2016 Trail Racing Calendar for the San Francisco Bay Area

Not all races have been confirmed. As of this publishing the 2nd half of 2016 has some fairly spotty information. Some websites may not be available yet. Most races are likely based on past history. If your trail race is not listed contact Jonathan This calendar will be updated throughout the year. Monthly calendars that are more detailed will still be published every month. See you on the trails!!!

Fun Fact: The 2015 calendar received well over 10,000 visits...Thanks!!!!

December Trail Racing in the SF Bay Area

December

Coastview Trail, GGNRA

The 2016 year at a glance calendar is coming soon!!!
Review the complete 2015 calendar here


December 5th- 6th- The North Face Endurance Challenge- 50mi, 50k, Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 10k, 5k- GGNRA, Fort Barry
December 5th- Dam Jingle Bell Dash- 10k, 5k, Kids Dash
December 5th- Calero Park Run- 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon, 25k, 50k
December 12th- Hark the Herald Angels 12k & 25k- Angel Island State Park
December 12th- Summit Rock- Half Marathon, 10k, 5k
December 12th- Rodeo Beach- 50k, 30k, 20k, 8k
December 13th- Woodside Ramble- 50k, 35k, Half Marathon, 10k- Read my review from 2012


December 13th- Krampus Kross Kountry 5K, 10K & Micro Brew Fest- Presidio, SF ($5 discount with code JOHN at checkout)

December 20th- Zombie Runner Quarry Lakes- 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, Marathon
December 27th- Brazen Almost New Years Eve- Half Marathon, 10k, 5k- Read my review from 2012 or my review from 2014
December 27th- Woodside- 50k, 35k, 17k, 10k- Huddart Park, Woodside
December 31st- New Years One Day- 6hour, 12hour, 24hour- Chrissy Field, SF



November 2015 Trail Racing Calendar for the San Francisco Bay Area

See the complete 2015 calendar here

A few months ago I regarded November as a light month for races. I had about 10 on my list and that's half as many races as almost any other month. As November drew closer I searched for any trail runs I may have missed. I found 3 more races to add to the calendar giving us a total of 13 races to choose from in November. Theirs quite a bit of diversity to choose from including a few Thanksgiving themed trail runs like the brand new Gobble Wobble in El Sobrante.

September 2015 Trail Racing in the San Francisco Bay Area

See the full 2015 Calendar HERE

September

September 5th- Zoom Point Pinole- Half, 10k, 5k
September 5th- Palo Alto Weekly's Moonlight Run- 10k, 5k
September 5th- TRAIL HOG- HALF MARATHON/10K/5K- Read my review from 2014
September 6th- Annadel Loop- 7mi- Annadel State Park, Santa Rosa
September 12th- Night Sweats- Marathon, 15k
September 12th- Fall Showdown- Half Marathon, 5mi, 5k
September 13th- Golden Gate Park Open Cross Country (part of PAUSATF XC GP)- 4mi
September 12th/13th- Headlands Hundred 100mi, 75mi, 50mi, Marathon- Marin Headlands, GGNRA
September 13th- Diablo Trail Run- 50k, Marathon, Half Marathon, 10mi, 4mi- Mt Diablo
September 13th- Whistle Punk Half- Half Marathon- Purissma Creek Redwoods, San Mateo County
September 14th- Lagoon Valley- 30k,Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, kids 1/2 mile
September 19th- DRAG-N-FLY -Half Marathon, 10k, 5k- Read my review from 2014
September 19th- Race4Life- 5k- Pleasanton
September 20th- Coastal 50k- Marin Headlands, GGNRA
September 20th- Garin Trail Running Festival- Half Marathon, 10k, 5k- Hayward
September 25th- Marin Moonlight Run- 5k, 10k - Hamilton Marshes, Novato
September 26th- Dipsea Hike for Zero Breast Cancer- 6mi- Marin Headlands, GGNRA
September 26th- Berkeley Trail Adventure- 50k, 35k, Half Marathon, 10k Read my review from 2013- Tilden Park, Berkeley
September 26th- Garin Park Cross Country Challenge- 5k- Haywatd
September 27th- Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5mi
September 27th- Lindley Meadow Cross Country- 5K- San Francisco

