The ASICS Los Angeles Marathon, produced by the US-based non-profit The McCourt Foundation, has partnered with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to offer runners an Oscars-themed experience to the race course on March 8, 2026.
At Mile 11, located on Hollywood Boulevard, the marathon route will be transformed into a red carpet experience. The activation is a nod to the 98th Oscars, which takes place one week later on March 15, 2026.
Participants will have the opportunity to run across a red carpet and take photographs as they pass the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, the permanent home of the Academy Awards.
Jennifer Davidson, Chief Marketing, Communications and Content Officer at the Academy, said “The Academy celebrates the passion, excellence and hard work of our global filmmaking community, and we look forward to sharing this excitement with the runners ahead of the 98th Oscars.”
Murphy Reinschreiber, Chief Operating Officer of The McCourt Foundation, added “Partnering with the Academy allows us to celebrate our runners as the stars they are. Mile 11 will also be a fitting celebration of the City of Los Angeles – grit and glamour.”
In addition to the Hollywood-themed milestone, the event has announced Pop-Tarts as the Official Snack of 2026. This partnership includes two specific activations designed for the sold-out event.
At Mile 10, the brand will host a high-energy fan zone featuring an interactive cheering area and the appearance of a ‘Protein Slammin’ Strawberry’ mascot. According to the company, the mascot is ‘training’ for the marathon as part of a campaign that began at the end of the 2025 season.
A unique branding element will also be seen at the event finish line in Century City. The traditional silver thermal heat sheets provided to finishers will be custom-designed to resemble Pop-Tarts foil wrappers.
Karen O’Connell, Head of Sponsorship for the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon, said “The marathon is a celebration of perseverance and joy. This partnership brings a burst of flavour and fun to one of the world’s most iconic distance running events.”
The ASICS Los Angeles Marathon is the largest community sporting event in the Californian city, welcoming over 26,000 runners. The ‘Stadium-to-the-Stars’ course begins at Dodger Stadium and concludes 26.2 miles later near Avenue of the Stars.
The weekend also includes the LA 5K on March 7, 2026, and a two-day lifestyle expo. The marathon serves as the final event in the Conquer LA Challenge, following the Santa Monica Classic and the Rose Bowl Half Marathon – 5K.
The McCourt Foundation, which organises the race, uses its events as platforms to raise funds for more than 125 non-profit charity partners. Since its inception, it has generated more than US$76 million for these organisations and donated over US$7.2 million to neurology research.
The 98th Oscars will be televised live from the Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, at 16:00 PT, reaching more than 200 territories internationally.
www.lamarathon.com
www.oscars.org
www.mccourtfoundation.org
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