Spring Marathons in Los Angeles, CA

While the rest of the country has been digging out from months of winter snow, SoCal residents have been able enjoy a much milder introduction to spring. If you’re one of the thousands of Los Angeles residents who spends the winter training for your spring marathon, you’ll get your chance each month with runs in scenic locales such as Griffith Park and Newport Beach.

Los Angeles Marathon

The Los Angeles Marathon, held on March 15, arrives just ahead of the official start of spring. Los Angeles residents are used to spring temperatures by the time tens of thousands of runners take to the streets to run from the starting line at Dodger Stadium to the finish point at the Santa Monica Pier.

Griffith Park Trail Marathon & Half Marathon

Running on pavement for 26.2 miles is a feat, but running along the rugged trails of Griffith Park is quite another. Held on March 28, the Griffith Park Trail Marathon has a limit of just 400 runners, and race organizers suggest entering early to score a spot. The aid stations for this challenging marathon actually come stocked with PB&J sandwiches!

OC Marathon

Held in the beautiful ocean community of Newport Beach, the OC Marathon arrives May 3 and also features a half marathon and 5K race. The course begins near the Pacific Ocean and runs along Newport Bay, after which runners head inland toward the finish near the Santa Ana Country Club. One of the coolest features of this marathon is that they offer pace leaders who will help you maintain your desired speed throughout the race.

Mountains2Beach Marathon

Just north of Los Angeles in Ventura, the Mountains2Beach Marathon is held each year in May and is a fast downhill Boston qualifier. The marathon is May 24 this year, and the full marathon sells out each year. If you miss out on the full marathon, race organizers also offer a half marathon option. The course begins in the picturesque mountain town of Ojai with several miles of running along the Pacific Ocean.

Magnificent Marathon

The Magnificent Marathon arrives May 30 and will be held in Huntington Beach. Race organizers will even let you enter the race for free if you can find a friend who will donate two hours of their time while you compete. Also, if you feel unable to complete the entire marathon, you can choose to finish a shorter distance and receive a finisher medal for the 10K or half marathon distance.

Father’s Day Run

The spring marathon season in Southern California closes out with the Father’s Day Marathon in Van Nuys. Held on June 21, race organizers describe this event as a fun run that features an easy path of four loops around a 6.55 mile path. The race has a time limit of 5.5 hours and begins at 6:15 am. However, if you anticipate needing more time to finish the race, organizers will let you begin early.

Not ready to conquer the marathon distance this spring? Don’t worry! Most of these events also feature other distances for 5K, 10K, and half-marathon races.

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