Pasadena Triathlon (Rose Bowl)
Pasadena, United States · March · Independent (Angel City Sports benefit)
Course: 0.2 km (0.1 mi) swim, 15 km (9.3 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. Reverse order: 5 km (3.1 mi) run, 15 km (9.3 mi) bike, 150 m (164 yd) pool swim. Much shorter swim than a standard sprint (750 m / 0.47 mi); a duathlon (5K, 15K, 5K) also runs.
Why people love it
- Reverse order: 5 km (3.1 mi) run, 15 km (9.3 mi) bike, then a 150 m (164 yd) pool swim.
- Pool swim comes last, so there are no open-water nerves and you are already warm.
- Held around the Rose Bowl below the San Gabriel Mountains.
- About 800 entrants in 2013; a duathlon and kids' triathlon also run.
- First-timers in 2012 and 2020 reported happy finishes.
Watch out for
- Not a standard sprint: the 150 m (164 yd) swim is a fifth of the usual 750 m (0.47 mi).
- Heavy traffic and morning road closures around the Rose Bowl.
- A 2012 racer ran about 200 m (220 yd) barefoot over rough ground from transition to the pool.
- Date and format vary by listing (March or April 2026); confirm before booking.
- Athlete write-ups are from 2012, 2013 and 2020 only; nothing recent.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.7
A first-timer called it a fantastic experience in 2012, and a 2013 racer and two 2020 students had happy finishes. Nothing recent or broad. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
A blogger found setup easy 90 minutes before the start, and local news lists road closures. No recent racer reports on timing or logistics. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.3
150 m (164 yd) pool swim last, 5 km (3.1 mi) run first. A 2012 first-timer and two 2020 students did their first here. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.0
Reverse order with a 150 m (164 yd) swim, so times do not compare with standard sprints; 50:52 placed fifth overall in 2013. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalRarelyn/a
Pool swim, so wetsuit_legal is null (not applicable). · High confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.5
Outdoor pool on a chilly March morning per a 2012 blogger; water temperature is not published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterRoughn/a
Pool swim, so calm_water is null (not applicable). · High confidence
- Swim easeVery easy4.8
A 150 m (164 yd) pool swim at the end; a first-timer found it less taxing than expected. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.3
Pool swim after a roughly 200 m (220 yd) barefoot run over rocks and grass from transition, per the 2012 blogger. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood4.2
Pool and tiny distance help nervous swimmers. No one has described lifeguards, lane help or start format. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Park roads around the stadium; surface not reported. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Local news lists morning road closures near the Rose Bowl; nothing confirms how fully the bike loops are closed. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.0
Loops around the Rose Bowl below the San Gabriel Mountains. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm3.8
Arroyo Seco setting, sheltered by hills; no wind reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.2
Three loops around the Rose Bowl; the 2012 blogger rode a mountain bike. No speed data. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.5
Rose Bowl loops in the Arroyo Seco; elevation gain not published, and the 15 km (9.3 mi) bike is short. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
Three loops around the stadium; a dismount-to-run cramp is the only reported snag. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Local news mentions heavy traffic and crowds; about 800 participants in 2013. Little on course cheering. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
No aid details; short course. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Rose Bowl Arroyo loop. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.0
Run first with fresh legs on a cool morning; a 2020 student led the run in 19:00. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.0
The 5 km (3.1 mi) run around the Rose Bowl was uneventful; elevation gain not published. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.1
Early March in Pasadena is typically 8 to 22 °C (46 to 72 °F); the 2012 blogger found the 6:30 AM arrival chilly. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.0
Dry Southern California March; rain is possible but no cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.1
Rose Bowl with the San Gabriel Mountains behind. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.9
Viewing at the Seco Blvd corner; the run and three bike loops pass the venue. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.7
About 250 m (820 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Pasadena and Los Angeles lodging is plentiful. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.2
Pasadena hotels are mid to high priced; not checked. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.5
Everything is on the Rose Bowl grounds, but the pool is a 200 m (220 yd) run from transition and traffic is heavy. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
Burbank airport is about 20 km (12 mi) away, LAX about 45 km (28 mi); LA traffic applies. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
One venue, but the blogger arrived 90 minutes early and the pool is far from transition. Parking and packet pickup not found. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Old Pasadena restaurants and shops are close by. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Pasadena, California, United States
- Typical month
- March
- Latest or next date
- 7 March 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Angel City Sports benefit)
- Field size
- About 800 athletes
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.2 km (0.1 mi) swim, 15 km (9.3 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Pool at the Rose Bowl grounds (pool not named in sources) (pool)
- Wetsuit
- N/a
- Swim start
- time-trial
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 3
- Run laps
- 1
- Air temperature
- 8–22 °C (46–72 °F)
- Humidity
- dry
- Altitude
- 250 m (820 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Hollywood Burbank (BUR), 20 km (12 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Old Pasadena
- Booking
- Pasadena and LA lodging plentiful.
What racers and reviewers say
- wkiri.com: Triathlon TriumphRaced 2012 · blog · Positive
A first-timer's account of the reverse sprint: 5 km (3.1 mi) run, three bike loops around the Rose Bowl on a mountain bike, then a pool swim reached by a rocky 200 m (220 yd) run. Swim was less taxing than expected, nothing went wrong, and she would race again.
“fantastic experience”
- Idyllwild Town Crier: Whitman fifth overallRaced 2013 · article · Positive
Local paper on a 50-54 age-group winner who placed fifth overall in 50:52 among about 800 participants. Confirms the reverse order and 5 km (3.1 mi), 15 km (9.3 mi), 150 m (164 yd) distances, all at the Rose Bowl.
“I had a good race.”
- PasadenaNow: Southwestern Academy studentsRaced 2020 · article · Positive
Two high-school first-timers raced the 13th edition on March 7, 2020. One led all runners on the run in 19:00 for 3.1 mi (5 km) and placed 6th overall; both were happy. No logistics problems mentioned.
- Colorado Boulevard: Pasadena Triathlon returnsRaced 2023 · article · Mixed
Local preview: participants and spectators should plan for heavy traffic near the Rose Bowl and road closures in the morning.
Raced Pasadena Triathlon (Rose Bowl)? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Pasadena Triathlon (Rose Bowl)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.