Special Mention:
SAN DIEGO AREA
September 19th- Carmel Valley Trail 10k & 5k

August 2015 Trail Racing Calendar for the San Francisco Bay Area





August Trail Races in 2015

See the full 2015 calendar here

• August 1st- Summer Breeze- Half Marathon, 10k, 5k- San Leandro Marina
• August 2nd- Santa Cruz- 30k, Half Marathon, 10k- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton
• August 2nd- Tick Trailblaze- Half, 10k, 5k- Huddart Park, Woodside- Read my review from 2014- First 10 people to sign up here recieve $10 discount with code SFTRAILS
• August 2nd- Presidio Cross Country 5k- Julius Kahn Playground, San Francisco
• August 8th- Skyline 50- 50k- Lake Chabot, Castro Valley
• August 9th- Crystal Springs- 50k, Marathon, 22mi, Half Marathon, 10k- Huddart Park, Woodside Read my review from 2013
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  August 15th- Bear Creek- Half Marathon, 10k, 5k- Briones Regional Park, Martinez
• August 15th- Cinderella Trail Run- 50k, Marathon, 30k, Half Marathon, 10k- Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland
• August 22nd- Bill Flodberg Mount Madonna Challenge- 30k, 18k, 12k, 6k- Spring Lake Picnic Area, Gilroy
• August 23rd- Coastal Trail Challenge- 10k- Little Marina Green, San Francisco
• August 29th- Tamalpa Headlands 50k- Muir Beach- SOLD OUT- Waiting List Available
• August 29th- Toro- 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, 30k- Toro County Park, Salinas
• August 29th- Annual Almaden Hills Run- Half Marathon, 10k, 5kAugust 30th- Golden Gate Park Cross Country- 5k- Polo Field, San Francisco
• August 30th- Zoom Castle Rock- Half, 10k, 5k- Castle Rock Regional Park, Walnut Creek

June 2015 trail racing calendar for the San Francisco Bay Area

See the full 2015 calendar here

• June 6th- Trail Quake- Half Marathon, 10k, 5k- Read my review from 2014
• June 6th- Lynch Canyon Trail Run- Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, Free Hike Read my review from 2014
• June 7th- The Dipsea- 7.2 mi
• June 7th- Lake Chabot Trail Challenge- Half, 5k
• June 10th- Dusk Buster- 5k
• June 13th- Calero Run- 2.8mi, 9mi, 16mi, 25k, 50k, 50mi 
• June 13th- Rodeo Valley- 50k, 30k, Half Marathon, 10k
• June 13th- San Lorenzo River- 50k, Marathon, 30k, Half Marathon, 10k
• June 20th- Double Dipsea- 14.2 mile
• June 20th- Canyon Meadow Trail Run- 50k, Marathon, 30k, Half Marathon, 5mi
• June 20th- San Francisco Summer Solstice 6, 12 & 24hr
• June 21st- Woodminster Cross Country Race- 9mi

May 2015 Trail Racing Calendar for the San Francisco Bay Area

View the full 2015 calendar here

The warm weather is definitely here to stay. Don't get me wrong, it never gets really cold here in the Bay Area but sometimes it can be in the early hours of the morning. A cold wind blowing fog up into the mountains creating a drizzly, damp chill can drain the life out of a run quickly. But that seems to be behind us now with temps in the low 50's at its coldest and usually in the upper 60's before lunch. This is perfect running and racing weather. If you are looking for an EASY course give the Western Pacific a try. If your looking for something NEW give the San Bruno Mtn Run a try. The new kids on the block, Urban Coyote Racing are responsible for that one. I'm seriously thinking about giving these guys a try. If I do I will be sure to let you know what I think of Urban Coyote Racing. If you want to see the top talent in trail running be sure to stop by the MiWok 100k in the headlands. Top tier athletes from all over come out for that one.

