Come Out for the Marathon : Spectators can enjoy L.A.’s diversity as 19,000 runners pass by

This morning, 19,000 runners from 50 countries and every state in the union will jam the streets of Los Angeles for Marathon XI. Organizers hope that the throng of spectators will witness a record-breaking performance on a redesigned course. But record or no, the event provides a real opportunity for Angelenos to discover the hidden treasures of their city, from the bustle of Chinatown and Crenshaw to the manicured lawns of Hancock Park and the gleaming glass facades of the financial district.

The marathon, now entering its second decade, now has become a fixture on the Los Angeles sports scene. From its modest beginnings in 1985, the race now boasts more participants and more world-class distance runners than ever before.

Despite the success, officials are keenly aware that they must keep the excitement going. So this year they have made a number of improvements to keep the annual 26.2-mile endurance event moving forward and growing in popularity.

For first time the race will begin where it ends, downtown. Once participants hit the road, they will find a sprawling course that runs in the reverse direction from past years. There are fewer turns and hills. And for those who loathe inclines, an 8-mile downhill finale will be cause for a celebratory water-dousing. Not exactly Heartbreak Hill.

Indeed, Los Angeles has a distance to go before it captures the kind of attention that annual races in Boston or New York do. But the fact that Mexico, Guatemala, Belarus and Ukraine are conducting time trials in this race to determine who will represent their nations in the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta shows this event is catching on.

A city marathon is one of those rare occasions that draw people out of their own neighborhoods. Too often many of us spend our time whizzing back and forth on the freeway or stuck in our enclaves. Restaurants and shops exist on Crenshaw Boulevard just as they do on Montana Avenue or Rodeo Drive. This event offers a good opportunity to check them out, catch a few rays and cheer on the marathoners.