Pasadena Marathon Cuts Back from Full to Half Marathon for 2013

In an email to supporters, Pasadena Forward, the organization that created the annual Pasadena Marathon, announced that plans to stage full marathon with a bike tour and full marathon relay on June 30, 2013, have been sidetracked by the City of Pasadena.  The Pasadena Marathon will take place on that date as a half marathon, 10K, 5K, and Kids Run.

Pasadena Forward board chair Martin Gordon said that the city cited declining attendance as the reason for denying the permit.  He said that all events were sold out in 2012 and that the numbers cited were for finishers only. 

“It is also worth mentioning that we suspect they are turning down our request for us to stage the Full Marathon because they will be permitting another entity to stage the event.  If they do this, they are essentially taking what started as a grassroots community event and giving it to a corporate entity,” Gordon wrote.

He also expressed disappointment that the City Council has not assigned a regular, recurring date for the marathon nor provided a date immediately after the event for the following year. 

Gordon asked supporters to contact Pasadena City Council members, and said, “While the news is a disappointment, we will continue to stage the very best event we can.  One which has had in attendance thousands of individuals from all walks of life, and from many countries, and continues to raise funds for many nonprofits.”

He said that the committee, led by race director Israel Estrada, remains ready to stage a full marathon, full marathon relay, and bike tour. 

Registration for the events opens on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012