Los Angeles Marathon shift sparks angry response

The Fabulous Forum has drawn more than 120 responses since we posted an item on Monday morning about the race date being shifted from the President's Day holiday in February to Memorial Day, which falls on May 25 in 2009. I've received more than two dozen e-mails.

A handful were positive, or, at least, neutral on the decision made by LA Marathon LLC, the new race operator funded by Dodgers owner Frank McCourt that has Russ Pillar as president. The rest expressed anger about the idea of running a marathon on Memorial Day.

We've heard from veteran marathoners, including some "legacy" runners who've competed in the 23 previous races that were held on Sundays in early March.

Rookies who are struggling to get in shape for the biggest race in their lives have complained that the date change is wreaking havoc with training regimens already out of sync following an earlier decision to shift the race from a Sunday in March to a Monday in mid-February.

We've heard from members of the LA Leggers and LA Roadrunners, two of Southern California's premier running groups.

We've also heard from out-of-towners, including New Jersey runner Johnny Larsen, who wrote in an e-mail that he and his wife were looking forward to flying to L.A. this year to compete in the marathon. But he's already paid $300 in airline fees to change his flights from March to February.

"I don't think I want to spend another $300 or more," Larsen wrote. "Also, it would be only 23 days after the New Jersey Marathon, and I don't think I can run back-to-back marathons. I just can't believe this."

We also heard from a runner in Ohio who describes himself as an eight-year L.A. Marathon veteran and a city councilman.

Here's his advice to runners who want the race date put back on a Sunday in March:

If you want the date changed, you need to talk to a member of the city council.  If you talk to two, that's even better.  Now I'm not saying to send an e-mail.  Pick up the phone and talk to your councilman.  Even better, take a few minutes to meet with your council member one-on-one.  I can tell you it is very difficult to tell somebody "no" in this situation -- that's human nature.  Remain courteous and polite, but stand strong for what you're asking.  If you can attend a city council meeting, go and ask them to change the date.  City council members are people and they will listen.  In my experience, they generally want to help if you ask and remain polite.  Attending a public meeting does put a little pressure on them to make a commitment one way or the other.

Finally, this is not an issue of runners versus those who attend church services.  I go to church every weekend and would never promote an idea like that.  This is an opportunity for the community to come together for all, like what happens at other major marathons across the country.

We've also heard from runners who wonder whether the decision might be reversed. One of them is Jeff Urband, a marathoner for more than 20 years. He's thinking about circulating a petition seeking a reversal of the decision.

"I totally support Russ Pillar," Urband said during a Tuesday telephone call. "What I don't support is the decision his company was forced into by the L.A. City Council."

Urband said he hopes to distribute copies of his petition Saturday morning when the Leggers and Roadrunners hold training runs in Venice Beach.

"I love running the L.A. Marathon," Urband said. "And even though I was planning to run the San Diego race in May, I'll probably end up running it, even in the heat."

-- Greg Johnson

Photo: A child tries to get a better look at runners approaching the finish line during the 2008 Los Angeles Marathon. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Mara Barth]

I would love to be included on any petition to change the date back to March, please! I'm among the many out of towners who already booked airfare and made plans for the trip in March. (And as an out-of-towner, not sure what kind of clout I'd have with a city council member)

[lisa]

Wow, what a mess! I was in-between this one, ING Miami and 26.2 with Donna... went with Miami. And I am REALLY glad I did. Have friends in CA and was thinking this one would be fun to put on the list next year.... no way I or any other runner in their right mind will sign up for 2010 or 2011... good luck to these folks.

Do they don't realize that out of towners (I live in Atlanta) buy plane tixs and hotels far in advance. Rescheduling a local charity 5K is one thing.... a destination marathon is another. Their future registration will suffer, and it deserves to.

[Boycott the LA Marathon unless the date changes!]

If you're on Facebook, join the group "Boycott the LA Marathon unless the date changes!" Money talks, and if we can get a united block to show that attendance will be lowered with a May Marathon date, action is more likely.

Cheers, Peace, etc!

[Raymond M. Schroeter]

As a Bay Area resident and Giants fan, who has completed 11 LA Marathons I am not happy with the multiple date changes. Changing the course, which seems to take place every other year is one thing but these date changes are very disturbing. If things stand as they are I will not enter LA XXIV. Leave it up to Dodger management to screw up a good thing.

