It was a awesome and cheerful half marathon, despite the fact that it was postponed because of the fires. Pasadena half it's a yearly run which helps me prepare for LAM. This year it was more ghetto as there was a running club from the valley screaming and drinking alcohol out in the open with out concern for other sober runners, but regardless, a must do run. read more

Pasadena Half Marathon & 5K - Races & Competitions Near Me - Pasadena, California

This race was acquired by the McCourt Foundation several years ago and became the Rose Bowl Half Marathon. Everything about the race is the same but a few logistic and planning decisions take away from the overall experience. The bib pick-up process is by far the biggest negative. They don't allow you to pick-up for others and only provide a few locations in Pasadena and Santa Monica. There's no expo so why make everyone pick up their own bib. Or why not provide more locations to make it more convenient for those who don't live in Pasadena/LA? The other complaint is that the only recognition for legacy runners (whose who've run every race since 2016) is a banner at the race. Loyalty runners (2 consecutive races) get a pin. Most other races have more substantive recognition for their loyal runners. read more

My son and I ran the 5k this evening, and quite frankly it was heaven sent! Races are back people and I relished in every second of it. From same day bib pick up and registration (for my son who I asked an hour before the race to join me), every aspect was smooth sailing. Parking was a breeze, and free. Shirts we'll probably never wear and soon donate were crisp and readily available. Start line was organized. Standing in the corral hands over our little beating hearts as the star spangled banner was belted out over the mic made me feel like Southern California was finally resuming some sense of normalcy. It felt incredible to feel our feet graze over start and finish line mats, pin on bibs, pant our way through the summer temps although appreciative the course was mainly shaded. Gathering in person, not distanced, not masked, not "virtual" was the best experience to jump start our holiday weekend. Neither of us ran it for time... although I did have us hurry to leave after our finish since I had a flight to catch and when we made it back to the car I said "we better both be in the top 3 for our age groups" half jokingly. The 5k is split between two days this year, July 2 and 3. I ran it as a first run back before 4th of July's Peachtree Road Race, to sort of get my feet wet again and remember what being around runners feels like again. It'll be a smooth and steady transition for me but I'm grateful for every in person race on the horizon this year. Our medals were really nice too! While virtual runs may have held some people over during the past 16 months, nothing in this world compares to being back in person for these events. Thank you to every person who made this possible, all volunteers and event staff, your efforts are deeply appreciated by the running community who have been waiting as patiently as possible to get back to it. Congrats to all finishers on what I heard was most everyones first run back in an extremely long time. Peachtree, Seattle half Mary and Chicago marathon here I come. Thanks Pasadena 5k for being such a gem! read more

I ran the Pasadena half 2019 & 2020. I really enjoyed the course. There is elevation the first 2 miles and after the next 11.1 miles is relatively flat with small hills. The course hits Norton Simon museum, Caltech, old town Pasdena, and (of course) Rose bowl. My favorite was finishing inside the Rose bowl. I really enjoyed running this race in 2019 so I was excited to run it again this year. But, I felt Conqur really tried to cut corners compared to last year. I was told there wasn't an expo this year due to lack to vendors willing to participate (BOO!). This year the shirt was cotton that we needed to pick up the morning of (WHY?!). 2019 it was a tech shirt but the women's were a v-neck and men's a crew neck (WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!) and the color was a dull periwinkle. The medal for this year is thinner/lighter than last years. The post-race snacks ran out pretty quickly. I will only run it again next year if I decide to participate for the ConqurLA challenge. read more

Pasadena Half Marathon & 5K - Races & Competitions Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I registered for this run to participate in the Tour of LA 5K challenge . Overall I liked it. Pros: - It's at the famous Rose Bowl in Pasadena! The finish line was inside the Rose Bowl which was pretty awesome. - free parking ! - tons of free snacks at the finish line. - good course. Well marked and spacious. One good loop. Cons: - when the email says "arrive no later than 6 am to avoid closure of streets nearby" GET THERE AT 5:00 am. I'm not kidding . Arriving at 5:30 am was a traffic nightmare ! - for bib pick up , do not park at the Pasadena convention center for $15. Look for metered parking nearby or park across the street at Paseo. Getting out of the parking lot was easy. You're in Pasadena so there's plenty of places to eat nearby (please ignore the 1 star review for the lack of food trucks. You're at a run, not a festival). I would definitely do this venue again for a run. read more

