29th Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker 5/10K Run/Walk December 28, 2006

As Los Angeles celebrates the lunar year 4705, the Year of the Pig, over 3,800 runners and many more spectators are getting ready to participate in this year’s 29th Annual Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker 5/10K Run/Walk. As the race begins, a hundred thousand firecrackers will be lit to signify the beginning of the oldest Chinese New Year run in America. The Firecracker Run course begins on North Broadway, directly in front of the Chinatown Central Plaza with the 5k race beginning at 8:00am. Runners participating in the 10k will see breath-taking vistas and a spectacular 180-degree view of Los Angeles along the race course in Elysian Park which are not commonly seen, even by longtime Angelenos. There is no vehicular traffic to contend with, and the course winds through tree-lined rolling hills and terminates back in Chinatown. Student teams from local elementary and high schools will also be participating in the race. As runners start and finish, the celebration continues with lion dances, taiko performances and a live music band. If you are interested in participating, you can still register on race day from 6:00am to 7:45am. All participants will receive a souvenir Year of the Pig t-shirt. Participants can also take the Metro Gold Line, which drops you off one block from the start line (Chinatown Station). Celebrating the Year of the Pig, the Firecracker is the Official Warm-up Race for the L.A. Marathon.

Official Website: http://www.firecracker10k.org