L.A. Completes Another Marathon

To those who say the L.A. Marathon’s costs are not worth the end product (March 2) or to those who complain of the inconvenience of having several miles of blocked streets, I say run in the race, be a volunteer or go watch these intrepid athletes as they challenge themselves to the finish line. Once you see how much support and community spirit are generated as family, friends and neighbors cheer each athlete on and wonder at their achievements, you will understand that putting a price tag on this event misses the point.

Los Angeles needs the marathon and any other event like it that manages to bring citizens out of their cars and onto the sidewalks. If a 26.2-mile run on a beautiful Sunday in March isn’t your cup of tea, walk or ride a bike to a part of the city where the race passes by. You just might find yourself yelling “You can do it!” to people you don’t even know.

James Westfall

Los Angeles

*

I awoke Sunday morning to a police state of barriers and blockades. I was unable to exit my neighborhood for the duration of the marathon. As I was trying to get to a family breakfast, I was given incorrect alternative route information by numerous marathon volunteers. Finally, I asked to speak to their supervisor, at which time I was met by four LAPD officers who could offer no help. Additionally, the Sunday Times offered no marathon route information. No notice of the event was provided to our neighborhood (and perhaps others) by the city.

As a former resident of Boston for over 20 years, I have seen many a marathon conducted with little impact to the surrounding areas. Perhaps next year L.A. will consider hiring Boston’s coordinators. They could certainly do no worse than what I experienced this year: involuntary house arrest due to marathon.

Rory Valentine

Los Angeles

*

I had a great run on Sunday, with an excellent finishing time.

However, what distresses me most about the “revamped” L.A. Marathon is the spin that the new course showed off “the diversity of our city’s multicultural” neighborhoods. As a local, I was shocked by the rundown condition of the districts that comprised most of the route. I’m sure visitors were even more surprised, anticipating pristine mountain views and landscaped estates. It was a real eye-opener, and I kept wishing the speechifying Mayor James Hahn, Councilman Nate Holden and City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo, who opened the ceremonies, could have seen the enthusiastic support being offered by the residents of those areas.

Unfortunately, many of the runners may not have noticed either, because they were so maddeningly preoccupied with chatting on their cell phones. Only in L.A.

Nelson Aspen

Los Angeles

*

I will never vote for any of those politicians who had to be introduced and felt obliged to speak, thus delaying the start of the marathon on what turned out to be a very hot day. This is no place for a political platform. It is very tiring just standing there for 30 minutes before an exhausting run. The organizers of the marathon should have considered this.

Steven Chodos

Los Angeles