Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?

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2008-09-18 12:09 PM

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Champion
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Northridge, California
Subject: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?
So the word is that--now that a sale of the race has been agreed to--LA Marathon is moving to Monday, President's Day...two weeks earlier than its usual first Sunday in March slot. Sucks for me, since that isn't a designated holiday where I work (and hasn't been other places I've worked, so I assume I'm not the only runner in LA getting the royal screw job by this decision). My wife had decided to go for it this year...first marathon...and I was looking forward to the sub-4 corral for the first time.

And then there's the little matter of how much higher the chance of bad weather is in February than March in LA.

Just don't really get the thinking behind this move this close to a race where the date had already been announced and registration opened.

2008-09-18 1:14 PM
in reply to: #1682296

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Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?

That is just stupid.  On a Monday?  Even if it is a holiday, as you said, not everyone gets that off, so traffic issues, not to mention being able to do it

And moving it earlier....  makes no sense to put it smack in the middle of winter (altho if the temps are good could be great running weather.....)

2008-09-18 6:54 PM
in reply to: #1682296

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Regular
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Sherman Oaks
Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?

Just saw the news of the sale of the marathon to Frank McCourt.  I'm not a big Dodgers fan, but apparently all the old-school fans (and maybe all the Dodgers fans, who knows) really hate the guy.  I agree it really sucks to have it on a Monday.  Many people will have their traffic routes cut-off with the street closures if they are still working that day.

I wouldn't mind having the marathon for the Sunday of that weekend.  I actually get the day off on Monday, so it'd be nice to rest a bit the day after...

 

2008-09-18 8:59 PM
in reply to: #1682296

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Hollywood, CA
Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?
Yeah I agree this sucks... no days to recover before working again... and too much anticipation over the whole weekend!!
2008-09-18 11:42 PM
in reply to: #1682296

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Master
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Santa Clarita
Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?

I only did this race once and will not do it again because it just gets too hot .  

The race  does not get going until  8:30-8:40 am and temps  were already in the mid 80F  by the halfway point. 

For me moving the race earlier in the year   increases  the chance of cooler weather  ,

Shifting the  start time to 7 am would be another great improvement. 

Streets could then reopen 1 1/2  hour  earlier and the let folks go about their business

Who would not want a mid 40F start  with a mid 50F finish . 

2008-09-20 11:08 PM
in reply to: #1682296

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Expert
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Orange County, California
Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?
McCourt brought a lot of the Red Sox/ Boston front office with him to LA.

Looks like he is trying to do the the Boston Marathon on Patriots Day = Monday, thing.

2008-09-22 5:59 PM
in reply to: #1682296

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Santa Clarita, ca
Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?
I agree with van paulus...I did this as my first marathon last year and have no desire to do it again (though I still need to find a marathon to do around that time)!

Started too late, poorly organized and I am really not excited enough about LA that I want to suffer for 31/2 hours.

That being said, if I was crazy and did it again, I'd rather have it 2 weeks earlier, though Monday is really a cracked out idea
2008-09-23 9:08 AM
in reply to: #1682296

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Mountain View, CA
Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?
Can you provide a source for the info? I've been on the fence between LA and Napa, and I want to have official confirmation before I dump LA and sign up for Napa.
2008-09-23 10:36 AM
in reply to: #1682296

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Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?
You might want to look at the Huntington Beach Surf City Marathon. Its Feb 1st 09 so a month before LA. The nice thing is the marathon is limited to 2000 runners so you don't get the 25k+ crowd that you do at LA. It was pouring down rain last year but im still glad I chose it over LA.
2008-09-23 10:59 AM
in reply to: #1682296

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Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?

 

I would choose Napa in a heartbeat , Many from our Running Club have traveled up north rather than do the local race : Los Angeles .

 

Here is a news clip about this date change  

Dodgers to take over Los Angeles Marathon

Daily News
Article Last Updated: 09/18/2008 09:49:41 AM PDT

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The Los Angeles Marathon is getting a new owner, which wants to start a new tradition by moving race day to Monday from Sunday so it falls on Presidents Day.

The City Council's Budget and Finance Committee on Wednesday approved a deal for the Los Angeles Dodgers to take over the marathon, working through a company known as Going The Distance. The company acquired the marathon rights from Devine Racing Los Angeles. Under the plans, the race will move from March to February and be staged on Presidents Day. Next year, that will fall on Feb. 16.

There are no plans to change the race route, said Howard Sunkin, a vice president with the Dodgers.

Also as part of the agreement, the Dodgers and Going The Distance will pay the city more than $500,000 that is owed for the past three years.

2008-09-24 4:04 PM
in reply to: #1690581

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Mountain View, CA
Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?
van_paulus - 2008-09-23 8:59 AM

 

I would choose Napa in a heartbeat , Many from our Running Club have traveled up north rather than do the local race : Los Angeles .

 

Here is a news clip about this date change  

Dodgers to take over Los Angeles Marathon

Daily News
Article Last Updated: 09/18/2008 09:49:41 AM PDT

var requestedWidth = 0;
if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; }

The Los Angeles Marathon is getting a new owner, which wants to start a new tradition by moving race day to Monday from Sunday so it falls on Presidents Day.

The City Council's Budget and Finance Committee on Wednesday approved a deal for the Los Angeles Dodgers to take over the marathon, working through a company known as Going The Distance. The company acquired the marathon rights from Devine Racing Los Angeles. Under the plans, the race will move from March to February and be staged on Presidents Day. Next year, that will fall on Feb. 16.

There are no plans to change the race route, said Howard Sunkin, a vice president with the Dodgers.

Also as part of the agreement, the Dodgers and Going The Distance will pay the city more than $500,000 that is owed for the past three years.


Good to know, and thanks for the source. I've been leaning toward Napa for a number of reasons (proximity, the fact that I can stay with a friend, it's gorgeous with good weather, etc.) but this will probably push me off the fence and get me to put down the money.

2008-10-10 1:22 AM
in reply to: #1682296

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Regular
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Sherman Oaks
Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?
So the website is now "changed" with a temporary page that is setup announcing the new date of the marathon.  I emailed the guys and asked if I could get a refund haha... I may choose a different race to train for instead now.
2008-10-10 2:43 PM
in reply to: #1682296

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Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?

I did the LA Marathon last year and frankly there are parts of this city that I just didn't need to be running through EVER let alone on a marathon day.  Total crap. 

And now this Monday business, it's just stupid.  I do need a marathon around this time though...has anybody done the marathon in Austin?  Its the same weekend.
2008-10-10 4:19 PM
in reply to: #1682296

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Champion
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Northridge, California
Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?
Unfortunately, my wife and I--unlike a lot of triathletes--don't have the money or free time to do a lot of out-of-town races; most of what we have is already allocated to Wildflower and my wife racing Vineman 70.3. And LA was a training target for both of us (as it is for a lot of LA runners, of course), so our training calendar was already built around it to a large degree. We're going ahead with it this year, but it'll probably be the last time.
2008-10-10 7:10 PM
in reply to: #1682296

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Veteran
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Los Angeles
Subject: RE: Anyone else boned by LA Marathon?
That is really goofy on the organizers part... The race isn't all that great (poor organization, expensive, and long boring stretches) and now can add inconvenient to the list. Sounds like a good reason to check out the other races.
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