Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K

The Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K is one of Southern California’s signature winter road-running events, combining a scenic tour of Pasadena with a particularly memorable finish: runners cross the line on the field inside the world-famous Rose Bowl Stadium. The event is produced and hosted by ⁠The McCourt Foundation (TMF), the nonprofit organization that also produces the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon and several other Southern California running events. TMF uses its events to support its mission of advancing neurological-disease research and encouraging healthier communities.

The Half Marathon is the event’s showcase distance. The 13.1-mile course sends runners from the Rose Bowl through Pasadena’s historic residential neighborhoods and city streets, taking in several of the city’s best-known sights. Runners pass landmarks including the Colorado Street Bridge, Old Town Pasadena and Caltech before heading back toward the Rose Bowl complex. The closing kilometres take competitors through the Brookside Golf Course area before they enter the stadium for the dramatic finish on the Rose Bowl field. The organizers describe the half-marathon course as challenging but rewarding rather than an especially flat, straightforward course.