Thank God for the homeowners along the course and their water hoses... they are WONDERFUL!!

It's WRONG for runners & walkers to have to wait for the former mayor to finish the bike-a-thon before the marathon can get started. This is supposed to be a MARATHON for MARATHONERS... let runners and walkers start at 6:00 a.m. Offer an early start for walkers!! People have been screaming for an earlier start for years -- why don't Burke & Buddies DO something about it?

This was my 31st marathon. I ran LA in 2004 and also 12 years ago. The race does an excellent job in some departments, such as registration and parking. The expo is likewise excellent. The course is about average, and a little disappointing because LA has so many interesting sights not on the course. The drawbacks are that the mile markers are inaccurate or missing, and the start is very poorly managed. I can't recommend that any serious marathon runner consider running this race for time until accurate mile markers are in place on every mile. It isn't that difficult to draw a chalk line across the street every mile; having a banner ('within 100 yards or so') isn't good enough. Also, the start is on a wide street with a three mile straightaway, so it's unnecessary to have Air National Guard Volunteers keep everyone 50 yards from the start line until well after the gun is fired.

Likewise, can't at least one volunteer walk through the crowd and tell the walkers to stay away from the front? It would take so little for this race to have the finest start of any major marathon, as it was 12 years ago. Another problem is the little kids on the race course in the last 5K or so walking with their parents. I don't know whether they were the tail end of the concurrent 5k or charity runners who had started early, but they posed a hazard to themselves, and their parents apparently didn't know any better either.

At about 10k, running elbow-to-elbow, I threw away my strategy and adopted this one: 'Relax, enjoy the spectators, drink LOTS of water, and don't get heatstroke!' It was too hot by far, but my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The names on the bibs were great. Unlike other runners, I liked the diversity of the course. We had a great room at the Bonaventure, about half a block from both start and finish lines.

We were off our best times by almost an hour, but what the heck!

When are the organizers going to get it? An 8:30 A.M. start in March in LA is just too late. I ran this marathon two years ago and the heat was uncomfortable, but the 80-degree-plus temperatures this time were almost unbearable. It made for my worst time out of five marathons. I live in Pasadena right next to LA, but I won't run it again unless they start it earlier in the day or move it back a month or two. I have fun when I run marathons, but this one was not fun. The organization also still can't compare with the Rock and Roll marathons, especially the inaugural P.F. Chang Rock and Roll in Phoenix, which I HIGHLY recommend.

This was my first marathon and I had such a great time! I'm an LA native, so it was so exciting to run through the city. The first half of the course was a little dreary and there were some spots with little to no spectator support... but this was all made up for by the last 13.2 miles. People were really excited and cheered you along. It was hotter than I possibly thought it could be... it felt like it hit 90 degrees at some point! But, I still had the best time and can't wait until next year!

This course was drab, the sights did not do this city justice. I was more content looking at the flattened cups along the water stations than at the ugly dilapidated buildings along the route.

It was hot. I don't know the exact weather conditions, but as far as I know we began in the upper 70s and by late-morning it was in the mid 80s. At one point, the temperature hit 92. It was nearly unbearable. Starting the race earlier would not have made a difference, running this marathon was like traipsing through Hell. However, homeowners along the route spraying us with their garden hoses as well as the Fire Department completely drenching us really really helped. If it weren't for them, I would probably be in the hospital right now, along with the many other people sent to the ER as a result of the heat.

The volunteers and the rest of the crowd really helped in the teen miles. Many came out with fresh delicious oranges and other snacks and goodies. Local cheerleading squads were also out, having our names on our bibs is an AWESOME idea. However, my only gripe is that in the last two mile stretch of the race, I did not hear a single cheer from the crowd. In the last .2, there was a dead silence. There I was, finish line in sight and I did not hear a peep, just stares from onlookers.

I don't know about running this one again... HOWEVER -- I would definitely train with the Marathon's official training program again, The RoadRunners. THEY ARE AWESOME.

Having just taken up marathon running last year, at the age of 51 (ran Vancouver, Portland and Tucson) I decided to do the Acura L-A Bike Tour this year to check out the L-A Marathon course...and I must admit I'm glad I didn't run it. Whoever planned the course must have done it in the dark, because that's the only time it was even remotely attractive. I was so glad I rode the course in 1&1/2 hours instead of having run it in 5! That being said, the fans that were out for the bike riders were excellent. I imagine they were just as pumped up for the runners. The expo was the best I've been too. And what a feat it was to have organized this massive multi-race event. Kudos to everyone but the course designer.

This was my third completed Los Angeles Marathon. I enjoyed the spectators calling you by name (bib # also has name), however the temperatures near noon time were mid-80's to almost 90 in particular locations. I fault the 8:32 a.m. start time for many difficulties runners have to endure. A friend who also ran the 2004 L.A. stated he is less likely to run L.A. unless they hold the marathon in February, or the start time is much earlier. I will say that I experienced severe cramping the last mile and when I finished, but a volunteer was very helpful in getting me help. Finally, the course could use more shade - too much sun!

This was my first full marathon and I was amazed at how many people & volunteers were on the course. It was a really hot day this year ('04) and I trained in upstate NY but with so many water stops along the way I had no problem with the heat. The course was really flat for the most part but not too scenic.

This was my 5th marathon and by far the hottest temperature. But I still love L.A.! The crowd support and the volunteers are so great. I will run it again and again! The course is fairly flat with just a few hills. This year was my 2nd L.A. run and I'm already looking forward to next year. The only complaint would be the start time. It would be nice to start about 1 hour earlier.