LA MARATHON WEEKEND WITH LTRC
A Community Celebration Before and After the Big Race
It’s wild to think that just over three months ago, we set out on what felt like a slightly unreasonable idea: training for the Los Angeles Marathon together.
Since then, we’ve logged over 300 miles as a group, watched runners hit new personal records in distance, and for some of us… said goodbye to a few toenails along the way.
Half the group has been celebrating weekly PRs in distance. The other half has been revisiting old marathon trauma from races past. And to everyone who spent sleepless Friday nights staring at the ceiling before a long run, we can finally say there’s only one restless night left.
While some of us unfortunately won’t make it to the starting line this year (we’re running for you, Lily!), it has truly been an honor to arrive at this weekend with each and every one of you.
To make the weekend extra special, we wanted to put together a small series of community-centered events to support everyone before and after the race.
While the entire city is activated for the LA Marathon, we wanted to keep things personal and close to home, rooted in the Little Tokyo community that has supported us from day one.
We’ll begin the weekend with a proper Shake Out Run to get our bodies warm and spirits high. Then, after conquering 26.2 miles and waiting for the feeling to slowly return to our legs, we’ll gather together for a post-race celebration at Sampa filled with music, food, drinks, and community.
5K SHAKE OUT RUN
Our 5K Shake Out Run is meant to be light, social, and energizing. A final moment to gather before race day and remind ourselves why we started this journey together.
We’re incredibly grateful for the support from our community partners, friends, and local vendors who are helping make this event possible.
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
For those who have joined us on Sundays recently, you’ve probably noticed that Terasaki Budokan has become a new home for LTRC.
Located in the heart of Little Tokyo, Budokan represents everything we believe in: community, movement, and bringing people together through shared experience. Their support has brought us even closer to our mission of building a welcoming running community rooted in this historic neighborhood.
We’re incredibly grateful to continue our partnership with Budokan through this year’s LA Marathon Shake Out Run.
If you’re looking to get more involved with the Budokan community, we highly recommend checking out some of their upcoming programs:
• Volunteer at San Tai San Festival
Budokan continues to be an incredible space for community-driven programming in Little Tokyo, and we’re excited to keep growing together.
DR. BIEJAY TAN
Our very own Dr. Biejay Tan will be leading a specialized warm-up session before the Shake Out Run to make sure everyone enters race weekend feeling prepared and primed.
Dr. Tan is the founder of Hybrid RX Rehab Chiropractic & Performance, where he focuses on helping athletes move better, recover smarter, and perform at their best. His work combines chiropractic care, rehabilitation, and performance training to help runners stay healthy while pushing their limits.
A longtime supporter of the local running community, Dr. Tan believes movement is medicine — and that proper preparation is one of the most important parts of race day success.
We’re lucky to have him guide us through a race-ready warm-up before we head out for our final shake out miles.
POWER 106’S SOOSH
To keep the energy high, Power 106’s Soosh will be providing the soundtrack for the morning.
Soosh is a multi-hyphenated artist and creator deeply rooted in hip-hop music and culture. As the co-creator of Hella Good Company Arts & Entertainment Collective, he has helped curate some of the most lively and culturally driven events across Los Angeles and throughout California.
Expect great music, high spirits, and the kind of energy that makes race weekend feel like a celebration.
FOOD & DRINKS
No LTRC gathering would be complete without good food and drinks.
LTRC Crafted Drinks
LTRC will be serving up our crafted coffee and tea drinks, featuring seasonal ingredients, thoughtful flavor pairings, and a little mixology magic. Our goal is always to create drinks that are social, community-conscious, and just a little more interesting than your typical morning coffee.
Aloha Cafe
A true staple of Little Tokyo, Aloha Cafe will be joining us with a special menu designed with marathon runners in mind.
Expect carb-friendly favorites like musubi — and yes, getting two or three is strongly encouraged. After all, carb loading is serious business.
Even if you’re not running the marathon, come join the pre-race carb-loading festivities.
Hydration Partners
With a sunny LA weekend ahead, proper hydration is key heading into race day. We’re grateful to have Culture Water and Electrolit helping keep the community refreshed during the Shake Out Run.
Culture Water will be providing coconut water to naturally replenish electrolytes, while Electrolit will be on hand with its science-backed hydration formula to help runners stay balanced and race-ready.
Between the miles, music, and community energy, be sure to grab a drink and keep those hydration levels up before the big day.
VENDORS & MERCHANDISE
We’re also excited to welcome a few of our favorite creative partners.
Paper Stars Studio
Paper Stars Studio has been supporting LTRC since the very beginning, pressing our very first limited run of shirts nearly a year ago.
Founded by Shine — who will also be running the marathon with the LTRC crew — Paper Stars focuses on building community through thoughtful design and creative expression. Their work blends art, culture, and storytelling into pieces that allow people to carry a little bit of their creative identity wherever they go.
Pacific Bloom
Pacific Bloom believes that every object holds meaning when it’s grounded in presence.
Their thoughtfully designed pieces focus on intention, movement, and modern simplicity — creating items that encourage people to slow down and appreciate the small details that shape our daily lives.
Uprisers
While Uprisers won’t be able to join us in person for the Shake Out Run this weekend, they’ve still found a meaningful way to support the community. They have generously donated exclusive merchandise to be raffled off during the event, with proceeds supporting Terasaki Budokan’s upcoming initiatives and community programming.
We’re incredibly grateful for their continued support and commitment to uplifting spaces like Budokan that bring people together through culture, movement, and community.
POST-LA MARATHON CELEBRATION
After the race, we’ll gather together at Sampa to celebrate the end of months of training and the incredible accomplishment of crossing the LA Marathon finish line.
Sampa has graciously opened their doors for our post-race celebration, giving us a space to relax, reconnect, and enjoy the moment together after such a long journey. Expect music, laughter, and the kind of joyful exhaustion that only comes after finishing 26.2 miles.
Keeping the energy high for the evening, CALDEE will be providing the music — making sure we keep the celebration going and our feet moving long after the race is over.
And most importantly — bring your medal.
You may receive a special treat at the bar.
Sampa will also be crafting a menu designed to help runners refuel after tackling the streets of Los Angeles.
Inspired by family traditions and global techniques, Sampa reimagines Filipino-American cuisine, blending familiar flavors with modern creativity.
SEE YOU AT THE FINISH LINE
We’re beyond excited to experience this weekend together.
Getting this many people through months of training, long runs, early mornings, and endless miles is something truly special.
And while we wish everyone could toe the start line this year (we’re still running for you, Lily), the community we’ve built along the way is the real victory.
Take care of your legs. Hydrate. Get some sleep if you can.
We’ll see you throughout the weekend — and most importantly…
at the finish line. 💙