The start of a new year usually means, for me, being surrounded by loved ones, eating fruits, jumping up and down as the clock strikes midnight (both Filipino New Year’s traditions).
But this time, my 2024 New Year began on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, with the collective sounds of thousands of feet hitting the pavement, horns honking, and Europe’s “The Final Countdown” blasting over the speakers. It was the first-ever “Run with the Roses” 5K run; a new collaboration with sportswear brand Lululemon and the Tournament of Roses.
The race — along 3.1 miles of the iconic Rose Parade route — kicked off right at midnight on Jan. 1. And it was electrifying.
The inaugural event included 2,500 participants — including myself and Ian, my husband — running, jogging, and walking along a closed-off Colorado Boulevard, just hours before the 135th Rose Parade began.
The out-and-back course started at the Pasadena Lululemon store, turned around at Hill Avenue, and ended at The Paseo mall. There was a DJ, sports-focused vendors, and a pop-up shop selling exclusive Lululemon and Tournament of Roses merchandise at a discount for runners.
Part of the proceeds went to two youth-focused athletic groups, Latino Outdoors and InterTribal Sports, organizers said. The race was sold out just days before.
When Ian and I first signed up, in the middle of a hectic holiday season, we said we wanted to start the new year on a more active note. How about doing a run… in less-than-50-degree-weather… at midnight?! It sounded crazy, but intriguing. And it aligned with our individual and collective goals for 2024.
“Let’s do something a little different this year, for ourselves and our community,” I told him. We’ve been more “casual” runners over the years, joining in the sport when we could with our friends and running groups — shoutout to the O.C. Craft Runners! — and around different neighborhoods. I’d also finished my first half-marathon race in Long Beach in 2022, just before turning 30: a check off the bucket list.
But after a busy 2023, as many of us do, we wanted to get back into those healthy habits. And what better way than through an energizing midnight run. I think the race organizers, and thousands of others who participated, were thinking the same.
Kara Schlosser, vice president of North America Community at Lululemon, said that “Run with the Roses” was the first time there has ever been an official timed run along the iconic parade route.
“Community is at the heart of Lululemon, and we’re excited to connect with runners through this one-of-a-kind 5K race,” Schlosser said. “Running is the top sweat activity for our North American Lululemon guests – and we aim to show up regularly for our run communities. This 5K Race serves as a celebration and to spotlight the diverse and vibrant run… and of course to ring in the New Year with wellbeing alongside the Tournament of Roses.”
David Eads, CEO of the Tournament of Roses, noted that the partnership with Lululemon was “a natural collaboration” for both brands.
“Each year, fans from around the world camp out on Colorado Boulevard to watch the Rose Parade and now they’ll have the added opportunity to cheer on participating runners along the midnight course,” Eads said.
Indeed they did.
Hitting 2024 running with @lululemon #RunwiththeRoses #RoseParade @PasStarNews pic.twitter.com/pA5iRl2BfP
— Allyson V (@heyallysonrae on ) (@heyallysonrae) January 1, 2024
As we took off when the clock struck midnight, it was the hundreds of spectators cheering along the way — many of whom braved the cold, camping out for hours with mattresses and portable fire pits — who gave us a new energy going into 2024. They waved pom-poms, blew vuvuzela horns, blasted music from their chairs, yelling at us to keep moving.
It was exactly the kickstart I needed as we chugged our way along the route, passing spectators waiting in front of stores like Vroman’s and the Urth Cafe. It was a total party, with people stopped in front of the bars to cheer us on. Cigarette smoke blew in our faces, but we kept going. One guy on a skateboard sprayed silly string at us, targeting our light-up reflective vests, all in good fun. At the race turnaround point, a DJ played lively music as we ran through an inflatable tunnel of lights on Hill Avenue.
“I see it! The tide is rollin’,” the DJ exhorted, the thumps of a bass drum from the pump-up music echoing in the crisp Pasadena air.
I didn’t realize that going west on Colorado Boulevard is a steady, heart-pounding uphill — oof! — but a little boy giving high-fives along the way, telling us to “Keep going!”, gave me another boost. Ian, my partner in life and running, also kept cheering me on. (We were both feeling under the weather a few days before, but we still made it!)
And when we finally made it past mile 2, pushing our way to the finish, I felt my heart both slowing and pounding; tired but also restless. I wanted to stop, to take a break, but my feet kept moving. I repeated a mantra I often do: “You are showing up for yourself, for those you love. You can do this.”
Sure enough, we reached the finish line, as Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” blasted through the loudspeakers: “Release ya mind, release the time.”
We received our race medals — silver, adorned with the Tournament of Roses logo, Lululemon and “Run with the Roses” — and joined the rest of the after-party at The Paseo courtyard. That’s where people were cheering, celebrating their first victory of the New Year.
It didn’t matter the pace, or the end result. What mattered is that we all showed up and kept going, despite any odds, and crossed that finish. (And I think the first few runners finished in less than 20 minutes!)
And as we celebrated the first few hours of a brand new year, it was a triumphant, electrifying moment that we’ll never forget.
“That was SO much fun,” Ian kept saying. “I’m glad we did this.”
May we all keep moving in 2024 — what a way to start.
