  The 26.219 mile (42.195 km) footrace, inspired by the success of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, has been contested every year since 1986.

The 28th edition of the LA Marathon will be the fourth time the course will start at Dodger Stadium and end in Santa Monica, incorporating many iconic landmarks for which Los Angeles is world renowned.

Navigating the Event - FAQs & Tips
Residents & Businesses
My home or business is right along the LA Marathon course, how do I get in and out of my driveway if it leads directly into the course?

While the LA Marathon is in progress, no vehicle will be allowed on the course route.  So if the driveway to your home or business leads directly to the course route, no vehicle will be allowed to leave or enter your driveway until the Officials reopen the streets in your area.  If you must use your car on race day, please park your vehicle, the night before, around the block or on a nearby street that doesn’t have any parking restrictions on race day.

The entrance to my home/business is not on the LA Marathon course route, however is located on a street that appears to be closed.  How can I reach my home/business?

Please check our map to see if there is an alternate path to your home or business via a smaller street.  If there are none, or your home or business is on the block adjacent to the course route, slowly approach the Officers or Transportation Engineers at the location and kindly ask them for access to the street and explain to them that you live or work locally within the closure area, but not on the course route itself.

I normally park my vehicle on a street that the course route is going through.  Can I leave my vehicle parked there during the event?

No, you may not.  If you normally park your vehicle overnight on a street that the Marathon course will be going through, please park your vehicle, the night before, around the block or on a nearby street that doesn’t have any parking restrictions on race day.  Otherwise, your vehicle will be cited and towed away to the local impound yard.

  • City of Los Angeles - Call 1-866-TOWAWAY or check the Los Angeles Official Police Garage (OPG) website at www.opglaviic.com
  • City of West Hollywood - Contact Hollywood Tow Service at (323) 466-5421, 1015 N. Mansfield Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038
  • City of Beverly Hills - Contact the front desk of the Beverly Hills Police Department at (310) 550-4951
  • City of Santa Monica - Contact the front desk of the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8495
Why are major streets closed blocks away from the LA Marathon route?

Since major streets or arterials tend to carry more traffic, often times, these streets are closed at the major intersections blocks before the course or event route in order to more efficiently detour the heavy traffic to other major streets that can handle it.  Otherwise, the smaller residential streets directly adjacent to the course routes will become clogged and saturated with vehicles that don’t quite have an outlet.

How do I get to my destination that’s on the other side of the route?

If you must drive to your destination on the other side of the course route, you can use the orange detour routes shown on the Commuterama map to navigate yourself over, under, or around the course route at several points.

If your destination is just on the other side of the course route, it may be best to simply park your vehicle on a street that’s on your side of the course route, and walk across it to your destination.  This may save you a lot of time from having to navigate detour routes that a lot of other motorists are probably also using.  Please use caution, however, if you do decide to walk across the route during the marathon.  It is a race after all!

Why have the streets near the LA Marathon Course Route become Temporary No Parking zones even though the Course Route is blocks away?

Major streets that are parallel or near to the course route are often used as detour routes.  To increase the efficiency or capacity of these detour routes during the event, parking restrictions are often put in place on these streets.  Please pay attention to any temporary parking restriction signs posted.  Parking enforcement will be strictly enforced in all cities on race day.

My vehicle was impounded because it was in a Temporary No Parking zone, where do I go to retrieve my vehicle?

Depending on what city your car was towed in, you will have to contact the appropriate law or parking enforcement agency.  This year’s LA Marathon goes through several different cities.

  • City of Los Angeles - Call 1-866-TOWAWAY or check the Los Angeles Official Police Garage (OPG) website at www.opglaviic.com
  • City of West Hollywood - Contact Hollywood Tow Service at (323) 466-5421, 1015 N. Mansfield Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038
  • City of Beverly Hills - Contact the front desk of the Beverly Hills Police Department at (310) 550-4951
  • City of Santa Monica - Contact the front desk of the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8495
Will my bus service be interrupted?

If the route of the bus that you normally take runs on or intersects any portion of the course route, then your bus service will be interrupted.  More information comming soon!

Spectators
I’m dropping off a participant of the LA Marathon.  Where is the best drop off point and where is the best location to pick them up after the race?

It would be best to drop off race participants at the Start Line in Dodger Stadium.  This year, vehicle access to the stadium will be allowed for both participant drop offs and for participants who wish to park their car at the stadium.  Participant drop offs will be directed to Lot 4 (Dodger Stadium Race Day Parking & Drop Off Map).

Please note that only the Golden State Gate (938 Academy Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012), accessible from Stadium Wy, will be open to vehicular traffic on race day.  None of the other gates will be open due to shuttle access and road closures.  Plan on arriving early! The LA Marathon is strongly advising all participants to arrive at the Stadium a minimum of 60 to 90 minutes before the race.

According to the LA Marathon, families and friends will be directed to meet at the family reunion area near the finish line.  The family reunion area is located on Ocean Av between Broadway Av and Colorado Av.

If you don't want to meet your family member or friend at the family reunion area and would rather stay in your vehicle, the City of Santa Monica has designated 1701 Ocean Ave as the post-race pick up zone.  Friends and family can pick up their runners on the east side of Ocean Avenue, between Pico and Moomat Ahiko.  This portion of Ocean Ave will have "No Parking" restrictions in place.  Therefore, no parking or standing will be allowed at any time.  Anyone wanting to park or wait in their vehicle should do so in nearby on-street parking spaces or off-street parking facilities.  Your family member or friend wanting to be picked up at this location should plan on waiting on the sidewalk along the designated pick-up area and walk out to meet you when you arrive.  Please enter this area from the south at Ocean & Pico.

