Community Corner
Volunteers Needed for Mile 16 of LA Marathon
Residents can hand cups of water to athletes as they run and roll through Beverly Hills. Be prepared to get wet, however, as the forecast calls for rain this Sunday.
Want to be part of this Sunday’s Los Angeles Marathon without actually competing? Join volunteers as they hand out water to the more than 30,000 athletes who will be racing through Beverly Hills.
Residents Russ Levi and Kathy Rothner are organizing volunteers to stand at the Mile 16 water station on Little Santa Monica Boulevard between North Rexford and North Crescent drives to hand out paper cups of water to marathon participants as they go by. About 150 people have signed up so far and more are welcome.
Volunteers must arrive by 6 a.m. in order to ensure their spot. Those who make the commitment are expected to show up rain or shine, and at this point the forecast calls for rain Sunday morning.
Find out what's happening in Beverly Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“I love city activities and have been contributing to them all my life,” said Levi, a 50-year Beverly Hills resident. “It will be a great opportunity to meet fellow citizens.”
Current and former city officials have also committed to joining the volunteers at Mile 16, Levi said. He has ordered T-shirts for the thirty or so people who have already committed to his “Russ Bus” group of volunteers.
Find out what's happening in Beverly Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Beverly Hills segment of the race will enter the city at North Doheny Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard, and participants will run west on Burton Way to North Rodeo Drive, south to Wilshire and then west to Santa Monica Boulevard before going on to Century City.
The city is setting up a block party and spectator viewing area on Dayton Way and North Rodeo Drive. The first athletes—those in wheelchairs—are expected to arrive in Beverly Hills around 7:45 a.m. while runners are expected to arrive at approximately 7:55 a.m., according to the city’s website.
Volunteers and residents who want to watch the marathon live should be aware of relevant as they plan how to arrive. As Beverly Hills Patch's always says, the best method of transportation throughout the city during public events is to walk.
In Beverly Hills, the following city streets will be closed from 4:20 am to 1:00 pm:
- North Doheny Drive between Beverly Boulevard and Burton Way
- Burton Way between North Robertson Boulevard and North Doheny Drive
Also be aware of street closures related to the aforementioned marathon route.
Anyone interested in volunteering Sunday morning can contact Levi at rlevipride@sbcglobal.net or Rothner at kathipr@aol.com.
