Cycling & running events in Los Angeles, 2026

Los Angeles Training Notes

Running: Locals run Griffith Park when they want dirt, fire roads, Observatory loops, and that classic push behind the Hollywood sign. Runyon Canyon gives short, punchy climbs near Franklin and Fuller, while Silver Lake Reservoir, Echo Park Lake, Lake Hollywood Reservoir, and Elysian Park keep easy miles social. The Strand and Ballona Creek handle long Z2 days, and San Vicente works for quality sessions with a subtle incline. BlacklistLA, Koreatown Run Club, DTLA Running Group, Pasadena Pacers, LA Frontrunners, and L.A. Leggers keep the calendar full. The Los Angeles Marathon is the anchor event, with Turkey Trot LA 2026 and Venice Beach Half Marathon and 5k in the mix.

Cycling: Locals ride from the beach to the canyons, then pretend the climbing was the plan all along. PCH, Malibu, Palos Verdes, Marina del Rey to San Vicente, and the beach bike path through Hermosa cover base miles and fast group work. Griffith Park gravel rides stay close, while Angeles National Forest and the Santa Monica Mountains bring singletrack-adjacent gravel, steep fire roads, and proper gran fondo legs. Mt. Baldy, Mt Wilson, Mt Lowe, Angeles Crest Hwy, Saddle Peak, Latigo, Encinal, Deer Creek, and Glendora Mountain Road hold the climbs. RCCLA, Velo Club La Grange, LA Wheelmen, Pasadena Athletic Association, Montrose Ride, NOW Ride, and Critical Mass keep riders moving.

Season: Los Angeles trains year-round, but locals treat the calendar like a map of microclimates. Winter and spring make Topanga State Park, the Santa Monica Mountains, and the San Gabriel Mountains lush and in bloom, so trail runs, gravel days, and long climbs feel best then. August is the hottest month, and September and October can still bring heatwaves, so coastal routes matter. The beach runs about 10 degrees cooler than inland, which makes The Strand, Ballona Creek, PCH, and Santa Monica smart picks for summer Z2. Winter stays mild, and mountain weather can change quickly above elevation.