Rose Bowl Race

It's done! The race is over! Overall it was a wonderful day.

Zack and I ran together for the first 6 miles of the race. I forgot how silly he is when he runs. He's chatty, making jokes to me and other runners. He cheer and claps for any spectators out on the road. Funny.

First of all I'll say, I love Pasadena (and La Canada) houses. So so very much. They are so charming and classy. We ran past so many that made me stare and smile. Large, tree-lined streets, big front lawns, thoughtful house fronts with shutters, nice doors and windows, careful Christmas decorations. It was so delightful. And helped the first few miles pass.

Around mile 4 we had just finished coming up a pretty big hill when we encountered a strange house-turned-business of some sort. Imagine my surprise when I read the sign "Embassy of the Republic of Korea"!!! Can you believe that?? I thought of YOU and ran a little faster then. We came back afterward to take photos. I've lived in this area for almost 2 decades and never knew this building existed. How fitting to find it on this day, on World Run Day.

We ran back towards the Rose Bowl and onto the trails over towards La Canada. Running at the Rose Bowl always reminds me of my dad. And the Saturday mornings when I would pull into our special parking area on the wood chips and find my dad's car already there. He loved running around the Rose Bowl. So I thought of him and kept going.

The dirt trails over towards LCHS reminded me of running in high school track with Haley, back when I was training for my first marathon ever. I remember how excited I felt about running a big race. And how everyone thought I was crazy. And how I didn't really know what I was getting myself in to. Five years later and I'm still going at it. Who would've thought.

We ran through the back of Oak Grove/Hahamongna Park and the Flintridge Riding Club. Which made me think of Christine and how horse-back riding is to her what running is to me. It made me hope she'll find a way to keep it up.

Next came JPL, with some pretty rocky and annoying terrain. JPL will always remind me of September 11. We were at school watching the news coverage in each class. Until they told us school was cancelled and they were sending everyone home. JPL was worried about being a potential target and had evacuated. Our school was so close that they sent us home too. I remember watching kids run through the parking lot all excited and happy to get out of class. I remember being so annoyed and mad at them for their lack of understanding. When September 11 comes each year and people ask "where were you", do those guys think about how excited they were to skip school and get drunk? That's too bad for them.

At mile ten, we rounded the corner from Linda Vista over back towards the Rose Bowl. This corner I have run so very many times, the most recent being two weeks ago when doing my training run at Thanksgiving. I was overcome with a surge of energy and ran faster than I had since the beginning of the race for the next two miles. It just felt great to be in such familiar settings. And to be almost done!

(The beautiful Pasadena Tournament house. Passed while running up California Ave.
Or was it Orange Grove? I can't remember now...)

Mile 12 was hard and long and annoying. It's my least favorite side of the Rose Bowl loop… But with the help of some great music (Let's Get It Started, Coldplay new one, ) I made it through. All until The Killers – When You Were Young came on. It was exactly what I needed to get me around the final corner. Is it bad to say Guitar Hero helped me finish the race? Because it's kinda true. Guitar Hero and being in Utah at the Wiley's house and carefree days when I would stop by in the middle of the day just to play.

Finish line crossed and race done. Zack was there to greet me which is always nice. I certainly didn't set any PRs, partly due to my rotten IT bands which flared up around mile 2... But I really don't care. I'm just glad to get another race under my belt.

Post race snacks included cookies, which I would normally pass right by. But in the name of officially ending the treat fast I figured what the heck and partook. Oh how I love a good chocolate chip cookie!!! A photo shoot followed. And all was well.

After the race we had a delicious lunch at Taco Deli and then I made a request that we stop at Penguin's, home to the very best (in my very experience opinion...) frozen yogurt on the planet. Along with a wide assortment of toppings that make the whole thing complete. Contrary to what the picture might show, I did not eat an enormous helping. Although I probably wouldn't feel bad even if I had.

(Please excuse my super squinty, crazy hair look. That's what pure joy from having ice cream again looks like.)