Weather Is Blamed for Decrease in Audience for Los Angeles Marathon

Rain and cool weather might have helped the runners in the fifth annual Los Angeles Marathon Sunday, but it kept the expected crowds away. “We have a tradition in this city--when it rains, we stay home,” Bill Burke, president of the race, said Monday at a news conference.

Entries, too, didn’t reach the 20,000 mark that officials had expected. The 18,918 entrants were one more than entered the 1989 race. Of that group, 14,249 finished. Race organizers estimated there were more than 850,000 people watching the race from the streets, fewer than in past years.

Television ratings, too, were down from before. Channel 13’s live coverage of the race received a 10.4 rating and 29 share, according to station manager Rick Feldman.

Last year’s rating was 12.0 and a 34 share.