The event itself: How long? When?
This event had two race distances. Both registrations were free, but they "sold out" in a short amount of time. They had a 5-hour window for bib pickup on Saturday, September 27th. And then they had day-of-race bib pickup starting at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 28th. In our observation, the lines for the bib pick-up never got too long.
Course description and evaluation of event logistics
The 10K started first at 8:30. You had to complete the first loop before the 5K start at 9:30. The start line was in front of the Rose Bowl stadium, The course went clockwise around close to the stadium, then out on a road, up and around a golf course, then a nice gradual downhill, a little out & back that was a steep hill, and then a little jaunt over a pedestrian bridge returning to the front of the stadium. We had a slightly late start, so I was rushing to complete the first loop before 9:30. The race organizers had stated that if you couldn't run a 15-minute mile, you would not be allowed to complete the second loop of the 10k. There were fewer than 8,000 participants, so this event had a hometown race feel.
How did you train for the event?
The training that helped me the most was running with VRLA from Venice Beach to Santa Monica every weekend in August. Running those beach miles, even though they were flat, gave me the chance to practice my intervals, fueling, race-day kit, and pacing. I followed the training plan for Every Woman's Marathon throughout the summer. Additionally, the Fit4Mom 10k training plan. Most recently, over the last two weeks, I switched to the LARR 2026 marathon training plan.
Gear and Nutrition
Initially, the race organizers announced that there would only be one water stop, so I decided to bring my Nathan Trail Mix hydration belt. I added a buddy pouch with an additional 6oz to the built-in 2 x 10oz bottles. The race ended up having two water stops, one at the back of the loop, and another one at the front of the loop. Carrying 26 oz was a bit extra, but it was just right for me. It helped me stay cool, as I would squirt water on my head whenever I needed it.
I ate four egg bites at 5 a.m. I ate four pumpkin muffins with cream cheese at 7 a.m. I drank electrolytes prior to the race, I even skipped my second cup of coffee to focus on being hydrated. I brought one Gu. Vanilla bean with aminos, electrolytes, and caffeine. I took that at 9 am, about 1.5 miles into the race. My calves were really hurting, and it did help.
The night before the event, I ate a lentil and rice meal that contained avocado and turkey kielbasa. I started with the New Orleans Style Dirty Rice Mix from Aldi. Then I added an onion and mushrooms. I added 1 cup of dried lentils and about 5.5 cups of water. I simmered for about 30 minutes. It's mushy and not particularly attractive, but it packs a good amount of nutrition. You can serve with sour cream, yogurt, or Alfredo sauce. You can change the flavor with garlic or ginger. You can add other fruits and vegetables, such as peppers, tomatoes, spinach, celery, carrots, turnips, and fennel, or whatever you have on hand. Whatever you do, avoid adding more salt, and refrain from using bullion instead of water, as this can make the dish too salty.
Specific experiences
Before the race started, a large staging area was set up in the parking lot, where all the run clubs assembled. It was so fun to see all the friends and family members. There was a DJ. The music was good. The vibes were good. After the race, participants enjoyed a free massage, complimentary food, food trucks, giveaways, and yoga. The DJ was still spinning. Everyone was dancing, having a great time. The weather was perfect, with temperatures in the '60s and an overcast sky. At no time did I feel like I was overheating or getting a sunburn, and I didn't even need to wear a hat.
Finish and associated emotions
The finish was enjoyable for this race because there was a little out-and-back steep hill. As I was running down the hill for the second time, my playlist landed on "Go the Distance" from Hercules. I almost started crying because I was so happy; I knew the finish line was within reach. My playlist was only 1 hour and 33 minutes long, so since my music hadn't run out, I knew I would finish the race within the time I had wanted. Going through the finish line when they were handing out medals, the person who handed me my medal said all the medals were the same, but some medals said 10k on on the ribbon, and other medals said 5k on the ribbon. I ended up getting a 5k ribbon, but I know I completed the 10k. The medal itself was the same for both. The only difference was the color of the ribbon and the distance printed on the ribbon.
Overall evaluation of the event
Overall, I really enjoyed this event. I would totally do it again. I completely forgot to take photos near the flags of all the different host countries. This race is called Bimbo Global because it is in a different host city each year:
Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Bogota. It felt really fun to be a part of something even larger than the race that we participated in. You can even see how your results stack up internationally. The first-place finisher for the men's and women's division won an all-expenses-paid trip for two to next year's race, wherever that may be. The sponsor, Bimbo, donates 20 slices of bread for each participant. They gave us a jersey, a headband, and a wristband with a small zipper to conceal a house or car key, or stash your earbuds. It was a lot of swag for a free event. 10/10 would do it again. 🏅🌍
