2013 media guide - LA Marathon

ABOUT THE RACE
ABOUT THE RACE
Start Line Map
History
The ASICS LA Marathon was an offshoot of the successful 1984 Los Angeles Summer
Olympic Games, an event that revolutionized the Olympic Movement with more
than 30,000 volunteers. The Los Angeles City Council asked for bids for the event in
1985, and the inaugural race was held in 1986.
There was an overwhelming turnout of 10,787 registrants, making the race the
largest first-­‐time marathon in the U.S. From there, the race has been an important
fixture on the U.S. marathon calendar. In late 2004, the original organizers, Los
Angeles Marathon, Inc., sold the race to Devine Racing, which operated the
marathon from 2005 to 2008. The race was sold to Going the Distance, LLC in late
2008; the rights to the race are now owned by a successor company, LA
MARATHON LLC, with Frank McCourt as sole shareholder.
Milestones
The 27 editions of the ASICS LA Marathon have been filled with many milestones:
Year
Marathon Milestones
1985 The Los Angeles City Council asks for proposals to stage a City of Los
Angeles Marathon, and selects Los Angeles Marathon, Inc. to organize
the race.
1986 Los Angeles Marathon I is held on a loop course beginning and ending on
Figueroa Street, in front of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. A crowd
of 10,747 runners registered to participate with 7,581 finishers, led by
Americans Ric Sayre (2:12:59) and Nancy Ditz (2:36:27).
1987 Students Run L.A. is created by Boyle Heights High School teacher Harry
Shabazian, who after participating in the inaugural race in 1986, gathers
six students to train for the 1987 edition.
For the 1988 race, Shabazian’s work catches the attention of Aliso
Continuation High School teachers Eric Spears and Paul Trapani, who
implements the program at their school. Today, thousands of students
are part of this six-­‐month training program.
Pictured: Runners leave the
starting gates at Dodger
Stadium to start the 2012 race.
(Credit: Jim Safford)
1990 A Senior Walk of 5,000 meters is introduced on the day before the
Marathon on the UCLA campus, along with a 5K race the next day that
finishes in the Coliseum. These events grow into the LA 5K Run/Walk,
held each year.
1995 The Los Angeles Bike Tour debuts, with more than 12,000 cyclists taking
part despite a heavy downpour.
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MEDIA GUIDE
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