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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: 473 [displaying comments 151 to 161]
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D. K. from Chicago, IL
(6/1/2009)
"In two words: JUST OK" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 LA was only my second marathon (Chicago was my first), but it left me wishing I had gotten a lot more for spending over $115 bucks. The course was super boring (except the beginning and end, which someone else mentioned). The coolest part of the current course would have been running through USC, but since it was in May, there weren't any students there to watch the race anyway. Overall, there were a fair amount of spectators, but not as many as Chicago. I went to the expo on the second day, so I realize that people were tired, but the volunteers had no idea where anything was. I found the packet pick-up on my own, but no one told me where to go next. One guy even told me he was sure I had everything I needed and I turned around to find a whole other station that I hadn't gone to yet. Totally disorganized. Other than that, everything was just ok. I ran the race and scored a PR, so I can't be unhappy about that. Bottom line, I would have been completely happy with this course for half the price, but $115+ is way too much for what the course provides. My advice: save your money and run somewhere cheaper, or at least somewhere that gives you value to warrant an entry fee of over $100. | |
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b. q. from San Francisco, CA
(5/29/2009)
"Consider a Better Course..." (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 As a seasoned marathoner (this was my 24th), I was disappointed that my 1st LA Marathon was a yawner. The route was boring, and there was no sense of the REAL LA to look at except at the start and finish. Did I really pay $130 to run through residential neighborhoods?? I will run this race again ONLY if the course and date change. | |
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C. M. from Yuba City, CA
(5/29/2009)
"A Great Experience" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 3rd marathon, and overall it was a great experience. Fun expo, great weather, great course, great fans. Well organized, especially given the huge number of runners. The course provides a glimpse of parts of LA that most people would never see but for the marathon. The complaints below are not well founded at all. I appreciate the Monday date to counter all of the big-city Sunday marathons. | |
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L. J. from Boise, Idaho
(5/28/2009)
"Had my hesitations..." (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Based on previous comments, I was really nervous about signing up for this marathon. I do believe that the organizers listened and delivered a superb marathon with a few exceptions. Why were walkers allowed to start with the four-hour marathoners? There was definitely enough water and potties. THANK YOU. Excellent spectators!!! Medal was great, but why no finisher shirts? It was very humid, and thanks for the fire hydrants misting the runners - otherwise I might have really had a problem. If it were in March or earlier, I might run it again, but never again in May. | |
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B. B. from Los Angeles area
(5/27/2009)
"Great route; lousy time of year - lucky wth weathe" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 2 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This route was a lot better than last year. I do believe that the bathroom situation was a lot better than last year also. Thanks to all of the spectators. We got lucky with the weather, but in general, this end-of-May date is not going to work. It's actually dangerous. Let's go back to March. This was my third overall marathon - and I do love LA!!!!!! | |
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K. F. from Los Angeles, CA
(5/26/2009)
"Course and race were great; expo was terrible" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 The new ownership got wise and returned the course to its downtown start and finish loop that has been very popular in the past. Race-day organization was great, as usual; however, the expo was not. There were huge lines, confusion getting the right shirts at the counter, and goody bags still being prepared while people waited for them. Absolute chaos. Then, those who ordered a pre-printed shirt, were treated to stand in a separate line for over an hour to get it. Several folks like me were informed (after the hour-long wait) that the pre-printed shirts in my size (men's XL) were sold out. How can a shirt that I pre-ordered and pre-paid $30 for be sold out?? Could they have at least called or emailed me, using my provided info with that bit of news, and at least offered a refund before I stood in line? I understand that organizing a marathon, particularly a big-city marathon, is a huge undertaking, so I tend to give organizers the benefit of the doubt before complaining about anything, but this expo and the customer service by the LA Marathon official store were completely unacceptable. | |
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P. P. from Fresno
(5/26/2009)
"I love LA" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 My second LA Marathon, and 12th overall. There were a few small glitches for a big race and for the new organizers. I loved the Clif pace team. GO, MIKE! | |
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L. T. from Tempe, AZ
(5/26/2009)
"WORST race EVER." (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I am a very seasoned marathoner, and I can say with no hesitation that this was the worst marathon I have ever run - not only because there was NO start line fuel (not even water or coffee!), but also NO GU or gel on the course. I paid $130 and I can't even get that? Also, the volunteers were not able to answer many logistics at all. I asked where the bag drop was; NONE of them knew anything. When I eventually found it, there was a TINY, makeshift sign noting the location. GREAT logistics. The course was the most freak accident of planning ever. Not nice. Crowd support was good, though. Based on these things, I will certainly tell my fellow runner friends to not even begin to think about wasting their time and money on this race. | |
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C. B. from Las Vegas
(5/17/2009)
"Awesome" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The weather, the scenery, the atmosphere, and the environment were all first-class. Great expo too! It simply is one of the best locations to go for a run. It will be on my list annually! | |
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d. v. from los angeles ca usa
(3/15/2009)
"Why did they change the course??" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 4-5 City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)s
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I really enjoyed the 2008 course. I don't agree with the new date for the 2009 Los Angeles City Marathon. My first marathon in 2004 was in Marc, and the temperature was 100 degrees F. Just imagine what will be in May!!!! What went through the organizers' minds??? The starting time was modified to begin earlier. For elite runners, that's great, but only about 1% of the runners will be running under 3:30. How about the other 99%??? I'm not trying to offend anyone; I'm just trying to make the organizer do work and organize the race better. By the way, 2008 was excellent, and the weather was great!! |
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