Half-Marathon, 5K Run To Close Part Of Venice Boulevard
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A portion of Venice Boulevard will be blocked to cross traffic Sunday morning for a new half-marathon and 5K run.
Venice Boulevard between the ocean and La Cienega Boulevard will be closed from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday for the inaugural running of the "13.1 Marathon Los Angeles."
North-south traffic on L.A.'s Westside will be possible only via the San Diego (405) Freeway, the only overpass over the route. And unlike the triathlon that runs on Venice Boulevard every year, these marathon runners will be making a U-turn on the boulevard near La Cienega and will race back to the finish line at the beach.
The 13.1 Marathon Los Angeles will be the first of eight 13.1-theme races throughout the year, organizers said. The L.A. event will feature both a half-marathon and a 5K race for runners and walkers.
In Los Angeles, runners will use an L-shaped course, with its first mile running south along Ocean Front Walk, before turning east onto Venice Boulevard. The course then follows a straightaway run for the next five and half miles up Venice Boulevard to the turnaround point east of Culver City.
After making the U-turn, runners then head back to the west towards the finish line at Windward Circle in Venice. The race is billed as "walker friendly."
Venice Boulevard is also closed in October for the L.A. Triathlon. Some motorists have complained loudly about the bifurcation of the city, which has in the past caused huge traffic snarls.
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