Health Front and Center

Pasadena Scores Major 2012 Running Event

The race will start and finish at the iconic Rose Bowl, passing over the Colorado Bridge, through Old Pasadena and around the Brookside Golf Course

By VICTORIA MANALO
Published: Monday, October 24, 2011 | 5:01 AM

[Updated: Oct. 24, 2011 | 6:47 a.m.] Pasadena will play host to a third half marathon in 2012, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Pasadena Half Marathon, government officials, organizers and supporters announced at a media event held Saturday in the Rose Bowl.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Pasadena Half Marathon is scheduled for February 19 and will benefit a new non-profit group dedicated to discovering the cure for mitochondrial dysautonomia. Organizers said they expect 12,000 runners to participate.

A separate event, the Rose Bowl Half Marathon, was already scheduled for January 12. The home-grown Pasadena Marathon and Half Marathon are slated for May 20.

Organizers say that official Rock ‘n’ Roll running events are the best attended such series in the world. Staged annually in 24 markets in the United States, the marathons attract almost a half a million participants, organizers say.

The event’s format calls for adding excitement into what one organizer jokingly referred to as a largely “boring” sport. Runners will tour the city against the backdrop of live local bands performing along the course to motivate and entertain.  Cheerleaders will join the expected thousands of spectators along a 13.1 mile distance route.

Pasadena’s run will start and finish at the iconic Rose Bowl, passing over the Colorado Bridge, through Old Pasadena and around the Brookside Golf Course. Runners will enjoy the sights of numerous scenic landmarks, including the Tournament House, the Norton Simon Museum and more. ”

After crossing the finish line, runners are expected to join family and friends to celebrate their accomplishment at a finish line festival and headliner concert. All runners receive free entry to the concert, which in recent years has featured headliner acts like Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon.

Race weekend is scheduled to begin Friday, February 17 with a two-day Health and Fitness Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center. The Expo, which will be free and open to the public, will showcase the latest in running products and services with interactive clinics from fitness experts.

The Half Marathon will benefit CureMito, a non-profit dedicated to supporting innovative research, treatment and education of mitochondrial disease and functional disorders.

During Saturday’s launch,  Cure Mito Ambassador actress  Chandra Wilson of Grey’s Anatomy was joined by Congressman Adam Schiff, Mayor of Pasadena Bill Bogaard, California Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, ESPN Golf Swing Coach Jerome Andrews, CureMito founder Beth Andrews and Dr. Richard Boles, a Mitochondrial Disease expert.

“This event will help us to enable families affected by mitochondrial dysautonomia and functional disorders to benefit from the clinical treatment and to raise money for the research needed to improve these existing treatments,”said Michael Conant, President of CureMito.

CureMito Founder Beth Andrews said during the press conference that the race would afford another opportunity to remember those who have passed away because of Mito disease.

“CureMito can help many people afflicted with the disease across the globe and this race will raise awareness and raise funds about the disease,” she said.

Another major running event held in Pasadena is the home-grown Pasadena Marathon, scheduled for May 20, 2012.  Already, preparations for that event are on-going and organizers have announced that training for the race will begin this November.

Pasadena Mayor Bogaard says the events won’t compete.

“Because of the separation by time and the separation of length of the event, I don’t see any conflict,” Bogaard said Saturday.

He added that people would always come to an event they wanted to be a part of.

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