Santa Monica is the Finish Line for the Los Angeles Marathon on March 8
February 24, 2020 9:00 AM
by Constance Farrell
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Sunday, March 8 is the 2020 Los Angeles Marathon sponsored by ASICS. The race will begin at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and will run through the neighboring cities of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before 20,000 runners cross the finish line in Downtown Santa Monica.
“Santa Monica will turn out as the cheering finish line for over 20,000 runners in the L.A. Marathon,” said Mayor Kevin McKeown. "This annual tradition means our residents get to welcome athletes and their supporters from around the world, as our Pier and downtown become a global celebration.”
The Los Angeles Marathon Unified Command wants everyone to plan ahead and reminds people that the 26.2-mile race course will be closed to the public on March 8.
Street closures will begin as early as 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 7 and will re-open as safety permits on a rolling basis. Eastbound San Vicente Blvd. and parts of Ocean Ave. will close starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday with most other downtown street closures happening at 3 a.m. on Sunday.
Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will reopen the streets after most race participants have finished. SMPD anticipates most of San Vicente Blvd. will be completely reopened by 4 p.m. Ocean Ave. between San Vicente Blvd. and Moomat Ahiko Way will open at approximately 6 p.m. except for Ocean Ave. between Washington Ave. and Wilshire Blvd., which will remain closed until 9 p.m.
As a reminder, the race course is closed to all non-permitted bicyclists, skateboarders, skaters, and pedestrians to ensure the safety of all race participants.
For information on how to get around Santa Monica on race day, use our interactive finish line map at santamonica.gov/marathon.
Parking Enforcement
Parking restrictions along the course and adjacent to the course will be installed before the event and will be strictly enforced. Vehicles in violation of the restrictions will be cited and towed at the owner’s expense.
Take Transit Downtown
Parking is expected to be very limited in the City's public parking spaces as well as private lots that choose to open to the public that day. To make taking transit to/from Santa Monica easier on race day, Big Blue Bus and Metro will offer all transit service from a single Bus Hub at the Metro Expo Line 17th St/SMC Station. All BBB service operating in Santa Monica on Sundays will stop here. See map at santamonica.gov/marathon for more details.
Keep the Marathon Safe
Please help the City by remaining vigilant of your surroundings during the Los Angeles Marathon. To ensure the safety of all race participants and spectators, only Marathon participants will be allowed on the route. All non-permitted bicyclists, e-scooters, skateboarders, skaters and pedestrians will be strictly prohibited. If you see a suspicious person, object, or vehicle along or near the race course, report the sighting immediately to 9-1-1 or to law enforcement personnel nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions? Visit santamonica.gov/marathon to learn about street closures, bike parking, transit routes, and other details about being a spectator at the Los Angeles Marathon.
Complaints
Normal service requests or complaints, including blocked driveways, noise, or other non-life-threatening safety issues, should be directed to the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-458-8491. As always, call 9-1-1 in the event of a life-threatening emergency.
For all race day information, visit santamonica.gov/marathon and follow the City of Santa Monica on Twitter at @SantaMonicaCity. Everything else can be found at lamarathon.com.
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Authored By
Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager