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LA Road Runners
Los Angeles, California
LA Road Runners is the official 26-week marathon training program for the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon, operated by The McCourt Foundation. The program offers coached pace groups, weekly long runs, and special meetup events across multiple Los Angeles locations including Santa Monica, Griffith Park, and Encino.
About This Club
LA Road Runners is the official 26-week marathon training program tied directly to the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon, run by The McCourt Foundation. It is built around coached pace groups and weekly long runs, so this is a structured commitment, not a casual drop-in group. If you are aiming at the LA Marathon and want a program with real coaching behind it, this is where a lot of LA runners land.
Who It Suits
This suits you if you are training for the LA Marathon and want coached structure, accountability, and a group that matches your pace rather than a loose social run. It is a 26-week seasonal program with a membership requirement, so if you are just looking for a low-commitment weekly jog or you are not targeting that specific race, this is probably more program than you need right now.
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What a Run With Them Is Like
Runs happen on Saturdays and Sundays at 7 AM, and the mileage builds week by week toward marathon distance - you will be covering road, city streets, parks, and coastal areas as the program moves around the city. Locations rotate across spots like Santa Monica, Griffith Park, and Encino, so the scenery changes even as the training stays focused.
Pace groups span a very wide range, from around a 3-hour marathon goal all the way to 6:30, and walkers are welcome, so you are not going to be the odd one out for running slowly or mixing in walk breaks.
Distance10-11 mile preview run, Weekly long runs building toward marathon distance
PacePace groups available for roughly 3:00 to 6:30 hour marathon goal finish times; all paces and experience levels supported
TerrainRoad, City streets, Parks, Coastal areas
Your First Run
The home base is Short Avenue Elementary School at 12814 Maxella Ave in Marina del Rey, but runs also go out from other LA locations, so check their current schedule before your first weekend. Since membership is required, you will want to sign up before you show up rather than just appearing at the start line.
Once you are in, you find your pace group and run with people targeting the same finish time you are - no one is waiting on you because you are already sorted into a group that fits your goal. Showing up alone is completely normal here; the whole program is designed around bringing strangers together who share one specific goal.
Something to train for
Upcoming Races in Los Angeles
58 upcoming races in Los Angeles. Having one on the calendar is the easiest way to turn a few group runs into a habit.
Sat, Aug 1, 2026LAKSA Marathon Los Angeles, CAPricing TBARegister Sun, Aug 2, 2026Run LA 10 Miler Los Angeles, CAFrom $50Details Tue, Aug 4, 2026Track Night Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAFrom $30Details
See all Los Angeles races
Common Questions About LA Road Runners
Do I have to pay or sign up before I show up?
Yes, membership is required. You cannot just turn up on a Saturday morning - you need to enroll in the program first. Check the LA Road Runners or McCourt Foundation site for how to register before your first run.
What if I am a first-time marathoner with a slow goal time?
Pace groups go all the way up to a 6:30 marathon finish, and walkers are welcome, so a slower goal or a run-walk approach is fully supported. You will be grouped with people targeting the same time, not left at the back of a fast pack.
Does the group always meet at the same place?
Not always. The program runs out of multiple LA locations including Santa Monica, Griffith Park, and Encino, in addition to the home base in Marina del Rey. Always confirm where that weekend's run is starting before you head out.
How long are the runs?
The program includes a 10-11 mile preview run and weekly long runs that build toward full marathon distance over the 26 weeks. Mileage increases as the race gets closer.
When does the program run during the year?
It is a 26-week cycle aligned with the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon, so the program follows a seasonal training calendar. If you miss the enrollment window for the current cycle, you would need to wait for the next one.
Where this comes from: Club details come from each club’s own channels (their site, Meetup, Strava and social posts) and are checked by hand. Group runs move, so confirm the meeting spot on the club’s latest post before you head out. Last updated July 2026.