ASICS Los Angeles Marathon
The ASICS Los Angeles Marathon is a 26.2-mile road race held in Los Angeles, typically in late winter or spring. It originated from the city’s Olympic growth and has been conducted in its present format since 1986. With approximately 26,000 participants, it is one of the five largest marathons in the United States. The race covers the standard marathon distance on city streets, with elite runners, mass-field participants, and charity teams competing together. Los Angeles hosted marathon-length races prior to the current series, under names like the Griffith Park Marathon, Los Angeles Lite Marathon, and Los Angeles Police Marathon. The inaugural race of the current series attracted 11,000 entrants, setting a record for the largest debut field for a marathon, despite operating at a significant financial loss. An unusual event occurred when a leading finisher was disqualified for taking a shortcut through a service station, awarding the victory to Lornah Kiplagat in her first marathon. The McCourt Foundation now utilizes the marathon to fundraise alongside other charitable organizations.
