Hundreds of students make the LA Marathon their own

From resilience after wildfire disruptions to running in memory of a beloved son, around 3,000 young Angelenos took on the Los Angeles Marathon, proving the city’s next generation is stronger than ever.

On a scorching March morning, as elite runners surged through the streets and thousands of spectators lined the course, one of the most powerful stories unfolding at the 2026 ASICS Los Angeles Marathon belonged not to professionals, but to students across 200 middle and high school students from across Los Angeles County lined up for the race through Students Run LA (SRLA), a program that has quietly transformed young lives for more than 37 years by guiding teenagers through the challenge of running a full marathon.

Related: American Nathan Martin wins the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon in dramatic photo finish

For many of them, the journey began months earlier with early morning practices, weekend training runs, and a belief that something seemingly impossible like a marathon could actually be done, but for many this is a return.

“We’re really excited about all the work our students have put into the season,” said Gaby Arvizu, President and CEO of Students Run LA. “What stands out most is their resilience and their focus. They support one another to accomplish their goals, and that sense of community is incredibly powerful.”

Students spent months preparing together, building not only endurance, but friendships that carried them through every mile. The path to this year’s marathon was not easy.

Last year, many SRLA participants faced a unique obstacle when wildfire impacts disrupted training schedules and forced organizers to cancel a major milestone event in their training calendar, the Rose Bowl Half Marathon.

Instead of running together in Pasadena, students were forced to complete the 13.1 mile race virtually, running separately with their school groups, but pushed forward.

“They had to run the half marathon basically on their own with their school sites,” Arvizu said. “But they remained focused on their training journey.”

That determination carried into this season “Despite everything going on in the world, they remain very positive and optimistic,” she said. “They’re committed to this journey and accomplishing the goals.”

For many teenagers, the marathon represents something far bigger than a race. It becomes a lesson in discipline, perseverance, and belief in themselves.

The marathon fell on International Women’s Day, adding another layer of celebration to the event. SRLA has been working intentionally to increase opportunities for young women in endurance sports, and the effort is paying off.

“Last year we saw the highest number of female participation ever, with 49 percent girls in the program,” Arvizu said. “It’s exciting to see that continued momentum and to celebrate the female runners and leaders who serve as role models.”

For Paul Trapani, one of the program’s co-founders nearly four decades ago, this year’s marathon carried an especially emotional weight. Just weeks before the race, Trapani’s son Cameron passed away at age 32. For years, Cameron had been deeply connected to the SRLA community, becoming in many ways a symbol of the program’s spirit. “This year is particularly special,” Trapani said quietly at the race. “Our son Cameron passed away last month.”

Cameron had lived with multiple disabilities and health challenges throughout his life. Yet those who knew him remember a person defined not by hardship but by strength and joy. “He overcame a tremendous number of obstacles throughout his life,” Trapani said. “And he did it with strength and persistence.”

In many ways, the values Cameron embodied mirror the philosophy of Students Run LA itself. The program teaches young runners to pursue their best selves, not by competing against others, but by overcoming their own challenges. “Being the best you can be without worrying about being better than anyone else,” Trapani said. “That’s what Cameron represented.”

In honor of Cameron, many runners chose to wear black ribbons during the race. Trapani hopes the gesture carries a broader meaning. “I’m hopeful that when people wear the ribbon, it’s not just about Cameron,” he said. “Maybe it’s about someone in their life that they loved and lost.” For many participants, that spirit of remembrance became fuel during the hardest miles of the race.

Behind every SRLA runner is a network of volunteer coaches who dedicate months guiding students through the marathon journey.

At 32nd Street School, leader Bryan Birrueta has watched some of his runners grow up within the program. “Some of these students have been running for five or six years now, since seventh grade,” Birrueta said. “This might be their last marathon with us, so it’s special.” The marathon is often the culmination of years of mentorship and dedication.

Leaders become trusted figures in their students lives, helping them navigate challenges both on and off the course. “This race is about more than running,” Birrueta said. “It’s about seeing what they’re capable of.”

Along the marathon course, the students themselves tell the story best. For Damian Mendoza, a student at Bravo Medical Magnet High School, the marathon marked his third time completing the race. Training began months ago. “We started training around August or September,” Mendoza said. Through long Saturday runs and grueling mileage, he leaned on the people around him. “I was glad to run with my friends for most of the race,” he said. “They helped motivate me and push me through.” When asked what carried him through the toughest miles, Mendoza didn’t hesitate. “My family and my friends,” he said. “All the people that support me in my life.”

At just 16-years-old, Fabricio Martinez was already running his fourth marathon through SRLA. He joined the program in middle school after discovering a love for running as a child. Throughout the race, he focused on one simple strategy. “I just think of each mile as a milestone,” he said. The final stretch tested him. “The last six miles were very hard, but I made it through.”

For senior Nicolas Soltero, this year’s race carried a sense of closure. It was his fourth SRLA marathon, and likely his final one before graduation.

“This one was really challenging,” Soltero said. “The heat definitely played a big factor.”  As the miles added up, he found motivation in the people waiting for him at the finish line. “I thought about my family and my friends,” he said. “I didn’t want to disappoint them.”

After crossing the finish line, one person in particular was on his mind. “My girlfriend surprised me and came today,” he said with a smile.

For Nicholas Gomez, known to his teammates as “A-Train,” the race was a chance to take in the city one last time before graduating. “This marathon meant a lot,” he said. “It’s my last year since I’m a senior.” His favorite moment,  “Seeing the Oscar statue,” he said, laughing. “I even got a selfie with it.”

For coaches like Oscar de la Baya, watching students achieve something so difficult never gets old. “We have ten students running today,” he said. “They’ve been putting in all the work. Every day they show up and run.”

Seeing them finish the marathon is something special. “It’s just the most amazing feat that they’re accomplishing.”

For the students themselves, the experience will stay with them long after the soreness fades because running a marathon at seventeen or eighteen years old is not just a race, but a blueprint for life.

As Trapani reflected on the meaning of this year’s race, the lesson felt especially clear. “These kids are out there overcoming obstacles, and when completing the race, they’ll feel the gratitude and accomplishment that comes with it.”