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City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon) Runner Comments
Back to City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon) Information & Reviews
Course 3.8 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 4.4
Number of comments: 472 [displaying comments 431 to 441]
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A Runner from Cincinnati, Ohio
(3/7/2002)
 "Great spectators, terrible organization!!!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 This marathon was the most unorganized marathon I have ever been a part of. The organization was at an all time low. The post race party was a bust, the finish area was a complete mess, the merchandise was crap and the course mostly sucked because it was boring and uphill. The city of Los Angeles has so much to offer but we ran through some boring areas that lacked interest. Whoevers decision it was to start this race at 9:20 needs to have his brain examined (or lack of brain)! It was hot as hell out there and everyone was getting sick and dehydrated. This race next year needs to be started at 7:00 am and also needs to be run on a course with less hills down the stretch and also with some scenery to look at. Wake up organizers!! I flew from Cincinnati, Ohio to run in this race and was disappointed. If the stories are true that the race ran out of medals once I finished this crappy course...there would have been a second LA riot. Never again will I run this race again under the current organization. | |
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A Runner from Los Angeles
(3/6/2002)
 "Eliminate the late start" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 2002 was absolute proof that this race starts too late. The 8:45 start, coupled with the 30+ min. delay, had thousands running during the hottest portions of an extremely hot day. LA always has the potential of being hot, and it seems as if the organizers would take this into consideration. I believe one of the reasons for the late start is the Bike Tour. Is there a reason for the Bike Tour other than to make money? Sure, there are those who will defend it's existence, but isn't this supposed to be THE marathon? No other major marathon tries to incorporate an event the size of the Bike Tour on the same day. Perhaps it should have it's own day. As I was baking in the sun, waiting endlessly for the gun to go off for the start of the marathon, I questioned the validity of having a 'non-competitive' bike event, which is no great physical feat, decrease my chances of a PR. I hope the organizers look closer at Chicago, New York, Boston, London, and so many other great marathons - this one runs shy. | |
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A Runner from Pasadena, CA
(3/6/2002)
 "Escape From L.A." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon and perhaps I shouldn't have spoiled myself by running half marathons in beautiful locales such as Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo and Huntington Beach in preparation over the last few months. I am an L.A. native but you never truly get the feel for a neighborhood until you run through it. I must say that I was not impressed with running through Downtown L.A., South Central L.A., Pico/Union and Downtown L.A. all over again. But, I'm a big boy and I should've scrutinized the course more closely before picking this as my first marathon. If I sound like a snob, it is only because I am truly inspired by beautiful surroundings, whether it is the desert and mountains of Palm Springs, the rolling hills and ocean of San Luis Obispo or the beachside courses run in Huntington Beach. It truly helps me overachieve while running through these sections of L.A. contributed to an overall lack of interest that when combined with the heat had me missing my mark by 40 minutes and not caring much about it. Finished in just over 5.5 hours and couldn't wait to get out of L.A. and return to my hometown Pasadena. | |
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A Runner from Oak Park, Ca.
(3/6/2002)
 "Fun, but maybe next time they could..." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my seventh running of the LA Marathon. I always enjoy the LA marathon, but this year a few things need commenting on. 1) The start: After parking in a $7 parking lot (that was advertised not to exceed $5), we followed other runners hoping that they knew which way to go. There were no posted directions to the start line. Once there my friend and I muscled through the very tightly packed crowd to get toward the front of the line. If you needed to 'visit' the toilet, forget it. You had to swim up stream through a thick crowd of runners just to be able to find them. Once again, this is a case of not being well marked (all puns aside). 2) The start line was packed like sardines. The street seemed narrower than previous starts. Much more crowded than when the race began on Figueroa. 3) I can understand the late start if security was the issue, however the first miles leading through the 2nd Street tunnel were worse than peak rush hour on the 405 fwy! I was having fender benders/whiplash with many of the other runners. It seemed that the course leading up to the tunnel was extremely narrow for that amount of runner/walkers. The new course was less hilly than the previous one, but the lack of shade seemed very noticeable. Even more so due to the heat factor. As usual, the spectator support was incredible and helped me forge on through the heat. My last gripe is with the finish line. I was handed a bag with a Gatorade bar and (one more) bottle of water. 26.2 miles of heated running and that's what you get! Also, the finish area was again packed to the max. No place to sit/stand in any shade. The reunion area needs work. One last observation... When we returned to our car, the sign on the parking lot announced it was now only $5 to park all day!!! I know it can't be easy to put on an event of this size with every detail exactly in place. However, if nothing else these items should be considered for next year. Why can't we finish in a larger area...a park or even the Staples parking lot? Maybe next year... | |
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A Runner from Santa Barbara, CA
(3/6/2002)
