Runners, take your mark. Registration for the 2012 Honda LA Marathon opened this morning. The 26.2 mile race is slated for Sunday, March 18, 2012. Over 25,000 participants are expected for the third annual "Stadium to the Sea" route which starts at Dodger Stadium and ends at the Santa Monica Pier. more ›

Sunday's Irvine Lake Mud Run attracted thousands of filthy participants. The scenic 5k course led mucky runners on and off trails and roads, over hills, into water, through several mud pits and via professionally constructed obstacles including jump walls and a mud luge. more ›

A man was arrested Tuesday after running naked through morning rush hour traffic on the 405 Freeway in West Los Angeles, reports the LA Times. The unidentified nudie was reportedly trying "to make contact with people in their cars" near Pico Boulevard, according to a California Highway Patrol spokesman. more ›

Talk about a busy week! Zealous 36-year-old runner Marie-Louise Stenild of England is trying to break the Guinness World Record to to become the first woman ever to complete seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. On Monday, her third day of running, she and a support team will run L.A.'s Stadium to Sea marathon route that debuted earlier this year (nerdy fact: the Guinness World Records Museum on Hollywood Blvd. is around mile 12). The effort is also raising money for the Adam Rogers Trust, named for a 13-year-old who did of a brain tumor. Stenild begins her world tour on Saturday with a marathon course in Antarctica. more ›

Nike’s latest Southern California foray opened its doors last Friday to the large crowds gathered in Santa Monica for the grand re-opening of the renovated Santa Monica Place shopping center. If you are thinking this is just another Nike store, think again. more ›

Your Daily Thread's Tracy Hepler offers up her picks for the best summer workouts to be found in L.A. on the Huffington Post today. The list is pretty yoga-intensive, from posing for inner peace and outer toning in Runyon Canyon to on the Malibu Pier. One of the quirkiest picks has to be "Running from the Paparazzi," which is running workout-meets-sightseeing tour, taking what celebs do to avoid TMZ to a whole new level for exercise buffs. So what are some other great outdoor workouts to check out? How about running the stairs at the Hollywood Bowl in the morning (when maybe you can catch that night's act rehearsing), or aerial training at Cirque School? Give us your ideas for summertime fitness! more ›

Thanks to a program founded in 1995, hundreds of Los Angeles Unified School District students are running around the city today. They're taking part in the 25th Annual LA Marathon via a program for teens called Students Run L.A., which provides at-risk youth with mentoring and training in preparation for today's run. more ›

Looks like the Stadium to Sea route is a popular one. The L.A. Marathon, which can hold 25,000 runners, is 80% sold out, officials announced today. With over a month before race day, it's likely to reach 100% in just a few weeks. We’re confident we’re going to sell out and strongly encourage those who are training for the race but have not yet registered to do so immediately so they’re not turned-away,” said race president, Russ Pillar. In previous years--and like in many other marathons--a third of registrations happen the week of the race. "That’s not going to be an option this time,” Pillar warned. more ›

With a new and improved Los Angeles Marathon course set for March, local running Coach Jimmy Dean decided to try it out on his own (nothing like having the ability to just run a marathon whenever you want, eh?). more ›

Okay, it's time to stop munching on that mac and cheese. On the heels of a major makeover to the Los Angeles Marathon route , two new half marathons for Los Angeles were announced today by separate companies. Come this January, the 13.1 Los Angeles Marathon will run through the Westside and next October, the popular Rock n' Roll Marathon will make a debut in Los Angeles, replacing the City of Angels Half Marathon. more ›

This morning, as the countdown clock to the 2010 LA Marathon declares there's 131 days until the big event, the official "Stadium to the Sea" course map was released. Beginning at Dodger Stadium, this brand new route takes participants and their supporters through some of Los Angeles' iconic and familiar-the-world-over city and county sights and neighborhoods, including El Pueblo, City Hall, and Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Downtown... more ›

Early this morning at midnight, over 7,000 runners could be seen racing through the streets of Los Angeles as part of the 2nd annual Nike+ Human Race. Bringing over 140,000 participants worldwide in over 27 cities, the goal of the event was to celebrate runners and unite them globally in the earth’s largest one-day running event. In Los Angeles this meant starting and finishing at the Coliseum and running the 5 or 10K through the Figueroa Corridor and on streets just outside of the USC campus. One dollar of every entry fee was donated to USC Football Coach Pete Carroll’s philanthropy,A Better LA. more ›

The 10th Annual Los Angeles Triathlon is this Sunday, which means there will be street closures as participants bike from Venice to downtown and then run back and forth (literally) along Grand Avenue. The following streets will be closed and opened in waves as competitors race: more ›

Now that the Los Angeles Marathon is back on a Sunday in March--the 21st to be exact--the new "Stadium to Sea" route is being hashed out. Under current Santa Monica law, only 5K and 10Ks are permitted, but on Tuesday the City Council instructed staff "to return with an ordinance or policy change that would allow marathons to be held in the city," according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. more ›

It was the City Council and without their thinking caps, says the LA Weekly. The City owns the marathon and contracts it out to the McCourt Group (yes, the same McCourt who owns the Dodgers). "Everyone seemed happy — until the first 'pre-planning' meeting" at Councilman Tom LaBonge's office, wrote Tina Dupuy. "There, somebody thought to ask senior transportation engineer Aram Sahakian about the street logistics of holding the marathon on President’s Day, February 16. Incredibly, nobody on the vast staff of the 15-member Los Angeles City Council, which employs 320 personal assistants at an annual cost of about $20 million, had bothered to fully review that date with the transportation engineers before the council approved the deal. Instead, Sahakian tells L.A. Weekly, 'It was done verbally at a meeting.'" Good one, guys. Too many people work on President's Day, traffic would be severely impacted so it was moved to Memorial Day, which is traditionally hot. Luckily, this year runners got lucky with the weather. Next year, all signs point towards a colder Sunday date, but you never really know in LA. more ›

