Runners, Take Your Mark: Honda LA Marathon Kicks Off Registration for 2012 Race

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In Los Angeles, it's 26.2 miles to stardom. And runners can now secure their spots on the starting line by signing up for the 2012 Honda LA Marathon to be held on Sunday, March 18th. The race is expected to draw in excess of 25,000 participants for the third running of the marathon's wildly successful "Stadium to the Sea" route, which takes runners from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier, with a highlight reel of sights in between: famous districts such as Chinatown and Little Tokyo; iconic areas including the Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive; and noteworthy L.A. landmarks Walt Disney Concert Hall, Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Capitol Records Building and many more.

Following a successful 2011 race in which Ethiopia's Markos Geneti set a new race record of 2:06:35 despite wet weather, organizers anticipate an even larger and more diverse field of runners from across California, throughout the United States and around the world. Runners will reach the starting line as spring hits Los Angeles, enjoying an iconic course that takes advantage of Southern California's signature assets: beautiful beaches, palm tree-lined streets and countless sights along the way.

"This is a world-class route that is fast and fun, whether you're an elite runner or a first-time marathoner," said LA MARATHON LLC Chief Operating Officer Nick Curl. "There's no better way to see Southern California than running the streets of Los Angeles from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica, with so many great neighborhoods in between. Building on two years of experience with this fantastic course, the 2012 race is shaping up to be our best yet."

Registration is open on the Honda LA Marathon's official website – www.lamarathon.com – as of Monday, August 1st at 9:00 a.m. PDT. The event's $145 registration fee covers participation in the race and related activities, including admission to a two-day pre-race expo at Dodger Stadium (March 16-17), free runner shuttles to the race start, on-course nourishment and support, a spectacular finish line festival, a technical participant t-shirt, a collectible finisher's medal and much more.

As an added bonus, the first 1,000 runners to sign up for the 2012 race will receive 25 percent off Honda LA Marathon-branded gear from marathon sponsor K-Swiss. Details may be found at the marathon's website, and will be emailed to runners after they sign-up.

In a concentrated effort to give back to the community, the marathon actively encourages runners to get involved with this year's "I Run 4 Something" charity campaign. Building on last year's success, the 2012 event anticipates the involvement of 70 official charities, with a collective fundraising goal of $4 million. Thousands of runners lacing up for a cause will be assisted by actor and activist Edward Norton's Crowdrise.com, an innovative fundraising platform that makes it possible for runners to raise money for any qualified charity of their choosing. Registered runners – and anyone interested in donating – can visit crowdrise.com/HondaLAMarathon2012 to get started.

When runners register for the marathon, they may also sign up for the marathon's official training program, the LA Roadrunners, which begins on Saturday, September 10th. In preparation for the 2011 race, more than 1,500 people took part in LA Roadrunners, which features weekly group training runs, support and information. This year, the LA Roadrunners will add a new location in Westlake Village, building on its successful Venice Beach and Chino Hills programs. Those who sign up for both the race and LA Roadrunners receive a substantial discount on the training program.

The world-class "Stadium to the Sea" course debuted in 2010, and marked the first time the race had extended beyond the City of Los Angeles' boundaries. In so doing, it created a unique partnership among four cities—Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica—and the federal government at the Veterans' Administration property in West Los Angeles. Marathon officials intend to build on that partnership to create an ever-better experience in 2012 for participants, spectators, residents, businesses, and the non-profits that benefit from the race.

ABOUT LA MARATHON LLC

We inspire athletes and connect communities.  With thousands of volunteers, tens of thousands of participants, and hundreds of thousands of spectators, the Honda LA Marathon is one of the largest organized road races in the country.

SOURCE LA MARATHON LLC