Los Angeles Marathon
Sunday, March 7, 2027 · Los Angeles, USA · 6:41 AM (Elite Women); 7:00 AM (Elite Men + Masses)
Updated May 12, 2026
The 'Morgan & Morgan Marathon Chase': elite women start 15-18 minutes before elite men; first runner to cross the finish line claims a $10,000 bonus. Drives unusual late-race tactical pursuits.
LA Marathon elevation gain
The LA Marathon has 955 ft (291 m) of elevation gain and 1168 ft (356 m) of loss over 26.2 miles (42.195 km).
Is the LA Marathon hard?
Moderately. The LA Marathon scores 5.4/10 on the Kenyan Running Difficulty Index, the 4th hardest of the 12 marathons we rate.
The median race-day temperature is 12°C (54°F).
The score is built from four factors: hills, race-day weather, turns and bridges, and the late miles where a runner is most likely to lose time. See the score breakdown.
Pacing the LA Marathon
Training for the LA Marathon?
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Coach Michael Kimani Kamau finished 2nd at the 2026 LA Marathon. It was the closest finish in race history. He led by 56 seconds at the 40K mark (his 40K split was 2:03:40 vs Nathan Martin's 2:04:36). Martin closed the gap with a finishing kick in the final 200 meters. Michael fell at the finish line. Martin won by 0.01 seconds.
Match with a Kenyan coach for this race →The score breakdown
The Kenyan Running Difficulty Index combines four weighted factors. The heaviest weight (35%) is on Tactical Brutality. That is what a Kenyan coach watches first: where the field actually blows up.
- Atmospheric Stress reflects Santa Ana wind exposure and historic temperature variability for March Los Angeles.
- Marathon Chase format adds tactical dimension not captured in standard scoring.
Score confidence: preliminary. Computed from public course, weather, and prize data.
Course profile
- Elevation gain
- 291m / 955ft
- Elevation loss
- 356m / 1168ft
- Surface
- paved smooth
- Late-stage climbs (after mile 18)
- Rolling terrain through Westwood and the final approach to Century City; no single dominant late-stage climb.
- Profile notes
- Point-to-point 'Stadium to the Stars' course from Dodger Stadium to Century City. Net downhill (~213ft) but with rolling terrain producing 955ft total ascent and 1,168ft total descent.
Race day
- Date
- Sunday, March 7, 2027
- Start time
- 6:41 AM (Elite Women); 7:00 AM (Elite Men + Masses)
- Field size (approx.)
- 22,000
- Time limit
- 8 hours (for official timing)
Weather (historical)
- Median temp
- 12°C
- Wind
- Region frequently encounters Santa Ana conditions (dry offshore winds creating aerodynamic drag)
- Notable weather events
- 2023 featured light drizzle and unusually cool temperatures
Prize money
- Total purse
- $100,000
- Winner
- $6K
- 2nd / 3rd
- $2.5K / $1.5K
- Notes
- Marathon Chase winner receives an additional $10,000. Note: smallest winner's prize in the set ($6K). Total compensation for winner who also wins the Chase: $16K.
Course records
Recent winners
Top East African winners (Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda) across the last 9 verified editions: 7 men, 7 women.
| Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Nathan Martin (USA) | 2:11:16.50 | Priscah Cherono (KEN) | 2:25:19 |
| 2025 | Matt Richtman (USA) | 2:07:56 | Tejinesh Tulu (ETH) | 2:30:16 |
| 2023 | Jemal Yimer (ETH) | 2:13:13 | Stacy Ndiwa (KEN) | 2:31:00 |
| 2022 | John Korir (KEN) | 2:09:07 | Delvine Meringor (KEN) | 2:25:03 |
| 2021 | John Korir (KEN) | 2:12:48 | Natasha Cockram (GBR) | 2:33:17 |
| 2018 | Weldon Kirui (KEN) | 2:11:47 | Sule Gedo (ETH) | 2:33:50 |
| 2017 | Elisha Barno (KEN) | 2:11:52 | Hellen Jepkurgat (KEN) | 2:34:23 |
| 2016 | Weldon Kirui (KEN) | 2:13:07 | Nataliya Lehonkova (UKR) | 2:30:40 |
| 2015 | Daniel Limo (KEN) | 2:10:36 | Ogla Kimaiyo (KEN) | 2:34:10 |
Training for LA Marathon?
A static plan is a starting point. What changes when a Kenyan coach reads your week-by-week training is the part a generic plan can't do. Take the free 5-question quiz to get matched.
Sources
- https://abc7.com/post/matt-richtman-illinois-becomes-1st-american-man-win-los-angeles-marathon-31-years/16033566/
- https://www.lamarathon.com/
- https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/2026-la-marathon-finish-nathan-martin/3858557/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/los-angeles-marathon-2026-results/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Martin
- https://athleticsillustrated.com/nathan-martin-wins-in-virtual-tie-as-priscah-cherono-dominates-the-2026-los-angeles-marathon/