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I've ran a handful of half marathons, and I would say that while the race itself was fine, the other perks (that would make it an otherwise 5-star experience) were overall underwhelming. I also paid $120 for this race... which was pricy considering the types of runner perks that you receive. PROS: - Free event parking at the Rose Bowl (get there early to find a spot/sit through traffic as there is only one entrance to the parking lots) - Lots of porta-potties on race day - Relatively flat race (some ups and downs, but overall elevation change is no more than 200ft) - You run past Pasadena landmarks (Rose Bowl, Cal Tech, Old Town Pasadena, Norton Simon Museum) - Ample water stations and mile markers through the race course - Awesome weather - PR'ed!!! CONS: - Underwhelming/very minimal pre- and post- race expo - Post race goodies consisted only of water, bagels, and bananas...and some Goldfish packs - Virtual goody bag with no good or useful perks - Cotton finisher T shirt (not dri fit) - Cannot pick up bibs for friends/family who cannot do advance pick up (need to pay $20 for same day pick up) - Race time is recorded as both gun and chip time (your rank is based on gun time) - Corrals are tight at the beginning- ended up having to weave the first few miles Overall, given how close this race is to my house, I would consider running it again, but probably sign up super early to pay a ~decent~ price for the minimal perks this race offers. Glad to have PR'ed though, and overall had a solid race experience. read more

Pasadena Half Marathon & 5K - Races & Competitions Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Had it not been for the Conqur LA challenge, I probably wouldn't have signed up for the Pasadena Half, but I was pleasantly surprised by the scenic beauty of the Pasadena Half Marathon, which wends its way through the hills around the Rose Bowl and through the streets of Old Town Pasadena. The course isn't particularly challenging even as there is some elevation gain. (If you're looking for something flat, head down to the OC.) Pros: + Free parking close to the starting line. I was able to hide in my car to avoid the chilly 41-degree weather. + Ample refreshments (water and Gatorade) as well as medical tents along the course route. + Medals were nicely designed and had decent heft. + Although corral placement was only loosely enforced (compared to runDisney events), I appreciated that people mostly adhered to the placement. I didn't feel like I had to weave my way through people compared to other races. + The finish line - in the Rose Bowl - was pretty spectacular! Cons: - Only two entrances to reach the free parking. Make sure you leave early enough to park, as I waited 30+ minutes to exit the 210 at Seco. - The Expo was disappointing for several reasons: small size and high price of parking ($13). Park at Paseo Colorado or take the Gold Line to save a few bucks. - Post-race snack options (Muscle Milk protein bars and Goldfish) not suitable for all dietary restrictions, but this is probably more a reflection of the sponsors than anything else. Thanks, Pasadena, for helping me set a new PR! read more

Pasadena Half Marathon & 5K - 2018 bling - Races & Competitions Near Me - Pasadena, California

The Pasadena half marathon & 5k is organized by the Conqur Endurance group, the same group that organized the LA Marathon, and now the Santa Monica Classic, and LA Big 5k. I ended up doing the 5k for this event since I signed up for the bundle deal 5k tour which also included the Santa Monica classic & the LA Big 5k. If it wasn't for the bundle package I probably would have passed on this race since it was kind of pricey being around $50 for the 5k & around $130 for the half marathon. They did offer cheaper early bird prices but that was probably 9 months before the race Minus the rain the race itself wasn't bad, the 5k went around the "track" loop at the Rose Bowl & finished on the field. The race ended up starting 20 minutes late because people were either stuck in traffic getting there or just showed up late, and the start of the race went right through where parking for the stadium comes through. It was nice of the race to give some leeway for people that paid for this race & not lock them out, but it kind of sucked sitting out in the cold wondering when we were finally going to start. Since I ran the inaugural race and earned "legacy status" I'll probably consider running this race again in the future as long as they continue to offer challenger series with the other events they organize. Pros: Free parking for the race in the Rose Bowl, free downloadable race photos, division awards for top 3 finishers male and female in age divisions for the 5k and Half marathon, and free beer after the race. Cons: Expensive registration price, race delay do to the parking entrance going pass the beginning of the course, and the expo was lack luster (but most race expos are now a day). read more

