Despite a soggy track, some 5,000 runners welcomed in the New Year Wednesday night by participating in the annual “Run With the Roses” 5K at midnight on Wednesday in Pasadena.
For a third year, the race, sponsored by the retailer lululemon, has afforded people the chance to take advantage of a closed-off parade route on Colorado Boulevard for this run.
The big run was a precursor to the actual Rose Parade, which with the storm faced its first rain on the parade in 20 years.
Also see: Rose Parade 2026 lineup: Your guide to every float, band and equestrian unit, in orderBut ultimately, it gave participants a chance to start their new year in a different kind of way – rain or shine.
Maria Yacoub of Whittier misses her husband on New Year’s Eve each year because he’s working on the actual parade route the night before, helping with the city’s worldwide Tournament of Roses extravaganza. This year, however, she and her children decided to participate in the run and have that chance to share the evening together.
“We don’t spend New Year’s Eve with him, and my daughter works for Lululemon, so I thought, ‘Why not? Let’s do the race,’” Yacoub said.
“This is something completely different,” she said, noting that they didn’t train for it but still intended to have fun trying. “It’s our first 5K ever.”
Lizandro Perez, left, and Alejandro Baza, both of Azusa, wait for the run to start the “Run With the Roses” 5K race at midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, in Pasadena. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)Her son, Steven Yacoub who is visiting from the Seattle area, said he likes the idea of some healthy and positive to welcome in 2026.
“They say you end your year with the way you started it, so we’re starting it with wellness,” he said.
His sister, Aneasa Yacoub of Whittier, concurred, adding that the rain adds an element of growth and newness to the experience.
“We’re looking at it as a sense of renewal and a fresh start,” she said, “so running with the rain is no big deal.”
Thousands of other runners felt likewise, with some, like Tanya Rivera of Los Angeles, even preferring the rain.
“This year the weather’s better,” she said, compared to when she ran it last year with her fiancé Julio Avalos of L.A. “And it’s better in the rain because it’s more exciting.”
“I love running,” Avalos said. “It’s our second year and it’s a tradition for me and my fiancé to push each other, and to put in miles for the start of the year.
Rivera said it’s also inspirational to see the crowds of people along Colorado Boulevard cheering the runners on.
This year, however, the numbers were noticeably smaller in the fan department, as steady rain kept more people off the streets. As the runners left the starting gate near Pasadena Avenue and headed west along Colorado, there were rows of empty chairs of people who hoped the parade itself would not be as damp an affair.
“I’ve always loved the Rose Bowl,” said Samantha Svidesskis of Oceanside, who was a majorette in the parade in 2017. “It has a special place in my heart.”
The Yacoub family, including mom Maria and her kids Aneasa and Steven, stay out of the rain until the start of the Run With the Roses 5K race at midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, in Pasadena. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)An avid runner, she thought she would give this 5K a try, and wasn’t particularly worried about the effect of the rain.
“I know it’ll probably slow me down a little bit, but every race is a unique experience and I just take it as it is,” Svidesskis said.
Mai Studebaker of Huntington Park is another experienced runner who was just taking the weather in stride.
“I think it’s great,” she said. “It’s not cold, it’s just wet.”
The gathering was also loud, with a deejay striving to pump the runners up with loud music and enthusiastic chatter before the race. Runners took their spots depending on their skill level and, when the starting gun hit, took off in a sea of damp, smiling faces, happy yells and waving hands.
“We’re so excited to bring ‘Run With the Roses’ back for the third year,” said Kara Schlosser, a vice president with Lululemon. “Community and movement are at the heart of who we are and there’s no better way to ring in the new year than coming together for a midnight 5K.”
Jarret Liotta is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and photographer.
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