By Daria Belov
Despite Southern California fires burning in Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, Sylmar, and surrounding areas, the city of Pasadena is expected to host its first marathon on Sunday morning, November 16, 2008. The race is expected to begin at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers are consulting with local air quality experts, as well as health and fire officials, to determine whether there should be last-minute adjustments, or even a cancellation of the Pasadena Marathon. Race related announcements will be made after 4 a.m. on Sunday morning (race day).
Update: Today’s inaugural Pasadena Marathon has been canceled due to smoke and ash in the air from local California wildfires.
There are important factors to consider for those traveling to Pasadena, especially since Caltrans and local news agencies have reported freeway closures due to the Southern California fires. The Sylmar fire is the closest to Pasadena (about 25 miles away), and freeway closures reported earlier today include the 5 freeway at the Grapevine pass, and parts of the 91 freeway in Orange County. Anyone planning to travel to the Pasadena area early Sunday morning is strongly advised to check SoCal freeway conditions before heading out. The County of Los Angeles Fire Department maintains a California Wildfires Map (currently for the Sayre fire and Sylmar fire) on the website’s home page. The Orange County Register (OCRegister) maintains an up to date fire map for the OC area. The map currently covers area fires including Corona, Yorba Linda, and Montecito.
The Pasadena Marathon homepage lists an urgent event update reminding everyone regarding event changes or potential cancellations due to poor air quality. According to the web site, individuals signed up for the marathon newsletter will receive notification regarding any changes with the event. Many people have trained long and hard for this California marathon, and organizers, as well as volunteers and sponsors, are concerned about everyone’s health and safety.
Traffic will be affected locally by Sunday mornings scheduled race. Street closures include parts of Del Mar Boulevard, Colorado Blvd., Orange Grove Blvd., Washington Boulevard, Rosemont Avenue, Arroyo Blvd., and others along and surrounding the course. A street closure course map can be found in PDF format here. There is free participant parking being provided at the Pasadena City College.
The marathon portion of the event is expected to begin at 6:30 am in downtown Pasadena at Pasadena City College. The college is the location for both the start and finish of the race. There is a bike tour scheduled to begin at 6 a.m., and a 5K scheduled to begin at 6:50 a.m. There is also a half marathon also beginning at 6:30 a.m., same time as the full Pasadena Marathon. A color-coded marathon and bike tour map in PDF format is available here.
For those that participate in marathons, triathlons, 5K events, 10K events, and other action sports, the website active.com hosts a massive amount of information. Pasadena Marathon information is available on the active.com web site as well.
We at planetchiropractic.com would like to recognize Pasadena Chiropractor, Dr. Michael DeNapoli, for all the work his office has been doing in preparing local athletes for Sunday’s scheduled event. His chiropractic office is located on Green Street, just a few blocks from Pasadena city College.
Update: Pasadena Marathon has been canceled due to Air Quality Concerns.
planetc1.com-news @ 9:03 pm | Article ID: 1226811833
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