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Hats off to the folks of Conqur Endurance Group on the superb production of the 2018 Pasadena Half Marathon. The parking situation greatly improved from last year. The course, which I call a running tour of Pasadena, was clearly marked throughout the race and flowed smoothly. The generous amount of water, Gatorade and Gatorade Endurance support stations were all staffed with AMAZING volunteers and the live bands, DJs and cheerleading squads throughout the race gave the athletes some added enjoyment and an extra mental boost. The Pace Leaders from the LA Road Runners kept runners wanting to keep to a specific finish time on track. Shout out to PL Stu with the 2:30 group. Mother Nature pitched in and gave us a beautiful dry and clear, albeit cold, day. Hopefully she'll hook us up with an extra 15 degrees at start time next year because the low 40's this morning was brutal!! (this is SoCal, people...Do. Not. Judge...) Nothing special about the expo, and the parking is still terrible unless you get there early. Medals were done well once again. It is definitely the heaviest medal in my collection. This was my second year running this race and I will most definitely be back in 2019. read more

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Finally got to run the Pasadena Half Marathon in 2018! I was signed up for last year's Inaugural Half, but shin splint issues prevented me from running. No more shin splints and a new PR! 4 stars for my half marathon #4! Why not 5 stars? *The price to run the Pasadena Half is a little pricey. It's just a half marathon, and there are marathons with cheaper registration prices. *Read about the parking issues from 2017 on Yelp, and there's still plenty of needed improvement. It took way too much time to get to the Rose Bowl before the race, and it was a nightmare getting out at the end of the event. Why almost 5 stars? *The route is pretty scenic and amazing! Not only do you get to finish right on the Rose Bowl field, but you also get to run under and over the Colorado Street Bridge. The route passes by Old Town Pasadena, the Lake Avenue Shopping District, as well as the Caltech campus! *It's a pretty good course with a few little hills with lots of flat sections. Definitely an okay course for a first time half marathon runner. *Water and Gatorade were available throughout the course, as well as portable bathrooms. Plenty of post race food was also available at the finish area. *The medal is really nice, and I love its size and heft. Definitely a cool reward and memento for running through the streets of Pasadena. *The race is pretty organized, from the race expo to race day. Thank you to all the volunteers who made it a successful race. *Yes the registration fee is pretty steep, but the charity for the Pasadena Half is the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House! Some tips for 2019... *Don't pay for parking at the expo at the Pasadena Convention Center. There's plenty of free parking spaces on adjacent residential streets that's pretty close the convention center. *Expect to wait a very long time to park and to get out of the Rose Bowl on race day. Arrive super early in the morning. If you are stuck at the end of the race, leave your car and use Uber/Lyft and go to brunch. There's definitely a wide variety of brunch choices in the Pasadena area that are not on the race course. Actually did this after waiting for almost 30 minutes, and the place was pretty empty when we came back at about noon. read more

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The Pasadena Half Marathon & 5K is a terrific race. I loved coming into the final stretch, down the tunnel and onto the field at the Rose Bowl. I hadn't trained enough and faded a bit at the end, dropping from first in my age group at the 5K and 10K marks down to third. Much as I wanted to come back and grab that top spot in my age group this year, I WAITED TOO LONG AND NOW IT'S SOLD OUT. I was HAPPY TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE nearby at UCLA, Women Run LA, and I'll have to review it afterward so you all will know how it compares. I do like their mantra: "There is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." Although I'll probably use the mantra that kept me going at Pasadena Half 2018: "My legs are quick, my will is strong, I can do this all day long." Good luck on January 20! read more

Pasadena Half Marathon & 5K - Me last year. Sorry I missed reg before it sold it. - Races & Competitions Near Me - Pasadena, California

