38th Annual L.A. Marathon, From Mile 19

The L.A. Marathon brings more than 20,000 people from all over the world through L.A.’s most iconic neighborhoods.

American Jason Yang from Los Angeles running on Santa Monica Blvd. heading West passing through the Valley Runners Club cheers of Aracely Rodriguez (back) on mile 19 during the L.A. Marathon 2023. Yang crossed the line in nineth place on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Aracely Rodriguez wearing a cow outfit jumps on excitement when a runner hits the piñata on mile 19 during the L.A. Marathon 2023. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

A marathon runner jumps and hits the unicorn piñata on mile 19. The Valley Runners Los Angeles club members cheer him along during the 39th Annual L.A. Marathon. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

At mile 19, the SocalPeakers club awaits for some members participating in the L.A. Marathon 2023. The world wide Peakers idea originated from Scotish actor Sam Heughan from the TV series "Outlander". Heughan run the L.A. Marathon in 2015 since then SocalPeakers club have been participating in the event. For more infor about this club visit mypeakchallenge.com Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Aracely Rodriguez (wearing a cow outfit) from the cheering group of Valley Runners Los Angeles about to high five Marquis Bowden on mile 19 during the L.A. Marathon 2023. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Naoki Kato from Torrance, California, struggles passing on mile 19. Kato finished on 46th place overall on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Shant Hagopian from Glendale, California jumps to touch the piñata at mile 19. Hagopian finished 38th place overall on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Stacy Ndiwa from Kenya running on Santa Monica Blvd. heading East to the finish line during the L.A. Marathon 2023. Ndiwa won the female competition with a time of 2 hours, 31 minutes, 01 seconds. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Jemal Yimer on a red shirt from Ethiopia running on Santa Monica Blvd. heading East to the finish line during the L.A. Marathon 2023. Yimer won the male competition with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes, 14 seconds. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Jemal Yimer on a red shirt from Ethiopia running on Santa Monica Blvd. heading East to the finish line during the L.A. Marathon 2023. Yimer won the male competition with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes, 14 seconds. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Sebastian Iribe-Loza (17) from Valencia, California manages to jump high enough to grab the unicorn piñata and rip out one of its legs on mile 19. Iribe-Loza finished in 244th place on the male competition during the 38th Annual L.A. Marathon. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Javier García on a unicorn outfit and a microphone encouraging the runners heading West on Santa Monica Blvd. with cheers and funny comments during the L.A. Marathon 2023. García belongs to the Cruda running club, but they joined forces with Valley Runners L.A. to bring more noise to the tired athletes on mile 19 of the race. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The COrsair)

Runners runing for The Los Angeles Marathon Century City, Calif. (Daniel De Anda | The Corsair)

Hundreds of runners come down Santa Monica Blvd. passing by Century City area during the 39th Annual L.A. Marathon. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Hundreds of runners come down Santa Monica Blvd. passing by Century City area during the 39th Annual L.A. Marathon. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Valley Runners Los Angeles members help participants with cheers, orange slices, red vines, and water on mile 19 during the 38th Annual L.A. Marathon 2023. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Valley Runners Los Angeles member Anthony Hartzog jumps to the piñata. He makes it to mile 19 where his club cheers him up. At the same time Hartzog requires helps with a cramp from the cheering station during the 38th Annual L.A. Marathon 2023. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Valley Runners Los Angeles member Anthony Hartzog makes it to mile 19 where his club cheers him up. At the same time Hartzog requires helps with a cramp from the cheering station during the 38th Annual L.A. Marathon 2023. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Valley Runners Los Angeles members help participants with cheers, orange slices, red vines, and water on mile 19 during the 38th Annual L.A. Marathon 2023. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Stacy Ndiwa from Kenya check her watch running on Santa Monica Blvd. heading West to the mile 19 during the L.A. Marathon 2023. Ndiwa won the female competition with a time of 2 hours, 31 minutes, 01 seconds. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

American Ashley Poulson from Mendon, Utah running on Santa Monica Blvd. heading West just passing through cheers on mile 19 during the L.A. Marathon 2023. Poulson placed in fourth behind the three female Kenyans that got into top positions. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Marathon runner passes by mile 19 on Santa Monica Blvd. heading West. He crosses the colorful background of the Valley Runners Los Angeles cheering spot during the 38th Annual L.A. Marathon. Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

American Sharada Maddox from Los Angeles running on Santa Monica Blvd. being recorded by a cyclist admirer heading West just passing through cheers on mile 19 during the L.A. Marathon 2023. Maddox placed in seventh position on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

The advance group of Elite runners passing through mile 19 at the L.A. Marathon on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Los Angeles, Calif. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)

Undaunted by the early morning chill and overcast skies, runners from across the world met at the start line of the 2023 L.A. Marathon at Dodger’s Stadium on Sunday, March 22.

Stacy Ndiwa of Kenya crossed the finish line first, with a personal best of 2 hours and 31 minutes, and Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer won the overall Elite division with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes and 13 seconds. Americans Thomas Rono from Coon Rapids, Minnesota and Ashley Paulson of Mendon, Utah, placed fourth in the male and female categories, clocking in at 2:14:50 and 2:48:49, respectively.

Many different community organizations and running clubs showed up to the event on Sunday to support the more than 20,000 participants, including Team CRUDA and Valley Runners Los Angeles, who joined forces to support the athletes at Mile 19 for the 6th year in a row.

“We come always with the mission of ‘celebrate the runners’. And I am hoping people are motivated with us and this just distracts them from this torturous event.” said Javier Garcia, a member of Team CRUDA.

The clubs set up canopies with food, water and supplies like cut bananas, orange slices and Biofreeze, a topical spray for muscle pain, all to help supply that last bit of energy and motivation racers need to cross the finish line.

“For this year’s race, the Valley Runners and Cruda clubs have around 15 runners participating, but some of them are first timers, that’s why we have to make it extra special for them,” said Aracely Rodriguez, from Valley Runners Los Angeles. “We’ve heard that we have the best cheering station.”

For results and more information on the event please visit, https://www.lamarathon.com