A Sweet Start: Community Trumps Competition in LA's Novel Bakery Walk
In an innovative twist on fitness and food culture, Los Angeles witnessed its first-ever bakery half-marathon walk this past Saturday. The event, conceived by 25-year-old local Irene Chang, saw a group of 50 sweet-toothed participants embark on a unique seven-hour pastry crawl through the city's neighbourhoods.
Irene Chang had spent the preceding week anxiously watching the forecast, praying the uncharacteristically stormy weather would break. Waking on Saturday morning to crisp, clear skies, the born-and-bred Angeleno felt a wave of relief—her ambitious community project was going ahead.
From New York Inspiration to LA Reality
The seed for this sugary spectacle was planted during a work trip Chang took to New York back in October. While there, she encountered the NYC Bakery Run, a 'social half-marathon' sponsored by media company Tipster. This event, which wound through Brooklyn and Manhattan with stops at hotspots like L’Appartement 4F and Radio Bakery, resonated with Chang, who often plans her own walking itineraries to explore cities.
Returning to Los Angeles, she was inspired but had a clear vision for adaptation. Her goal was to focus more on community, less on running. She meticulously curated a route through Pasadena and Highland Park, selecting small, neighbourhood-centric bakeries with compelling stories.
"I want[ed] to hear about the owner, their story and what they’re making, and why [their work] is important to them," Chang explained.
Overwhelming Demand and Entrepreneurial Spirit
To gauge interest, Chang turned to TikTok. Her views skyrocketed from 1,500 to 50,000 in just days. When she finally opened sign-ups, the response was staggering: more than 1,600 people applied for the 50 available spots. The subsequent coordination became a monumental task. "I’ve been working on this as if it were a full-time job," she admitted.
The selected bakeries, including Little Flower, ID-Eclair, Neighbors & Friends, CAR Artisan Chocolate, and Fondry, enthusiastically prepared smaller portions of their signature pastries for the walkers. Jiyoon Jang, owner and head chef of Modu Cafe, was particularly eager to participate. Having started as a home-based pop-up herself, she understood the drive to build something from the ground up and saw the event as a way to support a young entrepreneur and showcase Highland Park's diversity.
This bakery half-marathon is part of a broader trend of social media ideas manifesting in real life. In an era where loneliness has been declared a public health priority by former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, events like this offer a potent antidote. They capitalise on the popularity of run clubs, dance classes, and book clubs, providing structured opportunities for connection, especially for younger generations whose social lives were disrupted by the Covid pandemic.
For participant Camille Nichelini, a 29-year-old self-identified introvert from Pasadena, the event was a chance to transform mindless scrolling into real-world fitness and friendship. Though initially intimidated about attending alone, her worries faded. "I left the event with some new friends. We exchanged Instagrams and everything. So that was really cool," she shared.
At each bakery stop, Chang conducted brief interviews with the owners or staff, delving into the inspiration behind their creations and their establishment's mission. For Nichelini, this personal touch was a highlight, with the vegan ID-Eclair and its passionate chef, Romuald Guiot, making a particular impression. "Honestly, I’ve never had a vegan treat that I’ve enjoyed so much," she noted.
Though still recovering from the immense effort of organising the walk, Chang is already looking to the future. She hopes to establish the Los Angeles bakery half-marathon as an annual event and has even grander ambitions. "I would love to see this expand to different cities," she said, envisioning a future where community, conversation, and croissants collide on walking routes worldwide.
