小弟今個星期日會參加係加州Pasadena市 (Los Angeles) 舉行嘅首界Pasadena 馬拉松. 這亦是小弟第九個全馬. 上星期六玩完Snow Canyon半馬後, 大脾仲有少少酸痛. 事關檀香山全馬亦黎緊(14/12), 所以會當今次係LSD. 呢個全馬有乜咁特別? 小弟唔知因為係首次舉辩. It can go either direction ~ good or bad!! I will find out when it is over. 提起Pasadena市, 每個美國人都知道佢有兩大出名 ~ Rose Bowl and the 元旦日花車大遊行(Rose Bowl Parade). Here is the course map and elevation chart. Total elevation gain is over 1,000 feet, looks pretty tough to me!
Running in such kind of air polluted area is not a good thing! Although it is sad to hear that the race was cancelled, but she did the right thing.
I was at the start line at 8 am, blue sky with no clouds and only little smoke smell. It could have gone on but I guess the race director did not want bad press for an augural event and also because of the 50,000 evacuations in the surrounded areas Everyone should be in a sad mood instead of having fun running a marathon. The newsapaper said there were runners from 39 states and 7 countries. Can you imagine how disappointed they were! And thoses who have trained hard for the event.
There is no doubt that the fire may have caused causalties, and that's SAD. Hope the damage can be controlled to as minimal as possible.
As for the race, you are one of the HKers who get used to the polluted air. The air condition may not affect you, but it may not be so to most of the Amercian who live in a clear, blue sky environment.
As upset I am that the marathon has been cancelled. I do appreciate all the works that the whole organization, especially Israel Estrada (race director) has put in to get this inaugural event together.
On the other hand, my deep thoughts and prayers go to all the people who are losing their homes right at this moment covering southern California and the Los Angeles area. It is very sad especially Thanksgiving Day and Christmas are coming up.
Here is what it says in the email I received at 4am!
Event Organizers Cancel Race Due To Poor Air Quality
We regret to inform you that we have been compelled to cancel today's Kaiser Permanente Pasadena Marathon as a result of the significant wildfires in the Los Angeles area and resulting unsafe air quality. Pasadena Forward's decision was made in consultation with the Kaiser Permanente Medical Team and the City of Pasadena. Please know that it was extremely difficult to arrive at this decision, and we know that this is a disappointing outcome for all of us who have worked so hard for this inaugural event. However, the only appropriate response to this emergent situation, given that the safety and well-being of our participants is at the forefront of our concerns, was to cancel. Over the next several days, we will hold discussions to determine appropriate next steps. Once concrete plans have been developed, updates will be posted at www.pasadenamarathon.org. All registered participants will also be notified via email of all important updates. Thank you for your support and patience as we work through this challenge. We hope you are safe and well.
Israel Estrada
Executive Director, Pasadena Forward
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A fire storm, driven by near hurricane force winds, has burned at least 165 homes and forced the evacuation of ten thousand people in the northwest San Fernando Valley.
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I couldn't even see the sky and the sun today! Arnold the Governator has declared State of Emergency for the County of Los Angeles. It is bad to run a marathon in this kind of condition but I will take it easy!
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A fire storm, driven by near hurricane force winds, has burned at least 165 homes and forced the evacuation of ten thousand people in the northwest San Fernando Valley.
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I am in Los Angeles now. Temperature at start time (6:30 am) will be 12C and goes up to 33C by mid morning with a humidity of 60%. It is going to be a warm one!!!
On top of that there is a huge wild fire burning just 23.6 miles (40 km) west of Pasadena, they have already evacuated more than 10,000 residents. I hope the wind doesn't blow towards Pasadena otherwise it will be bad to breathe in the smoke during the marathon.