Ready, set, go register! The famous Honda Los Angele Marathon is approaching and I recommend participating; you can run or volunteer. I ran the marathon with my mom and enjoyed the experience thoroughly. Below is a picture of her and I at the finish, we ran the whole race together. I recommend running a marathon some time in your life, I am very happy I did and can now scratch it off my bucket list. If not this year, next year – the experience is well worth the fight.

The Honda Los Angele Marathon is one of the largest in the U.S. This year it winds through an eclectic mix of communities as it starts at Dodger Stadium, travels through Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and finishes just steps from the world-famous Santa Monica Pier. The “Stadium to the Sea” course will feature dozens of bands, cheerleaders, and other entertainment that will keep the energy up throughout the race. But with over 25,000 people running this year, the energy will definitely be palpable.

Cheer Alley is the Pep-Rally of the year, and is comprised of Middle and High School cheerleaders from Southern California. As runners leave Beverly Hills and head toward Mile 18, they will be greeted by hundreds of local cheerleaders making noise to encourage runners to get to the finish line. Talk about motivation! By this point, you may be tired, but over half way to the finish.

Even if you’re not a runner, you can be an invaluable part of the LA Marathon! Go out and volunteer for one of the largest running events in the country. You’ll have fun, meet great people, and enjoy the thrill of victory without having to break a sweat. Click to volunteer.

The 2012 Honda Los Angele Marathon Carbo Load Dinner will be held at the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood. Join fellow runners the day before the marathon and enjoy great food in the center of Hollywood! The dinner will take place Saturday, March 17th at 5 pm. Each dinner ticket is $35. Ticket price includes dinner and entertainment. Click for more information and to purchase tickets.

During the race there will be an army of marathon photographers on hand to make sure you can choose from several great photos of your heroic effort. You will pass through many different towns with many different landmarks. This course is like a personal foot tour of Los Angeles.

Because the Honda LA Marathon reaches from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica, there are streets in Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica that will be impacted by the race course. So make sure you plan ahead for an alternate travel route to avoid the street closures. If your home or business is on the block adjacent to the course route, slowly approach the Officers or Transportation Engineers at the location and kindly ask them for access to the street and explain to them that you live or work locally within the closure area, but not on the course route itself. Click for a complete list of street closures.

Click for a more detailed version of the map including mile markers and an elevation profile.

Click here to register for the race. You have have less than two weeks!

Everyone has different motivations for why they decide to run a marathon. My motivation was a mix of curiosity and a personal challenge. So what’s your motivation, share your story with us.

WHAT: Honda LA Marathon
WHEN: Sunday March 18, 2012 | Wheelchairs 6:55 am, Hand cycles 7:00 am, All others 7:24 am
WHERE: Los Angeles

CONTACT INFO: (213) 542-3000 | info@lamarathon.com 

Dear reader,

I appreciate your support and feedback. Please respond to this article now by leaving a comment and/or “liking” it. For exciting, up to date events in Los Angeles, subscribe to this blog via email. You can also share this article with friends and family and visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

Stick with me and I guarantee you’ll never run out of things to do because you’ll always be connected, and your friends and family will admire you.

Thank you!

Mr. Events.