A Brief History of the Griffith Park Trail Marathon Relay & 8K
The Griffith Park Trail Marathon Relay was founded in 2013 by Joe Matis, then-owner of A Runner’s Circle in Los Feliz. Inspired by the long-gone Jimmy Stewart Relay Marathon, Joe wanted to revive the team-based spirit of racing in Griffith Park. The first event quickly drew over a hundred teams from across Southern California, establishing itself as a unique community race.
In 2016, race leadership transitioned to Choy Bacor and Leland Mah, who expanded the event’s reach and offerings. To welcome more runners of all levels, they introduced the 8K race in 2017, which added an accessible solo option alongside the challenging relay format.
Over the years, the event has grown into the largest marathon relay in Los Angeles, regularly attracting more than 250 teams and thousands of individual runners. It has become not only a celebration of endurance and teamwork but also a festival of community, music, and outdoor culture in Griffith Park.
In 2024, the event earned national recognition when Runner’s World included the Griffith Park Trail 8K in its list of “The 10 Best Races You’ve Never Heard Of.” This accolade highlighted the race’s scenic course, lively post-race atmosphere, and deep roots in the Los Angeles running community.
OTG Events is a Glendale-based production company that designs hyper-local running experiences. Founded in 2015 by Choy and Leland, the team quickly launched its first race—the 2016 Griffith Park Trail Marathon Relay & 8K. Since then, the company has continued to grow. It has produced popular events such as the Los Angeles Sunset Trail Relay and the Hollywood Sign Run | Hike. Through each race, OTG Events brings runners together, highlights the local community, and delivers memorable experiences for outdoor enthusiasts.
