The 'Stadium to the Sea' course drops 226 feet net but packs 943 feet of climbing through Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, and Brentwood. Add early March heat risk and you need more than a generic plan. Get a personalized training plan built for LA's unique rolling terrain and weather.
LA's 'downhill' reputation masks 943 feet of total climbing. The Hollywood Hills section at miles 5–8 and rolling terrain through Beverly Hills make this a deceptively tough course, especially when early heat amplifies fatigue.
Each segment of the LA course demands a different strategy. Here's what your plan prepares you for.
LA's −226 ft net drop masks 943 ft of total climbing. Runners who treat this as a 'fast downhill course' consistently blow up in Beverly Hills. The conservative approach produces faster finishes.
| Segment | Pace/mi | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Miles 1–4 | 6:55–7:00 | 10–15 sec/mi slower than GP despite the downhill. |
| Miles 5–8 | 7:10–7:25 | Hollywood Hills. Effort over pace. Accept slower splits. |
| Miles 9–18 | 6:50–6:55 | Rolling, trending downhill. Settle into goal pace. |
| Miles 19–26.2 | 6:45–6:55 | Push if you have it. Downhill finish to the ocean. |
Get custom splits for your goal time and the LA course profile
Free Pacing Calculator →LA's rolling terrain and heat risk demand a plan built for this specific course. Here's what sets it apart.
Complete weekly training with progressive mileage, quality sessions, rest days, and cross-training. Periodized into base, build, peak, and taper phases.
Hill repeats and rolling terrain long runs that simulate LA's constant undulations. Training on tired legs prepares you for the Hollywood Hills at mile 5.
Eccentric strength work and downhill repeats to handle 1,169 ft of total descent. Protect your quads for the final miles when they matter most.
Five personalized training zones based on your max HR and lactate threshold. Every workout has a target zone so you train at the right intensity.
Course-adjusted pacing splits, fueling schedule, aid station strategy, mental cues by segment, and weather contingency adjustments.
LA can reach 80°F. Heat acclimation protocol, pace adjustment tables, sodium loading, and pre-cooling strategies for warm race-day conditions.
Historical race-day temperatures have ranged from 50°F to 80°F. Heat is the biggest variable at LA. Your plan includes adjustments for every scenario.
Rare but ideal. Light layers at the start, arm sleeves. No pace adjustment needed. Take advantage of conditions.
Best-case scenario for LA. Singlet and shorts. Most PRs happen here. Minimal adjustments needed.
Common at LA. Slow goal pace 2–3%. Increase fluid and sodium intake. Hydrate at every station from mile 5 onward.
Danger zone. Slow 4–6%, pre-cool with ice, take water at every station. Switch entirely to effort-based racing. Survival mode.
Personalized pacing, Hollywood Hills prep, heat acclimation strategy, and net-downhill execution plan — all calibrated to your goal time.
Get My LA Training Plan — $19 →Course-adjusted mile-by-mile splits for LA's elevation profile. Enter your goal time for custom pacing.
Personalized carb, fluid, sodium, and caffeine targets based on your body weight and goal pace.
Predict your LA finish time from recent race results or connect Strava for AI-powered prediction.
5-day carb loading protocol with daily gram targets. Maximize glycogen for race day.
Assess your readiness for warm conditions. LA's race-day weather can be variable.
New to marathons? Start here for training fundamentals, gear, and race-day preparation basics.
Training for LA? These courses share similar rolling terrain challenges.
Rolling hills through DC and Arlington with bridge crossings and the emotional Iwo Jima finish. Similar rolling profile to LA.
Five bridges, five boroughs. More climbing than LA but a similar mix of rollers and crowd energy through diverse neighborhoods.
Manageable rollers through historic Philadelphia with a flat finishing stretch. A good stepping stone to LA's tougher terrain.