The year 2024 hit the ground running with the first-ever Lululemon Run With the Roses 5K on New Year’s Eve.
Partnering with clothing brand Lululemon, the race brought more than 2,000 runners to Colorado Boulevard on Sunday, Dec,. 31. The run featured music, food carts, and a special pop-up shop selling exclusive Lululemon and Tournament of Roses merchandise. Runners got a 25% discount.
“We just have so much excitement around it,” said Lidia Garcia, Lululemon’s city ambassador for Los Angeles. “We’re so grateful to bring this to the community.”
Related: Complete coverage of 2024 Rose Parade
Garcia is a Pasadena native and active runner. For years, she pondered the idea of combining running with the city’s New Year’s celebration. The event took around a year to organize.
“Ever since I started running I dreamed about how amazing it’d be to have an event like this on the parade route…[When the] opportunity with Lulemon as an ambassador came up…I let Lululemon know about the idea, and we brought it to life.”
“What better way to start off the beginning of the new year, you know?” said runner John Luansel said. “This is a great time to be here for 2024.”
Natalie Campos and Michael Harrington signed up after finding Lululemon’s pop-up shop while walking down Colorado Boulevard.
“It’s well organized,” said Natalie Campos. “I love the vibes, the music, the lighting, it’s [all] really good.”
“Everything looks really good,” said Harrington ”I’m excited to go.”
Campos and Harrington started running together this past year, and hope to keep it up in 2024.
The Run with the Roses track was lined up on Colorado Boulevard, where the parade will kick off a few hours later. The sidewalks were packed with dancing families, people sleeping on mattresses, and enthusiasm all around.
The race started at the Pasadena Lululemon store and ended at 300 E. Colorado Blvd.
For every registration $10 will go toward Inter Tribal Sports and Latino Outdoors, organizations dedicated to connecting youth with athletic programs and outdoor activities, respectively.
Source: Orange County Register
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