In 1984, under a punishing California sun, American distance runner Joan Benoit Samuelson ran into L.A. Memorial Coliseum and into history, winning the inaugural Olympic women\u2019s marathon. It was a breakthrough for women\u2019s running; the iconic image of a sweat-drenched Samuelson charging toward gold modernized how the world perceived female runners.<\/p>\n
For all its Olympic legacy, however, the hometown energy of the Los Angeles Marathon \u2014 which debuted a couple years later in 1986 \u2014 is still overshadowed by the bucket-list mania that surrounds other major American races. But now, as women reshape the culture and economics of distance running, Los Angeles has an opportunity to change that.<\/p>\n
Women are fueling the growth of running nationwide, and are more likely to increase event participation over the next 12 months, according to the 2025 Running USA Global Trends survey. On average, women spend more<\/a> in every single running category compared to men, from race fees to shoes; they also make up<\/a> 64% of global travelers, influence<\/a> 82% of trip decisions and spend<\/a> more than $125 billion a year seeing the world.<\/p>\n The New York City, Chicago and Boston Marathons \u2014 each part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, seven of the world\u2019s largest and most prestigious races \u2014 aren\u2019t just running events, they\u2019re cultural touchstones and economic engines for their cities. New York<\/a>, with a record-breaking 59,226 participants in 2025, and Chicago<\/a>, which draws around 54,000 runners each year, drive nearly $700 million each in annual economic impact. Even Boston, which caps its participants at around 35,000, generates<\/a> more than $500 million each race.<\/p>\n L.A.\u2019s 26.2-mile race traces a cinematic course from Dodger Stadium to Century City, running through historic neighborhoods including Silver Lake and West Hollywood, across Rodeo Drive and Sunset Boulevard, and past landmarks like Grauman\u2019s Chinese Theater and the Chateau Marmont. Yet runners outside Southern California still haven\u2019t fully recognized it as a destination event on par with the Majors.<\/p>\n It remains smaller than any of the Majors, drawing an average of about 20,000 runners over the last three years and generating<\/a> just $122 million for the city in 2025.<\/p>\n But L.A.\u2019s running scene has steadily grown in the post-pandemic era, thanks to a sprawling ecosystem of competitive training groups and community crews \u2014 including Koreatown Run Club, Venice Run Club and BlacklistLA \u2014 who treat the sport as not just an athletic pursuit, but a form of social connection and cultural expression.<\/p>\n In anticipation of the 2028 Olympic marathon, which is likely to showcase the fastest team of American women ever assembled, the 2026 L.A. Marathon taking place this weekend is poised to return the national conversation around distance running back to the city \u2014 especially if it leans into the undeniable momentum behind women\u2019s running.<\/p>\n In just the last two years, the L.A. Marathon has grown 25%, becoming the sixth-largest 26.2-mile race in the country in 2025. \u202fThe 2026 race sold out<\/a> of entries more than two months ahead of race day, the fastest pace in event history. Women now make up roughly 40% of the field. And Gen Z women account for 16% of the L.A. field, a two-point jump year over year.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s L.A. Marathon already offers a strong focus on women\u2019s empowerment and community outreach through charity partners including the Women\u2019s Sports Foundation, For All Mothers+ and Girls on the Run. But there is room to attract even more women through competitive and community-driven storytelling.<\/p>\n