[Jeff Urband]

The Los Angeles City Council was responsible for changing the date of the Los Angeles Marathon. In a recent discussion with Russ Pillar, the marathon President, the choices available to the city were limited to Mondays only falling on holidays where most everyone is off work. This severely limits the marathon to a few dates. The marathon wants to stage a world class event. Well, this is not Boston. The new owners were forced into this decision by a small group of ministers whose voices were heard during city council meetings spirited by council man Parks. This has been planned for years so as not to disturb or inhibit church services along the marathon route. There was very little or no representation by any of the Road Runners or Leggers or anyone else that participates in this city event. So the council passed the ruling and made it permanent as part of the new owner contract. All this is available online by visiting the LA city council website, including the arguement presented by ministers. The decision made by elected city council officials was swift, unfair and resulted in a change that will affect the marathon for years. As a result, marathon runners and walkers are subject to running in possible heat and this could lead to another Chicago Marathon (last year) catastrophic event, where the marathon route resembled a battle zone. This is fine for the congregations of the church and Russ Pillar and the management did not fully advise the running community that these hearing were taking place, so as a result, it is a lose-lose for the marathon community.
For the future of the Marathon, for those whose training is interrupted and for those who cannot participate or take the chance of injury on what may be a hot day; for those whose decisions affect 25,000 runners...the city council needs to reopen this issue. Yes, their were a few religious leaders concerned about their one Sunday service, but what about the city's concern for endangering the lives of thousands by their quick call to action to change the dates to holiday Monday's.
So, as a running community, if we care about the future of the marathon, we need to petition the Los Angeles City Council, we need to call our Councilmen, we need to show that the decision was wrong for the marathon and wrong for the city. The Los Angeles City will be liable for injury and damage to runners based on running the course in possible difficult heat.
The course (decision) has been set...but this is not "set in stone"...We are runners, we go to church, we have a voice AND we have a vote. This is a community event for all the community, this is a staging for a future world class event. USE YOUR VOICE...use your legs and use your heart. We have two marathons, one requires training to run 26.2 miles and the other marathon is to gather signatures and get clergy, doctors, lawyers, politicians and "Joe the Runner" to get the Los Angeles City council to reconsider their hasty decision and realize that this affects thousands not a few churches. And to the clergy appearing before the city council, the video online showed that for some reason you were each not given three minutes to speak like everyone else as the clock was not restarted. This is SO unfair to the others that are limited to Three Minutes.
Finally, it comes to this. Each of you is the "power of one" express your passion and make this marathon a fair and safe event for all concerned. And to those clergy who have never run a marathon, you have forced the council into a decision which affects the lives of thousands. This is not about freedom of religion. This is not about denying your rights to worship. This is about a community event on one day whose dreams and passions are realized on a 26.2 mile course. This includes the religious community whose choirs and church members sing and inpire us to run.
You have deprived us of our dreams and possibily placed the lives of thousands of runners in danger as we run through the heat. Having survived last year's Chicago Marathon, the danger is real and not what anyone wants to see happen to Los Angeles. Please reconsider and think about the lives that have been touched by this decision. Thank you for your time and consideration. Runners and walkers this is in your hands. GO THE DISTANCE!!

jeff urband

[Michael Mahler]

To the "runner from Ohio" who opined that "Finally, this is not an issue of runners versus those who attend church services. I go to church every weekend and would never promote an idea like that":

Sorry, this is PRECISELY and ENTIRELY an issue of runners versus churchgoers and the politicians who pandered to them - not all churchgoers to be sure, just those who put their self interest ahead of the greater good and pushed for the race to be moved to a day other than Sunday.

Which is the greater good for the entire Los Angeles community: that churches have their Sunday routine completely undisturbed by the marathon, or that the race be cancelled for lack of participants? Because that's where all this is leading if a Sunday date is not restablished.

It's not right to pick a fight, but neither is it right to back down from one when you've been bashed in the face. We runners should be pushing to have those pastors and churches identified; perhaps a little dignified picketing and protesting of their services might enlighten them as to the consequences of their actions, and change some hearts and minds?

[Lisa from Atlanta]

I hear you on the out-of-towner issue. I doubt we have sway with the city council. Those pastors are voting for them, we're not. But, what about the convention and visitors bureau? We should lobby them! They vote for the city council men/women- their voices would be heard there. And WE are the constituents for the Convention/Visitors Bureau! The out of towers who fly in, book hotels, rent cars, eat at restaurants - they want us to come! We're increasing hotel occupancy and tax revenue.