The City Council may have learned their lesson by forcing LA Marathon organizers to a Monday holiday rather than the traditional Sunday. Today a council committee voted to hold the 2010 marathon on a Sunday in March. This year, it will be held on Memorial Day, which has not been good participation or the health of runners who choose to run on the traditionally hot day. It will next go to the full council for approval. more ›

There is something so completely odd, yet refreshing, about running up and down the stairs at the Hollywood Bowl during daytime hours. In a place you're used to sharing with 17,000 other people, being there completely alone--not even a security guard in sight--made us realize that this is one of Hollywood's biggest secrets (Read Part 1 of this series, The Hidden Staircases of Hollywood Heights, which are right next door). more ›

Last November, the Pasadena Marathon was all set to have its inaugural run, but Mother Nature had other plans, leading to the event's false start. SoCal's air was saturated with smoke and ash from the Triangle and Sayre fires, and the race was canceled the night before. But tomorrow the race is on again, and about 2,000 folks are expected to participate in the marathon, which will cover the requisite 26.2 miles beginning and ending at Pasadena City College. The day will also include a half marathon, bike tour, 5k race, and a fun run/walk. If you live in, or are headed to Pasadena, be advised there will be street closures in effect; check here for details. more ›

This weekend marked the official opening of the jogging path around Silver Lake Reservoir. The new 3,300 foot path (that's about 2/3rds of a mile) on the eastside of the reservoir goes from Armstrong Avenue to the dog park. This new step helps one jog or walk a complete circle around the approximately 2 mile loop of both reservoirs (that includes Ivanhoe, too). The anticipated Silver Lake Meadow, however, still has not opened. For that, you'll have to wait until next summer. more ›

Get ready Silver Lake residents. That nice dirt jogging/walking path around the reservoir is set to officially open this Saturday morning. But that doesn't mean people aren't using it already. Curbed LA took a lap or two this morning and found it to be very attractive: "It'll make lesser pathways feel inadequate." This certainty should be a good addition to places to train for the Los Angeles Marathon, which will take place on, of all days, Memorial Day. more ›

Health and fitness: it's a gift category upon which one must tread delicately. Give the wrong person a piece of fitness equipment and you risk wreaking havoc upon a fragile self-esteem, or simply having your gift received with the silent treatment and a single, lonesome tear rolling down their cheek. more ›

Due to the smoke and ash in the air generated by the two massive fires that have burning in Los Angeles and Orange Counties this weekend the Pasadena Marathon has been canceled. Yesterday the AQMD issued a smoke warning, and modified it to include Orange and Riverside county information once the Corona-Yorba Linda fire began to rage. The warning notes that, "surrounding areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties may reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups level or higher, depending on fire conditions and wind flows." Many people all over LA and OC are reporting smoky air and are opting to remain indoors. Participants in the Pasadena Marathon are asked to check online tomorrow for more information about the event. more ›

If baseball was not enough, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has bought the rights to the Los Angeles Marathon through a company called Going The Distance. While the race route will not be changed this year, the race date will be changed from March 1 (as it is currently listed on their website) to February 16 on President's Day. more ›

As of 8:30 this morning the last wave of starts for the 9th Annual Los Angeles Triathlon took off, completing the waves that began at 6:45 a.m. The participants will swim one mile starting at Venice Beach, do a 25 mile bike race through parts of Fairfax, Wilshire and Hollywood, and end with a 10 kilometer run that terminates at Staples Center. Street closure began over night, and some will not reopen until early this afternoon, so if you're headed out this morning, be sure to check the map to make sure your path doesn't cross that of the 2,500 triathlon participants. more ›

Two intrepid runner/writers. One race. Your inside peek at the lives and workouts of the LAist Nike+ Human Race Team. LAist Contributors Melissa Moore and Angel Magana talk all about it. more ›

The marathon may be #27 on the list of Stuff White People Like, but it is by no means their exclusive domain. There are many specialized running groups out there that point out the growing diversity of running enthusiasts. One such group is the Los Angeles Frontrunners, which will be hosting its 27th annual Pride Run on Sunday, June 8 in West Hollywood as part of Pride Weekend. The Pride Run this year benefits the Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing. Do the run and stay for the parade! more ›

One of the most difficult things about running--or any exercise regimen for that matter--is simply getting started. Joining a running group or club is a great way to ease into it, and so today and in future installments of Workout Wednesday, we will explore the many running groups in the area you can choose from. We'll start with Team in Training. more ›

Thanks to our shutterbug readers, our LAist Featured Photos Pool on Flickr was gifted with some shots from yesterday's 23rd Annual LA Marathon. more ›

Did you catch these guys and gals in full Slash regalia making the 26.2 mile trek through the city today? Here's the official explanation of the eccentric marathon attire and attitude:

Today's LA Marathon was invaded by rocker Slash look-a-likes, who competed in the race for Gibson Guitar as part of a worldwide launch for the Velvet Revolver guitarist's new signature model Gibson and Epiphone guitars which will go on sale in limited quantities on April 1, 2008. Fifty Slash look-a-likes donned wigs, top hats, t-shirts, sunglasses and even the signature cigarette prop in the "Dash for Slash," encouraging onlookers to "Shred like Slash" on April 1st.

Russian Tatiana Aryasova won the LA Marathon, and the $100,000 "Banco Popular Challenge" with an unofficial time of 2:09:32*, beating out the top "elite" male runner, Laban Moiben of Kenya, who clocked in with an unofficial time of 2:13:50. The petite Aryasova is in peak shape; she recently gave birth and resumed her training rapidly. more ›