🌹 Rose Bowl Half Recap🌹

Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Half is the official Half leading up to the LA Marathon. On January 22nd, I ran in this half. And, OBVIOUSLY, I set out for a PR and a sub-2, or 9:09/mile goal. Finished 2:01:05, which was a PR by 10+ minutes.

Afterthoughts about the race are as follows.

The good: I can run faster in weird conditions: hills or rain, heat or crowds. THE RUN CLUBS. WHAT ARE THESE RUN CLUBS. THE VIBES. Friday donut, Strugglebus, Pasadena Pacers, and many more - overall 10/10 energy. Free things, lots of in-your-face screaming, lots of high fives, and overall fantastic to run through the crowds. I stole so many high fives from clubs I’ve never visited. It was epic. 2 run clubs stood WAY the (can I curse on here, gonna curse on here) fuck out!

Koreatown Run Club cheer station was a whole wild trip. I’m talking so-many-people and who-brought-the-sound-system and that-guy-is-screaming-at-us-from-his-chair-ladder-rig. It felt like running through a Tony Robbins event with a lot more Millennial and Gen-z attendees. I want to check them out sometime.

Running through Eagle Rock (meet @ Walts) cheer station was like running through a Jimmy Buffett song. Just encouragement-on-maximum-chill. Flashback time. Remember high school senior skip day? I’m from Florida and our skip day was a “let’s cut class and head to the beach” day. Running through ERRC cheer station gave me those feelings. It felt like I was doing something deliciously mischievous. It was like Senior Skip Day emotions, while being followed by Most Likely To Chase You With A Megaphone. You run (quite literally) away from hard work and towards a finish line. For me, this cheer station resurrected the best feelings of youth and adulthood - living in the moment, enjoying every minute, and remembering it’ll be over soon. Super big thanks to Steve and the entire cheering crew for sharing infectious joy out there, and also the high fives. ERRC’s vibe was exactly what I needed at mile eight (and every day).

Reason # 9825831 Why I love the energy at Eagle Rock Run Club

The Eagle Rock cheer station also passed out the best tchotchkes. Pic definitely, probably not related. :sly_wink:

The bad: My second toenail on my left foot is hanging on for dear life. It’s nasty AF. Not gonna include a pic. YW.

The ugly: I got a little frustrated with the lack of corrals and having to weave like a mad woman for the first 3 miles, uphill. Wish I could have just enjoyed the slow start, but I was so hopeful for the PR that anxiety kicked in. Future me: don’t be like this. Let it go.

In conclusion, I feel too lazy to write a conclusion. Here are some pics instead.