Los Angeles Marathon

The ASICS Los Angeles Marathon is a USATF certified road race billed as the "Stadium to the Stars" course. While the route is technically a net-downhill, point-to-point layout, it is characterized by rolling hills and a challenging finish. As a Boston Marathon qualifier, it offers a high-energy tour of the city but requires discipline to manage its deceptive elevation changes.

Course Layout and Terrain

The race begins at the iconic Dodger Stadium and concludes at Avenue of the Stars in Century City. The terrain is entirely paved road, utilizing major Los Angeles boulevards. The course is point-to-point with an out-and-back section from approximately mile 18 to the finish. The out-and-back section travels through Brentwood and a final return toward Century City. Runners navigate through several distinct districts, including Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills, encountering numerous turns and wide-city thoroughfares.

Elevation and Notable Sections

The course features approximately 943 feet of elevation gain and 1,169 feet of loss. Despite the net drop, the rollers are persistent.

• The Early Descent (Miles 1–3): The race opens with a steep downhill exiting the stadium parking lot, which often leads to an aggressive and risky early pace.
• The Early Rollers (Miles 4–6): Short, sharp inclines through Echo Park and Silver Lake serve as early tests of effort management.
• The Urban Rollers (Miles 10–18): This section through Hollywood and West Hollywood is predominantly flat with minor undulations. While it lacks a "big climb," it features technical turns and varying exposure. The most significant work in this stretch is a short, approximately 1.2% grade around Mile 12, followed by a relatively flat cruise toward Beverly Hills.
• The San Vicente Out-and-Back (Miles 20–24): This remains the most tactical segment. It includes a steep downhill on San Vicente and Sepulveda (reaching nearly a -5% grade at certain points) followed by a return climb. This "quad-buster" section is where most PR attempts are won or lost.

The Los Angeles Marathon is a tactical race rather than a course welcomes even splits. It is best suited for runners who can be patient during the early downhill and save significant reserves for the late-race hills in Brentwood. Success depends on managing the cumulative effect of the rolling terrain; those who over-pace the first half often find the final six miles into Century City exceptionally difficult. It offers a premier big-city atmosphere for runners who value a hilly challenge over a flat profile.