Hey! I'm visiting LA for 10 days from the UK from tomorrow, but I'm mid marathon training, so as well as holidaying I need to get the odd run in. Anyone got any good running areas, routes? anywhere to specifically avoid? Cheers team.
Posted Sep 9, 2013, 7:22 PM UTC
The Rose Bowl is a great place to go. One lap is pretty close to a 5K.
The Backbone is a pretty epic trail. The only problem is, it's 68 miles long...not your average marathon long run. What you CAN do, is run sections of the trial, connected by other smaller trails in the local state parks/forests. For example: Topanga State Park has a ton of great trails, like these!
You can find more maps of the other parks in the backbone system (Pt. Mugu is a good one too!) on google, or check out local trail race maps like these. The XTERRA races are all local and the terrain is great!
Let me know if you've got some questions, but Malibu and Santa Monica are some of the best trail/views/areas that LA has to offer!
Cheers!
I second Pt Mugu state park for trail running. I live across the street.
Take US101 north to Lynn road, left. Drive about 7 miles (or so) down Lynn. On your left will be Mt Boney and "Satwiwa" parking area.
Great trails. Lots of hills. Some scorched by recent wildfire for some dramatic landscape and views. About 8 mile run down to beach (sycamore cove) if you're interested.
And it will give you a very different perspective on LA.
Also younger be interested in this book: 50 Trail Runs In Southern California http://amzn.com/0898867002
Have fun!
That's were I ran into my first rattle snake! It was just sunning away in the middle of the path. bleh!
I've seen a few snakes in the last 12 months. No rattlers though.
Whereabout are you staying? 'LA' is huge
Melrose, but I got a car so no drama with locations.
Griffith park is great for trail running, also the Rose Bowl was mentioned, or go to the beach, park and run the boardwalk any direction.
I did all of my long runs in Santa Monica/Venice beach on the boardwalk. Plenty of (sometimes sketchy) restrooms and fresh water. Have fun!
One loop around the Rose Bowl is almost exactly 5k.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/373409856
You can extend your Rose Bowl run by adding in some light trail running and heading out to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/365311584
A Runner's Circle has 3 and 5 mile group runs at all different paces that leave their store in Los Feliz at 6pm on Thursday evenings. http://arunnerscircle.com/arc-events/thursday-fun-runs/
The Pasadena Pacers has Saturday morning runs of all different lengths starting from the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center. http://www.pasadenapacers.org/upcoming-events/
Holy crab this is timely! I'm flying in to LA from Portlandia tomorrow through the 17th. Saving this thread. I'm staying in DTLA but I plan on biking and using Metro because apparently I have a secret death wish.
You can try out Escondido Falls in Malibu, It's about a 5k. Around UCLA you can get About a 10k in too!
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I enjoy running along Santa Monica and Venice beach. The people watching is simply outstanding.
That's the best place for training, mostly flat, safe and very empty in the morning. Might get a whiff of pot and piss, but it's mostly clean...
Make sure to go before traffic, though...
Visited Venice beach in July. Can confirm the pot and piss. Lots of freak flags flying.