Race Skirt, My (2) Race number(s) and my medal

As I was packing to go home, I spotted my race skirt. Since November, I had my original race number tucked into my suitcase. Race morning I decide to wear both. The new race bib mostly covering the old one, but other runners would see it and smile. Also included, obligatory medal shot.

Race Notes: Pasadena Half Marathon (Now With Extra Drama)

This was the Re-do of the Inaugural Pasadena race. The race was scheduled last November. Unfortunately the race was canceled a 4 am the morning of the event due to poor air quality from the wildfires. I was disappointed for the competitors, but also for the race organizers. The organizers, a community non-profit, had tried to put on a great, high quality event only to be snuffed out by a natural disaster. A lot of competitors were pissed especially since the event didn't have cancellation insurance and couldn't refund entry fees. However, runners who were willing to try again were given a steep discount. (Lets keep this in perspective. Some people lost everything they owned in the wildfires. A race entry, while annoying, isn't that big.)

For the re- inaugural, I paid extra to pick up my race number on race morning. Last November, I very nearly missed picking up my race number when we got caught in the wildfire evacuation traffic. It's good that I paid for race morning privileges this time. Running to catch the Amtrak to Pasadena, we were confounded by a convertible roof that got stuck halfway up. Then when we changed trains in LA Union Station, Steve's wallet got lost or stolen. We finally made it to Pasadena long after the race expo had closed.

The race was challenging because it was rainy, windy and chilly. There were times when the race conditions were miserable, but there were also some really nice miles. The course was slightly hilly including a steady climb for miles 8-10. I had a little stomach ache and decided to stay off my beloved raisin nut trail mix on the course. I ended up finally using the Shot Blox I've carried in my race belt for the last 18 months. My tummy held up and I had plenty of gas to the finish. Along the course, there were a few spectators and some truly valiant volunteers. As I rounded the bend to the finish, Steve was waiting. It was awesome to see him at the finish line.

Steve and I spent the afternoon walking around the art collections and gardens of the Huntington Library. We barely covered half of the place. I was telling Steve that I wanted to come back and see the rest, but we haven't had much luck in our two Pasadena trips - wildfires, storms, lost wallets. He laughed and reminded me that we had three trips to Pasadena. The third trip was also a misadventure. Pasadena just doesn't like us.

Congratulations go to the event organizers - they did a great job and this was the quality event they envisioned. You'll have to pardon me if I don't show up for next year's race. After wildfires and storms, I'm worried the third race might have a swarm of locusts!

Canceled

Canceled due to air quality conditions created by the wildfires. Let me share with you this nugget of the wisdom from Bull Durham.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains a wildfire sweeps through and the race gets canceled. Think about that for a while.
- Ebby Calvin LaLoosh

Stay Safe

Steve and I got to Pasadena after a pretty stressful, traffic-filled drive. I spent about a hour on the road wondering where all these people were going on a Saturday afternoon. Then I looked at the sunset and thought - hey that's smoke. Damn. Wildfires.

We made it in the nick of time to pick up my race number. Most of the fitness expo was already closed. When I picked up my number they said to check the website at 4 am. They may need to cancel the race due to poor air quality.

It would be sad to cancel the race, but it might be for the best. No one wants to have a race that's dangerous to the participants or spectators. Between the heat and the air quality, perhaps another day will be safer. When it comes right down to it - a race is relatively unimportant in comparison to the big events in life like the damage the fires can do.

Hopefully, the fires will be quickly extinguished with minimal damage and injury.

URGENT EVENT UPDATE!

We are in consultation with air-quality experts, as well as health and fire officials, to determine if last-minute adjustments to our event must be made as a result of fires burning locally. If the event must be cancelled due to poor air quality, this determination will be made at 4:00 a.m., and all persons who are signed up for our newsletter will receive a notification to this effect. We thank you for your support and patience.

Groundhog Day Race

It never changes. My race is Sunday. What makes me miserable in a race? Heat. Exactly how many races do I need to do in sweltering temperatures?

Let's read this warning from today's final pre-race newsletter email.

Pasadena Marathon

Final Pre-event Newsletter

RACE DAY TEMPERATURE ADVISORY

Unseasonably high temperatures expected for this weekend can present some Race Day dangers which we are taking very seriously, and we implore our participants to do so as well.

The forecast is for 90°F weather. In case you've missed tearing a few pages from the old calendar - it's November. The average high in Pasadena is 74°F; the record high: 90°F (1949). Yep, I'll be doing a half marathon in heat that Pasadena hasn't seen in November in 60 years.

One day I'm just going to get it over with and do a race on the surface of the sun.

So Long Rose Bowl Half Marathon

It's been swelteringly hot here which can only mean one thing - I've got a race this weekend!

We're off to the Long Beach Half Marathon. This one is a girls trip and I'm looking forward to it. Honestly, other than my weekly long runs I haven't been running much lately. Instead I've spent a lot of workouts in the pool. It's been almost 2 months since my last half marathon and that's too long for me. Having a race on the immediate horizon keeps me focused.

In other race news, I've changed my race calendar again. I'm dropping the Rose Bowl Half Marathon. They are doing something I find annoying which is forcing everyone to pay active.com fees. The race is $105 dollars total, $85 race registration + 10 bucks in mandatory active.com registration fees + 10 bucks for parking. I emailed them a few times about mailing a registration and by-passing the active.com fee and they never bothered to respond. If you want to charge 105 bucks, fine, but don't bury additional charges in parking and active.com. Nothing against active.com; they're a local San Diego company and they provide a good service. However, given the choice between a 10 dollar active.com fee or a 42 cent postage stamp, I'll use the stamp.

So that's it for the Rose Bowl Half Marathon. We did the inaugural Rose Bowl race last year and it was a nice event, but not worth $105 bucks. Dropping the Rose Bowl half makes room for the Pasadena Half Marathon and the White Rock Half Marathon in Dallas. Both of those races look good. No regrets on dumping Rose Bowl.