Rose Bowl Reflections: Great Warriors
Last Sunday, January 16th, SRLA Runners completed the Rose Bowl Half Marathon. Due to rising Covid-19 cases in LA, students were given the option to run the race in-person or virtually. About 900 SRLA runners completed their half marathon in-person at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Ronald Ricks, one of the SRLA Leaders at Carver Middle School, captured the feeling of the day like this…
"Today SRLA students, teachers, friends and staff looked like great warriors going into battle today. When we all walked to the start line it was a Powerful moment for the organization! All the spectators watched us with amazement in their eyes as we approached the starting line. What a show of force during a pandemic! Here’s what went through my head as I approached the starting line and continued until I ran into the Rose Bowl Stadium through the finish line today:
Perhaps its fate that today is the 16th of January, and you will once again be running for health and fitness for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution -- but from a Covid annihilation.
We're fighting for our right to live, to exist.
And should we win the day, the 16th of January will no longer be known as Rose Bowl Half Marathon, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night!
We will not vanish without a fight!
We're going to live on!
We're going to survive!”
Whether they completed this race in-person or virtually, SRLA runners are staying the course towards the LA Marathon. With just under two months to go, they are in it for the long run!