LA Marathon 2015: Latest Weather Forecast, TV Schedule and More
There probably isn't a man or woman in the world who can run a full marathon without breaking a sweat. That's the beauty of a 26.2-mile challenge. It's as much a personal endeavor as it is a competitive event.
But the task will be incredibly more difficult Sunday, as the 2015 LA Marathon is expected to occur under record-breaking temperatures.
The city of Los Angeles has pulled out all the stops for the race's 30th edition. With roughly 26,000 competitors every year, per Irene Moore of NBC Los Angeles, the LA Marathon is widely considered one of the most popular marathons in the United States. So popular, in fact, that there's no reason to believe its numbers will drop as a result of the potentially unbearable heat.
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For those at home who don't wish to withstand the heat and run a whole bunch of miles (and many people won't blame you for this life choice), the marathon can be caught on TV.
Below is everything you need to know about the LA Marathon on Sunday.
TV Info
Local: KTLA 5 in Los Angeles at 6 a.m. PDT
National: WGN American from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. PDT
Live Stream: KTLA.com at 7 a.m. PDT
Radio: AM570 Fox Sports Los Angeles at 5 a.m. PDT
Weather Forecast
It's expected to be a scorcher Sunday, and runners will be happy to finish relatively early in the day. Running the race during midday is just asking for trouble—hence why the race is scheduled to begin before 7 a.m. PDT.
That's one of the many changes race organizers have made in the days leading up to the event. Adding more hydration and aid stations was another, as dehydration is a real threat with the conditions expected. You can learn about other changes made at the race's official site, LAMarathon.com.
As for the exact weather conditions, expect it to be much hotter than usual this time of year.
"Temperatures to start the marathon will be in the upper 60s and will quickly rise into the 80s by 10 a.m.," says Weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam. "The record high temperatures for Sunday is 85 degrees set in 1978 and the record may be broken as temperatures are expected to be near 90."
As a result of this, race officials are encouraging runners to take it a bit slower than usual. This will ensure safety. While some might consider it a drawback, it might actually be somewhat of a sentimental bonus. The LA Marathon's course is absolutely stunning, highlighted by multiple handfuls of historic landmarks and beautiful sights. Taking it in slower will help the memories last longer than a lifetime.
Top Contenders
While a large contingent of competitors run marathons solely for the fulfillment of conquering the course and setting a personal best, there are others who have aspirations of winning.
On the men's side, Ryan Hall is considered the favorite. ESPN.com's Christopher Chavez notes that Hall has the fastest personal best of any other competitor in the field, as he ran a 2:04 at the 2011 Boston Marathon.
Last year, he ran a 2:17 in Boston. That's likely not a time that will win in Los Angeles, so he'll have to shave a few minutes off if possible. Of course, the heat is certainly a factor strong enough to slow down every runner in the field—no matter the quality.
Janet Bawcom is the women's favorite, having competed in the 2012 Olympics in London in the 10,000-meter race and the 2012 U.S. marathon trials. She's a versatile runner who has since stepped off the track and returned to the pavement.
The second-largest field in the race's history is chock-full of depth, though, so it will be no easy task for Hall, Bawcom or any of the other runners.
RunningUSA.org notes that "61 American elites vying for the 2015 USA Track & Field Marathon Championships" will compete, meaning there will be no shortage of speedy people running through the city of Los Angeles on Sunday.
Kenny DeJohn is a Breaking News Team Featured Columnist. Follow him on Twitter.
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