Honda, Title Sponsor of the LA Marathon

For the first time in the marathon's 25-year history, the LA Marathon will have a title sponsor. Honda’s North American division announced yesterday a three-year partnership that includes naming rights and a variety of charitable, community service and marketing components. The Silver Anniversary edition of the race, to be held on March 21, will therefore be known as the Honda Los Angeles Marathon.

"For the past 14 years, we've been honored to be affiliated with this great competition and with the manner in which it brings together the entire greater Los Angeles community," Tetsuo Iwamura, president and chief executive officer of Torrance-based American Honda Motor, said in a release.

"The new course shows off some of the best of what Los Angeles has to offer, and is sure to make the Honda LA Marathon an outstanding, signature event for the running world, for spectators, and for Southern California alike," Iwamura added.

Also for the first time, the Stadium to the Sea race course will start at the Dodger Stadium and finish near the Santa Monica Pier, passing through cities like Los Angeles, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

"It is a privilege to be affiliated with such an outstanding, well-known company," Pillar said. "Honda's commitment to the local community is both wide and deep, and having such a distinguished title sponsor reflects the significant changes we've made to deliver a great event for all of Los Angeles."

Organizers announced that nearly 25,000 runners registered for the race so far. Both male and female winners of the Honda LA Marathon will receive a new Honda automobile in addition to the cash prize.