I've run this race twice (the 5K in 2018 and the half in 2019) and I say NEVER AGAIN! The race is expensive (both distances, compared to other similar events) and frankly, the logistics suck. I ran it each time as part of the Conqur challenges (the triple 5K tour of LA in 2018 and the Conqur LA challenge in 2019) and this race is definitely the red-headed stepchild of the series. 1) $40 fee for race day pickup is EXCESSIVE. In 2018, I opted for this, even though it DOUBLED the cost of my race, because it didn't make sense to make two round trips to Pasadena for a 30 minute run . It takes me over an hour to get to Pasadena... why would I do this twice? My running partner works right there, but they didn't let him pick up for me. 2) Lame race expo: In 2019, I opted for the expo, and made other plans nearby to justify the obscene amount of driving (see number 1) and was "rewarded" with one of the most sub-par race expos I've ever been to. 3) AWFUL parking logistics. In 2018, I planned to get to the race an hour early (which is PLENTY of time normally). Because of the way they manage the Rose Bowl, we spent nearly an hour just trying to get into the parking lot. My friend had to park my car so I could get my bib and I BARELY made the race. Turn to 2019... we arrived 2 hours early and that's the only way the parking situation is managable, but I left my house at 4:15 AM for a 7 AM start. RIDICULOUS. 4) Mediocre courses, especially the half. 5) AWFUL race shirts, terrible design, poor quality. However, there are a few redeeming features of this race: 1) Rudy Novotny as the race announcer--he is one of the best out there and creates the best start and finish line environment. 2) Finish line on the Rose Bowl 50 yard line. 3) Free race photos (sadly the other cConqur races don't offer this). 4) Nice bling (like the other Conqur races) Sadly, the negatives FAR outweigh the positives and I won't be back. I love the other Conqur events (Santa Monica Classic, LA Big5K and LA Marathon), so don't let this one deter you... just skip it and do the others. read more

I ran this only to complete the Conqur Endurance challenge. I'm not sure I would do it again due to price, as it was $100 for the super early bird registration in May (8 months before the race). I'd say a decent price for a half is more like $70-90. However, the race does have a lot of positives, as mentioned above, and it did come with free pictures, so that's makes up for some of the sting. Overall, I definitely feel like I got my money's worth out of this race, but I would also say I'm not the type of runner who's willing to pay for this much quality all the time. *Well organized race, with an excess of PortaPotties (this is a very GOOD thing), but with no hand sanitizer in the PortaPotties at the start line (this is a BAD thing). *SIGHTS: good, with a good balance between city running and nature running. Running over the Colorado Street bridge with all of its lights and seeing other bridges in the distance is a highlight since it's normally closed to foot traffic, though of course it isn't as beautiful as it would be at night. Of course, finishing in the Rose Bowl stadium is a treat, though you'll earn that treat as the final stretch of the course is a seemingly endless loop around the stadium. *SHIRT: color is awful, some bad mix between blue and purple. Still, it's a quality tech shirt. I'll keep it to use as a disposable outer layer at my next race (clothing disposed at the start line is usually picked up by the organizers and donated to local shelters). *MEDAL: very nice, with the front being the Pasadena foothills and the Colorado Street bridge dovetailing into the Rose Bowl stadium, and the back side being a big picture of a rose. VERY good heft. *BIB: good artwork of the Colorado Street bridge on it, which is very nice considering most bibs are completely plain. TIPS: *Take the Gold Line metro to the bib pickup. Don't pay $10+ for parking at the Convention Center. *The program advised getting to the site by 6am, an hour before the race. GET THERE EARLIER. Terrified by the parking nightmares experienced by other reviewers, I got to the site at 4:45, encountered almost no traffic, and slept in my car for the next hour (bonus tip - bring sunglasses to block out the spotlights lighting the lots and extra clothing to keep yourself warm in the cold car). When I got up an hour later, there were long lines of cars in every direction. My friend was getting dropped off and eventually just had to get out of the car and walk to the site. *Remember where you parked! After the race, the lots were filled with haggard runners staggering around looking for their cars in vain, repeatedly pressing the buttons on their car remote and hoping to hear the chirp that would mean their car was nearby. Unfortunately, with the many metal cars blocking the signals, people had to almost get on top of their cars before being able to leave. *This was the first race I've ever heard of that broadcast the race on Facebook Live. I watched some of the footage and they did an above-average job, considering that they're a race company and not a news company. read more

