Los Angeles, US · March 2027
McCourt Foundation LA Marathon
McCourt Foundation LA Marathon pacing strategy with per-km splits from your VDOT, weather-adjusted for the typical 11–21 °C race day in Los Angeles.
- Distance
- 42.20 km
- Elevation gain
- 101 m
- Typical temp
- 9–20 °C
- Cutoff
- 6:30:00
The short version
A genuinely hard course
- Most runners crack near km 32 — fuel before km 30, not at it.
- Low sun in your eyes around km 3–4 — bring a cap or shades.
Next edition
7 March 2027
Typical race-day conditions
9–20 °C
We lock the real forecast into your plan in race week.
Course difficulty
HardDriven by a flat, fast course with mild conditions. Harder than Cape Town Marathon (5.2), easier than Marine Corps Marathon (5.2) — tougher than 51% of the races we cover.
Race data quality
Medium confidence
Auto-generated from GPS route + elevation data
Course distance, climate, and broad course features are suitable for pacing previews. Elevation profiles and aid-station details are approximate and should be checked against the official race packet before race day.
Elevation profile
Route-derived (GPX + DEM)
Paid strategy guardrail
Official race packet remains source of truth
- Open-Meteo historical climate archive (2022–2024)
Step 1 · Free preview
See the course-adjusted plan first
Enter one recent result. The preview returns course cost, first splits, and fuel target from the deterministic engine and the current course data model.
VDOT
49.1
Estimate
3:16:05
Course cost
+2:21
Fuel target
60 g/h
60 g/h needs a trained gut — practise it in training, never try new fuelling on race day. Your full plan tunes this to your experience.
First 5 km preview
full race locked
- km 14:44
- km 24:32
- km 34:31
- km 44:45
- km 54:39
First race free · then €7 Race Pass · no monthly subscription
Uses an approximate course model; verify final logistics against the official race packet.
Step 2 · Your full McCourt Foundation LA Marathon plan
The preview shows the shape. The plan races it for you.
Course preview
Free
what you see now
- Difficulty score & course data
- Course-cost & toughest km
- Your first full plan free, ever
Race Pass
€7
one-time, this race
- Every km split, weather-adjusted
- Nutrition & fluid timeline
- Heat, wind & sun race tactics
- Danger zones + watch file (GPX)
- Race-week forecast & reminders
Annual
€19
per year, every race
- Everything in Race Pass
- Unlimited races, all year
- Re-plan as your fitness changes
No subscription required — one race is a one-off €7. See a full sample plan →
Continue with approximate course data →Course elevation
101 m total gain · 187 m loss · max 163 m, min 71 m.
Fly the course
Sun & shade
Sun in your eyes
4 km
Sun on your back
16 km
Side / overhead
22 km
Expect low sun roughly in your eyes around km 3–4 — pack a peaked cap or shades; low glare hides kerbs and potholes.
Approximate — solar position from the route geometry and a 06:55:00 start (timezone estimated from longitude), for a mid-pack finishing time.
Aid stations
8 stations on course — plan your fueling around them.
Race overview
LA is point-to-point from Dodger Stadium to Century City. The course rolls with several short, sharp climbs and a long descent in the final 10 km. March weather can swing — cool and damp, or unseasonably warm. Watch the forecast.
How hard is this course?
Reference table — how the McCourt Foundation LA Marathon compares to a flat sea-level course for four typical fitness levels. Computed from the route profile, mean course altitude, and typical race-week climate (15 °C / 69 % humidity). Your personal strategy uses your VDOT, per-km splits, nutrition timing, and the typical climate baseline for this static sample; paid strategies use Open-Meteo when a verified race date is inside the forecast window.
| Runner | Flat-course finish | McCourt Foundation LA Marathon finish | Course cost | Adjusted pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (VDOT 35) | 4:16:08 | 4:19:14 | +1.2% | 6:09/km |
| Intermediate (VDOT 45) | 3:28:17 | 3:30:49 | +1.2% | 5:00/km |
| Trained (VDOT 50) | 3:10:41 | 3:13:00 | +1.2% | 4:34/km |
| Competitive (VDOT 60) | 2:43:24 | 2:45:22 | +1.2% | 3:55/km |
Reference nutrition
For a 70 kg runner finishing in 3:13:00 at 15 °C. Adjust to your weight and tolerance — these are ISSN-window targets, not prescriptions.
- Carbs / hour
- 60 g
- Total carbs
- 193 g
- Fluid / hour
- 640 ml
- Sodium / hour
- 500 mg
FAQ
How hilly is the McCourt Foundation LA Marathon?
280 m of cumulative elevation gain across 42.2 km. Net climbing — pace by effort, not by clock, on the major ascents.
What is the typical weather on race day?
11–21 °C with 60 % relative humidity. Heat acclimatization makes a measurable difference if the forecast trends warm.
Get your personalized strategy
The numbers above are samples. Sign up free and get the full McCourt Foundation LA Marathon strategy from your VDOT, the current course model, Open-Meteo race-week forecast when available, and your nutrition preferences.
First race free · €7 per additional race · €19/yr for unlimited
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New to the marathon? Start with our marathon pacing strategy guide or run the VDOT calculator.