Big Crowds Expected Along New Marathon Route

Churches on or near the 26-mile route are telling their flock to skip worship services

Residents in and around the Los Angeles Marathon route are bracing for what could be a crippling crowd.

This year's "Stadium to the Sea" LA Marathon is sold out and thousands of runners and spectators will be converging on Santa Monica Sunday. 

The new course starts at dodger stadium and winds it's way west to the beach in Santa Monica. 

The "Stadium to Sea" route was designed to show off many of  LA's landmarks but the road closures caused by the marathon will be disrupting the Sunday morning routine for many people.

Some of the more than 100 churches on or near Sunday's 26-mile route are telling their flock to skip worship services that day.
 
The Rev. Mary E. Haddad told her congregation at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills: "Remember the Sabbath and keep it aerobic." There will be no morning services because of crowds, street closures and lack of parking, but an evening service will be held.

Marathon organizers say 14 churches sit along the new Dodger Stadium to the sea route, and 88 others are within a five-block radius.
 
Brentwood Presbyterian Church is encouraging members to spend part of its "marathon of service" weekend preparing food for homeless people, gleaning fruit in Oxnard or planting trees.

Marathoners are encouraged to arrive early to the startline and allow plenty of time to deal with the crowds.
 

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