Surprises in new L.A. Marathon course

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The newly planned L.A. Marathon's path will include one landmark per mile along the way.

The race will begin at Dodger Stadium and end near the Santa Monica Pier, with plenty of sightseeing opportunities in between.

The race will begin with a loop around Dodger Stadium before heading to downtown Los Angeles. It will pass El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the city's birthplace, Los Angeles City Hall and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

The course will then head west through Echo Park and Silver Lake into Hollywood, passing the Kodak Theatre and Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The field will then head south onto Sunset Boulevard, entering West Hollywood and then Beverly Hills, including running on the famed shopping street, Rodeo Drive.

The latter portions of what organizers are calling the "Stadium to the Sea" course include Century City, the Veterans Administration grounds and Brentwood's San Vicente Boulevard, concluding on Santa Monica Boulevard near the Santa Monica Pier.

Race officials reached agreements with Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Santa Monica to have the marathon go through those cities for the first time.

The new course, which is described as having a landmark every mile, is part of an effort by its new owners, a group controlled by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, to renew interest in the race.

Organizers expect enrollment for next year's race to hit a record of about 25,000.

The new course also includes a 400-foot drop in elevation from start to finish, which should mean faster times.

The race is scheduled for March 21, 2010.

Interactive map: L.A. Marathon Route

CNS contributed to this report.

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