Altadena Forever Run 2026: A Rainy Day of Resilience and Unity
- MADE IN DENA
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
A Morning That Started Before Sunrise
Long before the sun came up on Sunday, January 4, Mariposa Junction was already active. By 4:00 a.m., volunteers, organizers, vendors, first responders, and community partners were unloading gear, setting up tents, and preparing for a day that everyone knew would be wet and cold. The forecast had been calling for rain all week, and by early morning, it had already begun to fall.
What no one knew at that hour was just how many people would still show up.
As the morning progressed, headlights filled the streets leading into Altadena. Cars pulled in steadily. Runners arrived in ponchos and rain jackets. Families stepped out with umbrellas and coffee cups. First responders greeted one another with nods and quiet smiles. Despite the conditions, the community kept coming.
By the time the starting area filled, it was clear that weather was not going to define the day.
A Run Rooted in Memory and Meaning
The Altadena Forever Run was created to mark one year since the Eaton Fire and to support those still affected by it. This was not framed as a typical race day. It was a collective act of remembrance and forward motion, set directly in the streets and neighborhoods that had been impacted.
The event included a 10K, a 5K, and a 1K family run, intentionally designed so that everyone could participate regardless of age or ability. The longer distances began the morning, followed by the family run that brought the event to a close. Parents ran alongside children. Friends stayed together instead of racing ahead. People encouraged one another at intersections and turns.
Although the rain intensified later in the morning, it largely held off until after the races had begun. By the time conditions worsened, the event was already well underway. Everything concluded before 11:30 a.m., with participants crossing the finish line soaked, tired, and visibly proud.
The Route Through Altadena
The course itself carried significance. Starting and finishing at Mariposa Junction, runners moved through Altadena streets that many had traveled during evacuation or returned to during recovery. The route passed residential blocks, foothill roads, and familiar landmarks that now carry deeper meaning.
Participants ran past rebuilt homes, active construction sites, and empty lots where houses once stood. They moved alongside foothills still bearing signs of burn scars, contrasted with visible new growth. For many, this was their first time returning on foot to certain areas since the fire.
The route told a story without needing explanation. It reminded everyone why they were there.
First Responders, Leaders, and Community Presence
First responders played a visible and meaningful role throughout the event. Members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, sheriff’s deputies, and other emergency personnel ran, volunteered, and supported participants along the course. Fire engines flanked the starting line, and a large American flag was raised in a moment that drew quiet reflection from the crowd.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger was present, reinforcing the importance of leadership showing up in person. Her attendance reflected the broader significance of the event, not just as a fundraiser, but as a moment of community recognition and resilience.
Media outlets including KTLA and The Weather Channel were on site, covering the run and highlighting the turnout despite the rain. Their presence helped amplify what was already evident on the ground: Altadena was not staying home.
There were also moments of lightness that mattered. The Laker Girls energized the crowd near the start and finish areas. Star Wars characters, including Darth Vader and stormtroopers, interacted with children and spectators along the route. These details brought levity to an otherwise heavy anniversary and reminded everyone that joy still belongs in recovery.
The Finish Line and Community Gathering
The finish line area became a gathering space rather than a dispersal point. Music played through the rain. Volunteers cheered each finisher. People lingered to talk, eat, and take photos, even as their shoes soaked through.
Food vendors served warm meals. Community organizations shared resources. Runners compared experiences and laughed about puddles and wet socks. The rain continued, but it did not thin the crowd. The atmosphere felt less like an event ending and more like a neighborhood coming together.
MADE IN DENA on the Ground
For MADE IN DENA, the day began before sunrise and unfolded as one of the most meaningful pop-ups we’ve been part of. Setting up at 4:00 a.m. in steady rain, there was no certainty about turnout or sales. What followed instead was steady engagement, conversation, and support throughout the morning.
The best-selling product of the day was the new Altadena Wildlife T-Shirt, a design inspired by the foothills, local wildlife, and the natural environment that defines Altadena. Many people purchased the shirt as a way to mark the day, and several pulled it on immediately over wet clothing, wearing it proudly as they gathered near the finish line.
What stood out was not the volume of sales, but the spirit behind them. People stopped to talk, to share their connection to the fire and to the community, and to express appreciation for local businesses being present despite the weather. The energy was consistent, warm, and genuine.
What the Forever Run Represented
The Altadena Forever Run was not about ignoring loss or pretending recovery is complete. It acknowledged that rebuilding is still ongoing and that many residents continue to face displacement, uncertainty, and fatigue.
At the same time, the event made something clear. Altadena did not retreat. It did not fracture. It showed up.
People ran in the rain. Families brought children. First responders stood with residents. Local businesses set up before dawn. Media documented not just weather, but resolve.
The Forever Run was a statement that Altadena remembers, continues to rebuild, and moves forward together. It was a reminder that community is not defined by convenience or comfort, but by who shows up when conditions are difficult.
On a cold, rainy morning, Altadena chose to move together.
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