`COATMAN' IN AGAIN MARSELLA RUNS IN COAT, TIE FOR 14TH L.A. MARATHON.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

The Los Angeles Marathon has always featured a cast of characters, runners far back in the pack who concern themselves more with entertaining their fellow participants than finishing in a respectable time.

With the possible exception of the ``pancake-flipping man,'' whose moniker accurately describes his gimmick, Dennis ``Coatman'' Marsella might have earned the most fame for running in Los Angeles.

Marsella, a resident of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will run his 14th Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, and has completed the last 75 marathons he has entered, despite the fact he wears a shirt, tie and overcoat over his shorts on the course.

Marsella estimated the temperature inside the coat can top 100 degrees, which begs the obvious question: ``Why?''

``In 1981, while I was a lifeguard, I got the idea,'' Marsella told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. ``I read a book about core temperature and running, along with resistance against the air.

``I figured this would be the most insane thing you could do - to run a 26-mile marathon with a coat on. It's a stunt and I thought it would be a world record.

``It's spiritual motivation and I consider myself a performance artist. I'm not just a runner. I also incorporate modern dance into my running. You have to look at me like a figure skater. I like to perform my art and I like to notoriety that comes with it. I get satisfaction from what I do.''

--Staying the course: The course remains unchanged for the second consecutive year, largely because the men's record was broken last year by Simon Bor of Kenya.

Race president Dr. William Burke was desperate for a new record, which he called his ``holy grail'' at one point and promised to make changes if a new record was not set, but Bor's time of 2 hours, 9 minutes and 25 seconds dismissed talk of a new course.

The course bottoms out at an altitude of 157 feet in the seventh mile, just north of Exposition Park, and climbs to a peak of 401 feet at the 20th mile, near Hollywood and Vine. The closing miles feature a slow and steady descent, with a finish in front of the Central Public Library on Flower between Fifth and Sixth Streets. < AT A GLANCE

What: Los Angeles Marathon XV

When: Sunday

Start: 8:45 a.m., Downtown L.A., corner of Figueroa and Sixth Street.

Finish: Downtown L.A., corner of Fifth Street and Flower, in front of Los Angeles Central Public Library.

Course records: Men, Simon Bor of Kenya, 2:09:25 (1999); Women, Madina Bitktagirova of C.I.S., 2:26:23 (1992)

Prize: $35,000 and a 2000 Honda Accord to top man and woman

Details: More than 21,000 runners are scheduled to compete in the 26.2-mile race. Bike Tour begins at 6 a.m. near Coliseum, and 5K walk/run begins at 9:30 a.m. near the Convention Center.

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Box: At a glance (see text)