LA Marathon 2015: Everything you need to know

The sold out 2015 ASICS L.A. Marathon will bring over 26,000 runners from all 50 states and more than 55 countries to Los Angeles for the 30th annual race on Sunday, March 15. This is the third time in a row the L.A. Marathon has sold out, and this year's race will have the second largest field in the L.A. Marathon's history. 

Whether you're participating in the marathon or looking to avoid street closures, here is some useful information.

Weather: Expect heat.

The 2015 L.A. Marathon will be a hot one. National Weather Service spokesman Stuart Seto told KPCC that record temperatures are expected, with a high of 91 degrees on Sunday. The last time downtown set a high on March 15 was in 1978 with 85 degrees. 

Seto said temperatures are expected to be in the lower to mid 60s at the beginning of the race, but by the time runners reach Santa Monica, the temperature will be at about 80 degrees.

“Even if you’re not running in a marathon, you better be hydrated,” he said. 

L.A. Marathon organizers, aware of the forecasted highs, bumped up the start time of the race to ease the run. 

"Instead of starting at 7:25 for the general masses, we are now going to be starting at 6:55, allowing them just to get across that finish line 30 minutes earlier than they would have if we had stuck to our original timeline, " L.A. Marathon Chief Executive Tracey Russell told KPCC. 

Russell said organizers are working to inform all the athletes of the heat early.

"Sunday is certainly going to be a warm day," she said. Russell says she wants runners to see the L.A. Marathon as more of an event due to the highs.

"This is not the year to go for their best time," she said. 

The race:

The 26.2 mile race will feature an elite lineup of 90 top athletes, including 73 Americans looking to win the 2015 USA Track & Field Marathon Championships title. Runners will start in L.A. and finish in Santa Monica.

Start: Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Schedule:

• 6:30 a.m. – Wheelchairs
• 6:32 a.m. – Hand Cycles
• 6:45 a.m. – Elite Women
• 6:55 a.m. – Elite Men & Full Field

Finish: Intersection of Ocean Avenue & California Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401

The L.A. Marathon is honoring athletes who have run all 30 consecutive races since 1986 with a celebratory race start.

See some of the athletes' stories here:

Street Closures

Street closures throughout L.A. will begin at 3 a.m on March 15. If you'd like to know closure times for specific streets, click on the red sign above the street. 

View Larger Map
More on the closures here.