2009 L.A. Marathon

Brothers-in-law Dion Castro, left, and runner Chuck Fieland, pose for their official marathon photo following the Los Angeles Marathon.  (Barbara Davidson/ Los Angeles Times)

Delfino Rodriguez celebrates after completing the marathon.  (Barbara Davidson/ Los Angeles Times)

Leah Yela, left, and Rodolfo Yela hug runner Silbano Langarica, center, after he finished the marathon.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Wesley Korir, leading, of Kenya, who won the Los Angeles Marathon in a record time of 2:08:24, runs through the streets in Los Angeles. The previous record was 2:08:40.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Tatiana Petrova of Russia won the women’s race in 2:25:29, the third-fastest time in race history.  (Barbara Davidson/ Los Angeles Times)

Massage Therapist Adam Hale of Los Angeles gives a massage to an elite runner following the marathon.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Wesley Korir of Kenya, winner of the marathon, is on his knees after finishing the race.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Wesley Korir, 26, gives autographs to fans.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Wesley Korir poses for photographs with fans after winning the Los Angeles Marathon.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Runners make their way during the L.A. Marathon.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Wesley Korir of Kenya leads fellow runners in the Los Angeles Marathon. Korir won in record time: 2 hours, 8 minutes and 24 seconds.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Spectators watch the Los Angeles Marathon. Typically run on the first Sunday in March, the race was pushed back to Memorial Day as the result of a decree by City Hall officials.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Julian Romero, 25, who ran the L.A. Marathon in bare feet, gets a massage at the finish line.  (Barbara Davidson/ Los Angeles Times)

Wesley Korir falls to his knees after his record-breaking win in the 24th Los Angeles Marathon. The Kenyan runner finished the 26-mile course in 2 hours 8 minutes and 24 seconds, eclipsing the record set in 2006.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Wesley Korir crosses the finish line of the Los Angeles Marathon. For his victory, Korir, 26, won $160,000 and a new car.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Tatiana Petrova, 26, of Russia was the top women’s finisher in the Los Angeles Marathon.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Jose Cornejo, who has completed every L.A. Marathon, uses yoga to prepare for his 24th.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Michael Syufy of Los Angeles stretches in the early-morning hours before the start of the Los Angeles Marathon. Syufy is walking the marathon as a tribute to his late mother, Rose. “This is for the love of my mother,” he said.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Francisco Medina gets ready to take part in the 24th annual Los Angeles Marathon.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

The early-morning air is chilly for runners lining up for the race. The marathon started at 6th and Figueroa streets in downtown Los Angeles.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

The marathon, which produced record times for runners, started at 6th and Figueroa, ventured as far west as La Cienega Boulevard and concluded at 5th and Flower streets.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Under cool, overcast skies that made for almost ideal conditions, more than 17,000 people ran, walked, biked and rolled across the starting line this morning.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

The course began in the heart of downtown and took racers through some of the city’s most diverse communities, including Leimert Park, Koreatown, Little Ethiopia and Hancock Park.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

The race had the latest starting date in the race’s history.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Runners take off at the start of the race. Participants, volunteers and spectators began arriving before dawn, many carrying balloons, colorful headgear and American flags marking the Memorial Day observance.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

One runner shows Memorial Day spirit.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Runners make their way along the 26.2-mile course. Wesley Korir of Kenya was the eventual winner of the marathon, setting a record time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 24 seconds.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)