Assuming no one with any decision power in this fray is a runner who as a clue as to the training, timing, or other key aspects of a marathon, we need to appeal to them based on thing s they do understand: Money and Votes.

Here's the LA CVB:
http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/
Tthere's a contact us link in the right lower corner. I can't link to it, as it's an internal frame, but it's easy to find.

Write them. Tell them why we aren't flying to LA to run 26.2 miles in May! Explain how many days you wold stay, how many people would come with you, how much you anticipate you would have spent on food, rental cars, hotels, etc.

The math will influence them, and they may be able to influence the city council!

[John]

Sounds ridiculous. You just don't go around changing dates like this. Major marathons just cannot do things like that. I don't know all the facts, so I won't place blame. I live in Chicago and have run 12 straight marathons here, and survived the meltdown in 10/07. Running 26.22 miles on Memorial Day in L.A.? Please! I bet if someone gets hospitalized or dies from heatstroke, there will be lawsuits, regardless of waivers that runners sign.

[John]

I checked the weather data for L.A. on msn weather. Apparently, the seasons are much milder than in Chicago. However, if runners prefer temps in the 50's, Memorial Day seems to be a poor choice. Avg temp mid-Feb: Hi 70 F, Low 50 F. Avg temp end-May: Hi 76, Low 60 F, record almost 110 F.
By the way, in Chicago, I've never heard of a church complaining. I bet it's due to the powerful Mayor Daley being a big marathon supporter. Our marathon is generally on the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend (holiday on Monday) in order to enhance the amount of $ the event brings to the city. The L.A. race director should contact Chicago's race director (Carey Pinkowski) for advice on the new heat-related measures put in place for the 10/12/08 race. Despite highs in the 80's (cooler and less humid than in 2007), things went well as far as I heard.
My email is bogenbmg@hotmail.com.

[Eveine]

I ran the LA marathon in 2004, where the temperature was 82 degrees at the START of the race and that was in March. I have run this race three times since and can't imagine running it in late May. The race starts too late to begin with. In the bay area, where I live races start at 7 a.m. or earlier which is perfect for a marathon.

I don't understand why churches can't be inconvenienced ONE Sunday per year. It's bad enough the race route changed to one big long depressing run through the ghettoes of LA. I'm looking elsewhere for a spring marathon. It seems the city of LA is no longer interested in having a marathon.

[Cris]

Not sure what I'm missing here, as I thought the race was originally moved to a Monday holidy prior to this recent change to Memorial Day. If so, why does this have anything to do with churches???

[Alfredo]

Wow talk about bad news. I lieve here in LA and I can tell you that towards the end of May it gets really, really hot and dry, so if you're planning to attend make sure to train for hot weather running.

[Alexandra]

This will be my third time running the marathon and my second with SRLA (Students Run L.A). This is my senior year in high school and I am seriously considering not running the marathon now. It's ridiculous! It's not about religious practice (the claim that the marathon has been moved because of church goers complaints) it's about TOURISM. As if L.A did not have enough tourism already, this is another case of greed gone bad. All I'm saying is most of my marathon team is compromised of seniors, and we don't want to run a marathon after our graduation and in sweltering heat.

[terri]

Maybe third time is a charm and LA Marathon won't get the turn out and figure that they messed up. Too close to San Diego wihch we have already paid for and too hot to run that weekend. Something better must be there between Feb 1 in Huntington Beach and San Diego!:)

[S]

I have heard about a ROGUE MARATHON being held on the original date of March 1. From Universal City to downtown. We would like someone to post information - what time is it starting?

[runningperson]

i think their selfish changing of dates has screwed up everything THEY CHANGED IT TO FEBUARY SOOOOOOOO I CHANGED MY SCHEDULE AND PUSHED MYSELF HARDER. I FIND IT RUDE

[Kevin Strehlo]

As part of my running blog, I just posted a summary of how we got to the brink of the LA Marathon's demise. LA Marathon: Is it Dead, or Will a Group of Woody Allens Try to Break 3 Hours in 2010? http://tinyurl.com/6t638c

[Neel]

This is so wrong by LA COUNTY city, I am intersted in joining the LA Marathon, although I am in my forties. I was thinking this would be a good way of keeping my body in fit since there is a target to reach. But I NEVER THOUGHT this stupid LA supervisor dont give a hoot about it. Whats up with the church thing, what issue they have cant understand these politicians. no wonder I gave up on them.

Thank you
Neel