In its short three-year history - marked by fires, torrential rain, last-minute postponements and date changes - the Pasadena Marathon has staged more dramas than the Pasadena Playhouse.
True to form, the Feb. 20 date announced for the third marathon has just been changed to May 15, in a new deal worked out with the city.
But Israel Estrada, the Pasadena Marathon's race director, is betting it will be third time lucky for the 26.2-mile race, and that the event will now become a regular May fixture.
"We want to grow to a world-class event, and the first thing we needed to do was get a better date," said Estrada, executive director of the non-profit organizers, Pasadena Forward.
"In Southern California in February and March there are so many events we end up competing with, and we wanted to look at it long-term," Estrada said. "Our first event was scheduled in November (2008) and we wanted to go back to the third weekend in November, but unfortunately that didn't work with the city - there's too much going on and they rejected any date September through December."
After checking out other scheduled city events, Estrada said, May 15 "seemed like the best thing."
"Now we have the date, we are back in full mode, full steam ahead," Estrada said. "We have four months to plan, and it will be great."
The route will be the same as on Feb. 21, 2010, with streets re-opening on a similar schedule, said Michelle E. Bernal from the Pasadena special events.
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