Full Calendar of Activities for 24th Los Angeles Marathon This Memorial Day Weekend

LOS ANGELES, May 13 /PRNewswire/ — Runners, cyclists, fans and anyone interested in fitness will have plenty to see and do during the Memorial Day weekend leading up to the 24th Los Angeles Marathon to be held for the first time on Memorial Day, May 25. Coming up:

>> Saturday, May 23: Run/Ex/09

One of the largest racing expositions in the world, Run/Ex/09, will open in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. More than 140 exhibitors will offer innovative demonstrations and state-of-the-art products and services on running, health, fitness and lifestyle improvement on more than four acres of floor space. Saturday hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and admission is free.

>> Saturday, May 23: The Carbo Load

The traditional pre-race Carbo Load dinner will be held for the first time at the ESPN Zone at L.A. Live, a short walk from the Run/Ex/09 site at the Convention Center. Tickets are $25 per person and seating is extremely limited.

>> Sunday, May 24: Run/Ex/09

The final day of Run/Ex/09 is the last chance to register for the 2009 Los Angeles Marathon or the Acura L.A. Bike Tour (no race-day registration) or the Los Angeles Marathon 5k Run/Walk (for which there will be race-day registration). Sunday’s Run/Ex/09 hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and admission is free.

>> Monday, May 25: Los Angeles Marathon XXIV

The Los Angeles Marathon will be held for the first time on Memorial Day, with more than 35,000 participants expected to run, cycle and walk in the Marathon, Acura L.A. Bike Tour or the 5k Run/Walk.

    Start times:

    5:00 a.m.: Acura L.A. Bike Tour start
    6:55 a.m.: Los Angeles Marathon wheelchair participant start
    7:00 a.m.: Los Angeles Marathon hand-cycle start
    7:07 a.m.: Los Angeles Marathon elite women's start
    7:24 a.m.: Los Angeles Marathon field start
    8:30 a.m.: Los Angeles Marathon 5k Run/Walk start
    8:50 a.m.: Springfield Kids Marathon start
    9:45 a.m.: Awards presentation at the Los Angeles Central Library

Street closures in the downtown Los Angeles area will begin about 5:20 a.m. with all streets re-opened by 5:20 p.m.

>> Monday, May 25: Los Angeles Marathon Finish Line Festival

Beginning with a giant screen showing the live KNBC race broadcast, the annual Finish Line Festival will begin at 7 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. at Flower and 3rd Streets in downtown Los Angeles. Live entertainment will be offered on the K-EARTH Stage beginning at 10:30 a.m., with the Michelob Ultra Beer Garden close by plus two dozen sponsor and exhibit booths, including the Family Reunion Area.

Admission to the Finish Line Festival is free.

>> For more information on the Los Angeles Marathon, visit www.lamarathon.com

>> For more information on the Acura L.A. Bike Tour, visit www.acuraLAbiketour.com

“We inspire athletes and connect communities. Anchored by the iconic Los Angeles Marathon, our three sporting events draw more than 42,000 athletes, 12,000 volunteers, and one million spectators along the route to sunny Southern California for the L.A. Marathon, the Acura L.A. Bike Tour, and our 5K Run/Walk for Charity, making race day one of the world’s largest days of participatory sport.”

~ Russ Pillar, President, Los Angeles Marathon, L.L.C.

SOURCE Los Angeles Marathon, L.L.C.