L.A. Marathon Adds Inaugural Relay

LOS ANGELES – (February 14, 2012) – With the Honda LA Marathon fast approaching, interest is running high for a brand-new event: the marathon relay. For the first time ever, two runners can join together in support of their favorite charity, with one person running the first half of the marathon course and the other completing it. Already, hundreds of teams are signing up for what promises to be one of the more memorable ways to experience the iconic Stadium to the Sea race course on Sunday, March 18th.

Many of those running have compelling stories – like Ledys Lopez. Two years ago, Lopez triumphed over adult obesity by training for her first marathon. This year, she will undertake the relay with Hollywood High School student Alex Yarza, who once suffered from childhood obesity and now speaks to elementary school students to encourage them to get in shape and stay healthy.

“Training for the 2010 Honda LA Marathon allowed me to focus on my health, improved my self-esteem, and has given me an incredible sense of empowerment,” Lopez said. “I am passionate about educating and encouraging young people like Alex to establish healthy habits that will last them a lifetime. And I’m proud to be running for an organization like SOS Mentor that does this work every day.”

SOS Mentor and many other charities are participating in the relay, giving interested runners plenty of good causes from which to choose. A list of participating charities is available at www.lamarathon.com.

“With nearly five weeks left until the marathon, there is still time for recreational runners to increase their training and participate in the relay,” said LA MARATHON LLC Chief Operating Officer Nick Curl. “The marathon relay will open the Honda LA Marathon to a wider group of people who want to challenge themselves and raise money for some very worthwhile causes.”

Each relay runner will register and raise money for one of the Honda LA Marathon’s official charities, found online at www.lamarathon.com/charities/2-person-marathon. The combined entry fee of $250 covers both members of the team, and fundraising minimums will depend on individual charity requirements. Each partner will receive a specially designed relay medal when they finish.

Taking their place at the starting line with other participants in the 2012 Honda LA Marathon, the first team member will begin at Dodger Stadium and continue through Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Echo Park and Silver Lake, passing landmarks including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Pantages Theatre, and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The relay hand-off is located on Sunset Boulevard, just before the Sunset Strip, giving the second runner a scenic route toward Rodeo Drive, through the federal VA property, onto San Vicente Boulevard toward the finish on Ocean Avenue, just steps from the Santa Monica Pier.

“For those who always dreamed of running right down the middle of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive, but couldn’t commit to training for and running the full 26.2 miles, this is a perfect opportunity to experience our world class Stadium to the Sea course,” Curl said. “We encourage runners to find a teammate, contact one of our great charities and make history with us in 2012.”