Pasadena Half Marathon & 5K - Medal and shirt - Races & Competitions Near Me - Pasadena, California

I just completed the half marathon and had a really good time. Not only was it pretty much in my backyard, the route was well-marked and there were lots of porta-potties ( one of my pre-race anxieties). Bib pick up was 1-2 days before the actual event at the Pasadena Convention Center. Can be a little difficult to get to depending in what's going on that weekend( there was also a cheerleading competition/event) so it was very loud and crowded in the area...but whatever, the event itself was exceeded my expectations. On race morning, it's pretty easy getting in to park but getting OUT is another story, our car didn't move for about 20 minutes. If they keep the route, there were some minor hills (nothing too crazy) at the beginning but pretty much a flat course. Plenty of mile marker signage and streets are pretty wide. Lots of enthusiastic volunteers and stage performances ( rock, oldies bands) to keep you going. Liquids( water, Gatorade) was plentiful and always present almost every mile. Fast forward to the last .2 mile and running onto the Rose Bowl field to collect your medal...this is the heaviest medal I've earned...just inspiring to end and celebrate your finish on that historic and iconic field! read more

The Pasadena Half Marathon was part of the Conqur LA Challenge with the Santa Monica Classic and LA Marathon. The organization of the event was pretty good. Being that they also organize one of the biggest running events in LA, I was expected more from the sponsors and extras for this race. The race itself was good. The expo was the Friday and Saturday before. Being at the Pasadena Convention Center, parking is expensive BUT if you park to the east of Los Robles on Colorado, it's free parking. The day of the race, they suggested coming before 6, which was good advice because the parking can take a while. The highlight of the event was being able to run across the Colorado Bridge. The route was very flat and perfect for someone looking for a PR. The bling was hefty and at the end of the race, you get to run straight into the Rose Bowl. At the end, you get some snacks but I didn't see a photographer or a large medic area that has people ready to ice your knees. Paying for everything in a package allows you to pay a cheaper price without the numerous ridiculous registration fees. Overall, the race was decent and the route was a beauty. read more

I wanted to like the Pasadena Half Marathon. The Good: 1) This was the inaugural event, so we got the legacy runner status, which was cool. 2) The finisher's metal was a nice and heavy one. 3) It was in Pasadena, which is a great running area. However, given the cost of the race, and the fact that Conquer endurance group does multiple races, you would think that it would be better organized. There were quite a few problems: 1) All bibs had the wrong name on them 2) Parking at the expo was pricey and people were forced to go to pick up the bib 3) Parking at the race was very unorganized, and took a very long time to park. This is the Rose Bowl, so something that they should have been prepared for. 4) Weather was terrible, but there was no mitigation. No tents after the race to go under to avoid the rain. No heaters. 5) Only one beer was being strictly enforced. I don't see why they can't let people have at least 2 beers! 6) The race was delayed 30 minutes. That was unacceptable. The delay only caused the race to occur after the rain came down harder (which was forecasted). There is no excuse to start a race late. ESPECIALLY when the rain is coming! 7) Minimal fan support due to the rain :-( read more

Just ran the 2020 Pasadena half, which was an excellent event. It was organized very well with bib pickup at many locations, there were enough porta potties at the start (always a good metric), and over 9000 people started and finished with a minimum of hassle. The course itself has a few hills but is totally tolerable. Lots of bands and folks cheering as you run thru Pasadena itself. And it finishes on the 50 yard line of the Rose Bowl. I mean, c'mon... There is a 5k and a kid's run as well. Will definitely be running this one again. read more

Overall a really well run and incredibly fun run. It's hard to beat finishing at the 50 yard line in the Rose Bowl stadium. The view from the field with the very heavy medal made for some great post race photos. The day itself was well organized (although the recommended early arrival due to parking delays shouldn't be ignored) with a smooth start, well marked course, and ample water/Gatorade. There are some challenging hills but the course is incredibly beautiful, taking you through neighborhoods and downtown Pasadena. Crossing the Colorado bridge was a nice treat, and clear views of the mountains were a treat as well. I also signed up my two kids for the kids rush. That was also very well organized and ran smoothly. They had a blast and also got to finish on the field which was a really great way to end the morning. I hope the organizers keep this an annual tradition! A big thank you to all the volunteers!! read more