"Great spectators,but do the organizers even exist?" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 All of LA seemed to be out there to cheer us on, and that was just great fun, even though the organizers tried their best to screw things. 1. It started 40 minutes late. What is up with that? 2. I fell and hurt myself on mile 8, and had to drop out at the halfway mark at 11:30am. The first aid booth nearby had absolutely nothing, and had the most clueless volunteers I've ever seen. One of them led me to an SUV nearby and asked me to wait there for the driver, who'd drive me to the finish line area. Turns out that was somebody's personal vehicle and they obviously turned me away. Then, she said she'd called for the shuttle, and it would be there in 20 minutes. (By then there were 5 of us, and one guy was bleeding heavily.) That shuttle never came, and all the volunteers nearby kept telling us 20 min, 20 min, 20 min. Finally, at 12:53, 83 minutes after I'd dropped out, one of the spectators took pity on us and gave us a ride. Somebody could have died on the course and I'm sure nobody would have bothered. | |
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A Runner from Los Angeles, California
(3/6/2002)
"Getting Worse With Age" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 This was my sixth running of the LA Marathon over the last 11 years and it is not improving as the years go by. While the course is flatter than last year, it travels through rather uninspiring and downright ugly areas of the city for most of the route. There should be clocks at every mile. Miles should be properly measured, at least one, mile four was off significantly. There should be enough water and gatorade and adequate toilets. Didn't expect a gourmet buffet at the finish line, but for a major marathon the refreshments, etc. were a bit lacking. There is no excuse for these details to be overlooked. The marathon should start on time. While there were regular announcements that the start's delay was due to 'clearing the course', to those of us who were nearer the front of the start and could see what was going on, it appeared more like the start was delayed so that photo taking of dignitaries standing at the starting stage could occur. Let the runners run and take pictures another time. We really didn't need to be packed in for an additional half hour so they could have their pictures in the papers. And don't make flimsy 'clearing the course' excuses. It was a hot enough morning and only getting worse. The finish line bottle-neck and mess at reunion areas was also disappointing. The greatness of spectators and the massive number of participants make this a good marathon, particularly for first timers. The organizers however, considering all the resources they have to work with, do a poor job. As for me, number six was the last. Despite the convenience of a hometown run, there are too many more favorable alternatives. Los Angeles really can do better than this. | |
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A Runner from SoCal
(3/5/2002)
"LA is a top marathon, however....." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is my 2nd LA and 7th overall marathon and it ranks well up there as far as the crowds and excitement goes but there are some areas that really need to be improved. This is supposed to be a walker friendly marathon and there are a lot of walkers that participate. However, they start opening up the roads to traffic way too early and start closely up aid stations long before the masses are through. I didn't have any problems here (I'm a 4hr marathoner) but my wife (who was doing her first marathon) was very dissappointed in the lack of support for the back of the packers. Also, the finish line area was VERY crowded and needs to be improved. The runners were funneled through a small opening in the fence that was meant to keep spectators out and it became a horrible long wait after running a marathon. Also, the post-race goodies were nothing to write home about. I'm hoping that since this was the first year for the new finish area it was just growing pains and they will improve on some of these course related issues before next year. I would do this one again but mostly because of the crowds, they are the best! | |
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A Runner from Culver City, California
(3/5/2002)
"Gatorade?" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Suspicious packages and hot weather can't be helped, but no gatorade as promised for anybody running slower than 4.5 hours is not right. Many of us were counting on gatorade at every odd mile. I was running a 5.25 hour run and the only place I had gatorade after mile 9 was on the soles of my shoes. How very disappointing. Next year, I hope the organizers do the right thing and provide equal services for all the runners who pay equal entry fees. | |
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A Runner from Los Angeles, CA, USA
(3/5/2002)
"Nothing beats a 'BIG CITY' marathon!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 LA '02 was my first marathon and it won't be my last. Nothing can compare to the crowds of a big city marathon for the encouragement and energy from the positive vibes of the citizens of LA. The new course is good, but save some for the last half because it's uphill. | |
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A Runner from USA, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
(3/4/2002)
"Service could have been better" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 For this to have been the 17th run, I found that the following could have been improved by now: not enough restroom stops, just like you have volunteers handing out water, you should have them hand out toilet paper. Do anything you can to comfort the runners & walkers. Finally, the most disappointing of all, you ran out of medals. I witnesed three teens & a kid around nine years old in tears. Myself, this was my first marathon also, and i was disappointed. I have done the bike tour four times & have some of the same complaints. You charge a late fee when we are not on time, what do we charge for no metal when we've paid our money? They started cleaning up the course so early which was not fair to the walkers that were still on the trail. It was loud & distracting, and the trucks gave off a nasty smell. What was up with that. Sincerely, Disappointed |
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