LA Marathon 2022

The race included an estimated 15000 runners from around the country — and the world — covering a 26.2-mile course through L.A. neighborhoods.

Runners cross the finish line on Avenue of the Stars in Century City during the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday. “We love being a part of this.” A runner crosses the finish line on Avenue of the Stars in Century City during the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, March 20, 2022. Runners take off from Dodger Stadium on Sunday during the 37th annual Los Angeles Marathon. Most participants in the marathon were expected to take three to five hours to complete the course from downtown Los Angeles to the finish line in Century City. But the elite runners typically finish the race in a little more than two hours.Runners enjoyed ideal weather conditions, with sunny skies and comfortable temperatures — highs in the mid-70s — forecast for much of the day. “But I run 10 miles every morning, and I only drank on St. Patrick’s Day.”After the adrenaline wears off, she said her next stop will be a bar.“I’m going to start drinking on the Westside,” she said. Tyner said the group consists of around 100 LAFC fans from throughout Southern California, who all share a passion for soccer and running.“This is the perfect place for our community to be with runners from all over the area and to be with LAFC fans from all over,” he said.Tyner said the group entered about 25 runners in November’s marathon and scaled down to 10 this time to give many, including himself, a break. “It was pretty easy until the 19th mile.“Despite her impressive finish, the 26-year-old Mar Vista resident says she didn’t do anything special to prepare for the race other than run a lot, as she usually does, and limit her drinking of alcohol.“I ran 20 miles two weeks ago to see if I could do it,” she said. She was met just past the finish line with hugs from family members.A few minutes later, she spoke to the crowd from the winner’s podium with an American flag draped around her neck.“I’m proud of working through the hard parts of this course,” she said. It was a lot lonelier than I thought it would be,” she said near the finish line Sunday morning with her new L.A. Marathon medal around her neck. Last year’s race was moved from March to November because of the pandemic.The group previously participated in the Rose Bowl Half Marathon in January and Las Vegas’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon last month.“We’re excited about our runners out there, but also just excited to see our group grow and be a part of this iconic event,” he said.In Century City, Amanda Phillips, 36, said she traveled from her home in Hood River, Ore., to compete in Sunday’s marathon. The elder Navarro had yet to reach the 11-mile marker near Hollywood and Highland by 9 a.m.“He’s been training for this for a while, so I know he wants to do well,” Navarro said.Wearing a Mt. San Antonio College sweatshirt, where he works, Navarro clasped his brother’s 2021 L.A. Marathon medal as he searched the crowd for his face.Last year’s time was imprinted on the medal — 4 hours, 37 minutes and 4 seconds — and Albert Navarro said he believed that his brother would surpass that time this year.When asked if he would consider joining his brother on the course next year, Albert Navarro laughed underneath his black surgical mask.“I would have to train for a year for that,” he said. “And we’re running with our arms.”Minami said she has been with the group since the early ‘90s and remembers when the route would pass by Little Tokyo and the band would start on one side of the street, and quickly hop over to the opposite side to catch those nearing the end.She said the new location is easier on the band but tougher on the competitors because of 1st Street’s steep incline.“I think that’s why we’re here,” she said. A runner in Native American costume dances in front of drummers on 1st Street in downtown Los Angeles during the 37th annual Los Angeles Marathon. “This is the steepest part and the cheers really help,” said spectator Jess Gonzalez, 33, holding her dog, Shark. Gonzalez and her cousin, Zafer Jelil, woke up at 4 a.m. and drove from their West Valley home to downtown so they could cheer on Gonzalez’s fiancé, Edgar.As a former competitor, Gonzalez said this year’s marathon felt special because it was post-pandemic and because her fiancé, who is Ukrainian, would be running with his country’s flag.She and her cousin held up a sign offering encouragement: “Go! Go! Go! Edgar!”About 8:45 a.m., the Koshin Taiko band took a quick break from playing their drums.