Ran the Pasadena Half Marathon as the second stop of the Conqur LA Challenge. This was my first ever race in the RAIN! Well, really, more of a light drizzle, but let's just call it rain for the sake of simplicity. The threat of rain has loomed over several of my past races, but it's always blown away until Pasadena. I was prepared with ponchos and shoes I was planning on retiring, but the worst part was waiting for the race to start. It was especially bad because the race started about 30 minutes late due to the logjam of traffic getting into the Rose Bowl. I understand that this was the inaugural race so no one really knew what to expect, but there were tons of emails from the race organizers about planning to arrive an hour before the start (6AM). I was torn because part of me wanted everyone to run and have a good time, but the other part was annoyed because I woke up at an ungodly hour and made an effort to arrive early and it was NOT to wait for other people. Trust me, we ran into traffic too, after getting off the freeway, it took about 30 minutes to get the car parked! Other than the late start and the rain, it was just an ok race for me. The first 10 miles involves a lot of out and backs on the streets of Pasadena and the last 3 miles takes you around the Rose Bowl and the neighboring golf course. Those last three miles were painful! My GPS watch went off to let me know that I was a quarter mile from where we had started, but I knew we still had three miles to go! The course is moderately hilly, nothing too bad, but rolling hills here and there. The race finishes on the field of the Rose Bowl which is a nice touch and makes for good photo ops. Oh and speaking of photos, race pictures were free, but I didn't see many photographers probably because of the rain. Overall, would I run this race again? Probably not. It's rather pricey and not really a "destination" race in my opinion. I'm glad I did the Conqur LA Challenge, but it will probably be a one time thing for me. read more

Given the cost of this race (high, especially for a half), and the organizing entity (which puts on the seamless LA Marathon), I expected it to be a little more well-oiled. However, it was an inaugural event so there are surely kinks to work out, and the bad weather didn't help. Expo was pretty mediocre, but many are these days, so I don't necessarily hold it against organizers. Once you've been to one, you've sort of seen them all. That said, it was a quick in-and-out to pick up stuff. Although the organization was a bit odd - the bib pickup was a different location from the shirt pickup which was a separate location from the beer garden wristband pickup. I'd have liked to see those things be laid out a bit more logically so that you could easily flow from one area to the next. They also misprinted a bunch of bibs (including my own), and didn't bother to fix them. They simply put a white label over part of it. I understand logistically that may not have been an easy task, but it didn't make the race look particularly professional. That's a pretty big mistake. Once again, not a big deal in the scheme of things but I expect more professionalism given the cost of the race. I'm not sure what the organizers were expecting with the parking situation. When you close off so many points of entry to the Rose Bowl and are expecting 6,000+ participants, I'm not sure why they didn't foresee parking as an issue. But the participants bear some responsibility here too - they very specifically advised getting there at least an hour early and they, too, should have foreseen the challenges given the weather and closed points of entry to the stadium. I got there at 5:30 (90 minutes before the start time) and it probably took me 20 minutes to enter the Rose Bowl, and that delay only got worse as time went on. The participants who followed directions were punished by having to wait in the rain for the latecomers. I can't blame the organizers for the weather, but it was more than a little frustrating to 1) not have marked corrals and 2) to start the race 20+ minutes late because of late-comers. At the very least, if you're going to begin late, don't line people up in the rain to just wait around. That was frustrating. Perhaps they can modify the course so that participants don't have to traverse the course in their car to get to the start line? With all of that said - Pasadena is a great town to run in. It's historic, beautiful, and the route passes a lot of iconic locations. The course is challenging, but not crazy hard. Finishing on the 50 yard line of the stadium was quite a cool finish, and it would probably be much better with good weather. The medal was beautiful and hefty. This is a great race and I would definitely consider doing it again (although I'd rather have a full marathon option), but for the price point and given the experience of the organizers, some of the inaugural problems really shouldn't have been an issue. Pasadena has had similar races in the past without these issues. Hopefully they work out the kinks for next year and it can become a truly awesome event instead of a mediocre one. It has a lot of potential. read more