Echo Park Patch Live from the 2012 L.A. Marathon Starting Line

We'll check in in five-minute blocks starting around 6:30 a.m.

The Marathon begins with the wheelchair racers at 6:55 a.m.

The elite women off at 7:07, the elite men behind them at 7:24, with everyone else in the 25,000-runner field behind.

They'll continue as late as 11:10 a.m. in the Echo Park-Silver Lake area.

A very slight chance of thunderstorms and temperatures in the low-50s are forecast. Rrganizers say they are much better prepared than last year when at least 300 runners had to be treated for hypothermia in the rain.

Plastic bags will be available for those at the startline and tens of thousands of mylar blankets will be at stations along the course.

We'll keeping an eye on runner 5658, Howie Goldklang, a local business owner who's been blogging for us about his final days training for his first marathon. He'll have a final blog AFTER the race Monday.

Patch local editors Sara Fay and Jenna Chandler will be covering the rest of the race. Watch for their coverage on the site.

And don't be shy about uploading images of your own using our Patch app.