Matt Mills

On Sunday morning, thousands of runners will take to the streets to participate in the 30th running of the LA Marathon. In recent years, the marathon has grown in popularity, with the race selling out entries for the third consecutive year. Having run multiple marathons in other major cities myself, I can honestly say that our own race sets itself apart in many ways. Here are a few of those... 1. The course. Five years ago, the race directors wisely chose to change the old route to the current “Stadium to the Sea” course that traverses from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier. The course is designed to feature all of the unique streets, neighborhoods and tourist destinations that make LA notable. It’s the only marathon where you'll visit or pass by such unique venues like Dodger Stadium and The Chinese Theater, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and finish right along the beautiful Santa Monica Beach. 2. The spectators. For many Angelenos, marathon morning might be a bit too early to come out and support 25,000 people that make them feel guilty for not keeping up with their New Year’s exercise resolutions. However, the true diversity of the LA spectators is apparent, including a few notable celebrities along the course and even a few running alongside you. And you certainly won’t find these marathon cheerleaders in any other city. 3. The traffic (or lack thereof). On a normal day, Angelenos driving from Dodger Stadium to the beach would gripe that it would be faster to run than

If you’re one of the more than 25,000 entrants into the upcoming 30th LA Marathon, hopefully you’re well into your training for the 26.2-mile “Stadium to the Sea” course. If you’re just starting your training or haven’t yet found the motivation to hit the roads, then you better get at it—or come March 15, it could be a very long and tough day. While runners back east brave "Snowmageddon," we Angelenos have the luxury of 70 and 80 degree temperatures, along with a plethora of great trails and scenery. However, in the crunch of training, work and well, life...you may need a short list of where you can get those long runs, interval sessions or just some easy jogs in prior to race day. The spot to accidentally run longer than anticipated: Griffith Park boasts over 4,000 acres, making it one of the largest urban parks in the country. On a clear day you can get some of the best views of the city and now you can even run up to the Hollywood sign. Because the park is vast, it can be easy to get lost on the many broad dirt trails, making it a great place to add up the mileage or get in a good hill workout.   The spot to make your East Coast running friends jealous: The Marvin Braude Bike Trail, also referred to as “The Strand,” stretches 22 miles along the coast from Malibu to Redondo Beach. It's a great run spot if you are up for a mid-winter trip to the beach. It’s also the best place for an uninterrupted run away from car traffic, though parts of the path can get crowded with pedes