After a year of disappointments, the Los Angeles Marathon is considering a new route that would begin at Dodger Stadium and end in Santa Monica, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press:
Marathon officials are planning a new route for the 2010 race, starting the course for its 25th anniversary at Dodger Stadium and ending it in Santa Monica, hoping to breathe life into an event that in years past has lost some of its luster.
"The New York Marathon finishes in Central Park and travels through all five boroughs," Peter Abraham, the creative director for the L.A. Marathon, said. "If you want to really experience New York as a runner, what better way is there?
"The L.A. Marathon should similarly reflect all the things great about the Los Angeles area and travel to many different neighborhoods and end up at the beach."
This past year, the race became politicized when the Los Angeles City Council dictated that it could only take place on a holiday Monday, avoiding traffic conflicts with religious institutions. With choices slim, Memorial Day was chosen and the route used was less than stellar.