For more details, please visit lamarathon.com and smgov.net.

Why are major streets closed blocks away from the LA Marathon course route?

Since major streets or arterials tend to carry more traffic, often times, these streets are closed at the major intersections blocks before the course or event route in order to more efficiently detour the heavy traffic to other major streets that can handle it.  Otherwise, the smaller residential streets directly adjacent to the course routes will become clogged and saturated with vehicles that don’t quite have an outlet.

My vehicle was impounded because it was in a Temporary No Parking zone, where do I go to retrieve my vehicle?

Depending on what city your car was towed in, you will have to contact the appropriate law or parking enforcement agency.  This year’s LA Marathon goes through several different cities.

  • City of Los Angeles - Call 1-866-TOWAWAY or check the Los Angeles Official Police Garage (OPG) website at www.opglaviic.com
  • City of West Hollywood - Contact Hollywood Tow Service at (323) 466-5421, 1015 N. Mansfield Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038
  • City of Beverly Hills - Contact the front desk of the Beverly Hills Police Department at (310) 550-4951
  • City of Santa Monica - Contact the front desk of the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8495
  • I need to pick up my family member or friend at the end of the Marathon.  Where should I go?

    According to the LA Marathon, families and friends wil be directed to meet at the family reunion area near the finish line in Santa Monica.  The family reunion area is located on Ocean Av between Broadway Av and Colorado Av.

    If you don't want to meet your family member or friend at the family reunion area and would rather stay in your vehicle, the City of Santa Monica has designated 1701 Ocean Av as the post-race pick up zone.  Friends and family can pick up their runners on Ocean Avenue between Pico Blvd. and Moomat Ahiko.  This area can only be accessed by using westbound Pico or northbound Ocean.  Ocean Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic north of Moomat Ahiko.

    What's the parking situation going to be like in Santa Monica on Race Day?

    All City of Santa Monica-owned parking facilities will be closed overnight between Saturday March 19 and Sunday, March 20.  Only those who have pre-purchased parking will be allowed access to the location specified on the parking pass.  On Sunday March 20th many Downtown parking structures will be closed until 7:00 AM to allow for parking for spectators later in the day.  Additionally, please keep in mind that Santa Monica has extensive residential preferential parking regulations which prohibit or limit parking in residential neighborhoods.  The City of Santa Monica strongly encourages you to pre-purchase your L.A.  Marathon parking to ensure you have a place to park and are able to catch the shuttles to Dodger Stadium.

    To reserve your parking space online, please visit https://www.thepermitstore.com/sm/event.

    Please visit www.smgov.net for more details.

    Participants
    I’m participating in one of the races, what are my options for getting to the start line in time?

    You can either board a shuttle, be dropped off at the start line, or drive yourself to the start line.  This year, you may board shuttles at the below locations (restrictions apply):

    • Downtown Santa Monica - Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90401
    • Downtown LA - Union Station - Patsaouras Transit Plaza, 801 Vignes St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
    • Official ASICS LA Marathon Downtown LA Hotels (locations in Downtown LA, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica) - Participants registered at the hotels will receive a wristband for shuttles.  See http://www.lamarathon.com/travel/hotel-shuttles/ for details.

    To be dropped off at the start line, you must enter Dodger Stadium through the Golden State Gate via Stadium Wy.  All other gates will be closed due to road closures and shuttle access.  Vehicles dropping off participants will be directed to Lot 4 (Dodger Stadium Race Day Parking & Drop Off Map).

    For the second year in a row, participants will be allowed to park their vehicles at Dodger Stadium.  However, NO SHUTTLES will be available after the race to bring you back to Dodger Stadium.  You will need to make your own arrangements to return to Dodger Stadium if you chose to drive yourself to the start line.  Participants parking at the stadium will be directed to Lots 1, 2 and 3 (Dodger Stadium Race Day Parking & Drop Off Map).  Like being dropped off, you will need to enter the stadium through the Golden State Gate.

    For more information on reserving your space on a shuttle, please visit lamarathon.com.

    When do the road closures begin to clear up?

    The course route will begin to be cleaned and reopened to normal traffic in a rolling manner.  As soon as the start line clears, crews will start cleaning the route and reopening the streets at a pace no faster than a 13 minute per mile pace.

    If I’m a slower runner and the Official End-of-Race Vehicle has already passed me, what should I do if the officials start reopening the course route to normal vehicular traffic?

    If you wish to continue to on, you can do so, but you must leave the roadway.  You will have to run/walk on the sidewalk and assume the role of a normal pedestrian obeying all traffic laws and signals.  Sufficient finish line personnel will remain on duty until 4 PM to record times for runners and to provide medical assistance and refreshments.

    If I get dropped off at the start of the LA Marathon, where can my family or friends pick me up?

    According to the LA Marathon, families and friends wil be directed to meet at the family reunion area near the finish line in Santa Monica.  The family reunion area is located on Ocean Av between Broadway Av and Colorado Av.

    Is parking for participants allowed at Dodger Stadium on race day?

    Yes, participants will be allowed to park their vehicles at Dodger Stadium.  However, NO SHUTTLES will be available after the race to bring you back to Dodger Stadium.  You will need to make your own arrangements to return to Dodger Stadium if you chose to drive yourself to the start line.  Participants parking at the stadium will be directed to Lots 1, 2 and 3 (Dodger Stadium Race Day Parking & Drop Off Map).  You will need to enter the stadium through the Golden State Gate via Stadium Wy. All other gates will be closed due to road closures and shuttle access.