Kastor plans to run in LA Marathon

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Three-time Olympian Deena Kastor plans to run in her hometown Los Angeles Marathon on March 17

Kastor will be running in the race for the first time. She won the 2005 Chicago Marathon and the 2006 London Marathon, where she set an American women's marathon record of 2 hours, 19 minutes, 36 seconds. She won a bronze medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Kastor says she was on the LA Marathon course last year while broadcasting the race and she was impressed with the route and energy she saw. The race begins at Dodger Stadium and ends near the Santa Monica Pier.

Other than last year's U.S. Olympic trials, it will be Kastor's first marathon since before the birth of her daughter two years ago.

LA Marathon race director Nick Curl says Kastor's participation is a major milestone for the event.

Kastor, who is from Agoura Hills, Calif., currently lives in Mammoth, Calif., with her husband and daughter.