By Melonie Magruder
Lookout Staff

March 19, 2012 -- The 27th edition of the Honda LA Marathon (formerly the City of Los Angeles Marathon) ended in Santa Monica under unexpectedly clear, blue skies Sunday, with a crowd on hand to welcome the finishers at the pier.

A number of Santa Monica residents took the 26.219-mile challenge and performed respectably. On the men’s track, Mike Davies came in at 2:44:39; Joseph Balogh at 3:12:09; and Arne Emerson at 3:19:16.

On the women’s side, Susan Boyajan clocked 3:22:19; Julia Kolyadenko at 3:39:44; and Jessica Elizabeth Elleman at 3:41:18.

While competitive, they ran considerably behind the winners: 31-year-old Simon Njoroge from Iten, Kenya (2:12:12) and 20-year-old Fatuma Sado from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, whose time of 2:25:39 was the fourth-fastest performance in the history of the women’s L.A. Marathon.

A number of runners were pacing it for good causes. RoseMary Regalbuto, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels West, was running again to benefit her nonprofit. Last year, Regalbuto and her volunteers managed to raise some $20,000 for Meals on Wheels, which delivers hot meals and friendship to homebound elderly.

Regalbuto, who was recognized shortly after last year’s Marathon by the League of Women Voters for her outstanding contributions to the community, kept a brisk walking/jogging pace to come in this year at 5:00:42.

Celebrities were out raising money for charity as well. Michael Balzary – otherwise known as Flea, famed bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers – was running to raise money for his Silver Lake Conservatory of Music, which is trying to make up for the lack of arts funding in local public schools. He ended up with a time of 3:42:26 and more than $67,000 to show for his efforts.