LOS ANGELES - (November 21, 2000) - "A year to shine" is the theme for the
16th running of the City of Los Angeles Marathon presented by Honda and
broadcast live on UPN-13 on March 4, 2001. While the event traditionally
brings out the best in its participants and the people of Los Angeles, the
invitation to "shine" will inspire an even greater sense of community as
the 26.2 mile course winds its way through the multi-cultural heart of the
city. The theme is also inspired by the record 23,000 participants in L.A.
Marathon XV, who braved torrential rains averaging an inch an hour at the
start, only to finish the race in brilliant sunshine. It was the first
sell-out in L.A. Marathon history.
L.A. Marathon XVI may well be the last on the current course as an
exploratory committee has been formed to chart a new direction for one of
the nation's largest participatory event. Several options are being
discussed including the possibility of a point-to-point course and
modification of the existing course to eliminate some or all of the hills
in the last half of the race. The current course passes Staples Center,
the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Koreatown, Hancock Park and the world
famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood on the way back to the start/finish
line in downtown Los Angeles. Plans for the new course will be announced
following the 2001 race.
The City of Los Angeles Marathon is in equal parts a "people's race" and a
prestigious sporting event featuring elite athletes from around the world.
The current course record is 2:09:25 set in 1999 by Simon Bor of Kenya.
With the possible change of course in future years, elite athletes will be
attempting to break the current record for a $35,000 cash prize, a $25,000
bonus for breaking 2:09 and a new Honda Accord V-6 valued at $25,100. An
impressive field of wheelchair athletes is also being recruited for the
2001 race led by the incredible Saul Mendoza of Mexico, who has won the
race the past four years.
Runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes from all fifty states and some
one hundred nations will take to the streets for the world's most
entertaining Marathon. Throughout its history, the City of Los Angeles
Marathon has set and raised the standard for more entertainment per mile
than any marathon in the world. For the 2001 race, continuous live
entertainment at ten Entertainment Centers will inspire runners along the
way, as will the more than 85 groups participating in the Marathon of
Music at curbside locations throughout the 26.2 mile course. Runners will
cross the line into the Gas Company sponsored Finish Line Festival, where
live music, food and fun will await.
A full schedule of race day events tailored to people of all ages and
levels of ability has helped to establish the City of Los Angeles Marathon
as the nation's largest participatory event. In his final year as Mayor,
the honorable Richard J. Riordan, for the seventh straight year, will lead
a pack of more than 15,000 cyclists on a tour of traffic-free city streets
in the Acura L.A. Bike Tour VII starting and finishing in Exposition Park.
Shortly after the start of the wheelchair and hand-cranked wheelchair
divisions at 8:20am and 8:33, well over 20,000 runners and walkers will be
on hand for the thrilling start of the City of Los Angeles Marathon at
8:45am. One hour after the start of L.A. Marathon XVI, thousands of
additional participants will gather in front of the Staples Center for the
9:45am start of the L.A. Marathon 5K Run/Walk.
Race week will begin with the three day Quality of Life Expo presented by
Sprint PCS from March 1- 3 in Kentia Hall at the Los Angeles Convention
Center. Upwards of 80,000 people and over 400 exhibitors will gather for
this showcase of the finest in running, cycling and fitness and what
Competitor Magazine calls "one of the best Expos in the country." Another
race week highlight is the traditional Carbo Load Dinner, returning to
Macy's Plaza on Saturday, March 3 with seatings at 4:30pm and 6:00pm.
The City of Los Angeles Marathon's commitment to community is evident in
its development and support of: The L.A. Roadrunners
(www.laroadrunners.com) sponsored by City of Angels Medical Center and
Sparkletts, a proven training program with a 99% + success rate that has
helped more than 12,000 people finish the L.A. Marathon since its
inception in 1988; The official L.A. Marathon Charity Program, which
annually raises more than a million dollars for fifty worthwhile concerns;
and Students Run LA (www.srla.com) a nationally recognized program that
trains middle school and high school students to run and finish the L.A.
Marathon. Also returning for 2001 is Running Buddies, a first of its kind
program in the world innovated by the City of Los Angeles Marathon, which
offers marathoners fully-supported, weekly organized runs in the final
stages of training.
The City of Los Angeles Marathon enjoys a longstanding relationship with
presenting sponsor Honda. UPN-13 will offer five hours of live coverage
for the 16th straight year. Other longtime sponsors of the event include
American Airlines, City of Angels Medical Center, The Gas Company (a
Sempra Energy Company), Saucony, Sparkletts and Sprint PCS.
For applications and information for all City of Los Angeles Marathon
events, call (310) 444-5544 or visit
www.lamarathon.com.
# # #
Special thanks to
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator for providing us this press
release.
USATF Road Running Information Center
5522 Camino Cerralvo, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252
http://www.runningusa.org
http://www.usaldr.org
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