April trail racing in the San Francisco Bay Area

The weather certainly has been nice lately and as the weeks tick by we get offered more and more chances to get out on the trails. April has 12 trail races to choose from ranging from 5 to 50 miles. I'm going for the beer and massage offering over at the Sasquatch Scramble. Perhaps I'll see you out there. FYI, if you haven't signed up yet for the Sasquatch Scramble you may want to. It sold out last year! Speaking of sell outs, Grizzly Peak is already sold out and Lake Sonoma was sold out long ago. People are looking for races that aren't sold out and the consequence is that other races that may not normally sell out are doing just that. The trail scene is heating up for sure.

California International Marathon 2014 race review from a first time runner.

 I don't run alot of road races but for that very reason I felt like testing my marathon PR (3:46) in a BIG way. I got the idea back in the late summer that a road race would shake things up and reinvigorate my training. When deciding on which marathon to run I always favor a new course over a re-do and since San Fran and Napa have already been done CIM is the next logical choice. CIM is synonymous with Boston Qualifying and I figured why waste the opportunity. If your going to run it you might as well go for the BQ which is 3:15:00 for 40 year old men. Chopping a half hour off my PR is probably unrealistic but that's my style. Go big or go home. That 2 month training cycle did not go well due to health issues and I went into the race clearly under trained so my plan was to just rely on my grit and expierence. I planned to line up in the 3:15 pace group, hit the 7:15 pace and hang on until I passed the finish line or passed out.

September 2014 Trail Racing in the Bay Area.

Ever tried a night run???

September is the month for trail running with 21 races on the Bay Area trails. If you want to see some of the best runners in the bay doing the impossible check out the Headlands race on the 13th. That is a brutal course no matter which distance you choose but seriously the 100 mile racers are just out of this world. If you are looking for a mortal challenge I say try the Drag-N-Fly half marathon. It nearly killed me in 2012! Two night time runs and several charity runs are also available on the trails this month. Pick out a race and get out there while we still have warm weather.

Trail racing in the Bay Area for July 2014

July is full of racing, both in the woods and on the streets. Many of the cities around the Bay Area are holding Fourth of July races. Santa Cruz is the only city I know of that utilizes the trails for their Independence day race. Big Events are taking place all over the state like the Badwater Ultramarathon down in Death Valley and the Tahoe Rim Trail up in the Sierras. Western States 100 was at the end of June up there too. Right here at home we have the mega popular San Francisco Marathon. Out on the trails of the Bay Area we have 12 different races to choose from. For me and the Ultra Half Series there is the Bad Bass in late July. Whatever floats your boat in the running world, it's available in July. Enjoy It!

Trail racing in the Bay Area for April 2014

Spring trails in the Bay Area

 We have some really great races coming up in the month of April. The big name this month is Lake Sonoma! Every year the elite runners of the trail scene gather just outside of Healdsburg, CA to test themselves against the best of the best on a really great course. Lake Sonoma is part of the Montrail Ultra Cup Series. The top three men and women finishers will each earn a spot at the 2014 Western States 100. This year, like many of the previous years, the race filled up fast and the wait list did too. I might go out just to cheer catch a glimpse of how's trying to beat Sage Canaday's record out there.
 The other big race of the month is one I will be participating in, The Diablo Trails Challenge. This is Brazen Racings only 50k of the year and that is a big draw. Brazen also offers up a half marathon that is part of the Ultra Half Series and a 10k & 5k. A portion of all entry fees will go to Save Mount Diablo to help them continue preserving open space and trails for all of us to enjoy.
 Take a look at this months tasty selection of trail treats and get out there and enjoy the sunshine!

Trail Races in December around the Bay Area 2013

We have a lot of really great races taking place in the Bay Area in December. The downside is that; as of this posting quite a few of the events are sold out because they are just that popular. I've listed them all in this article and I have included all of the "Santa Runs" that I previously posted in an article here, which are not all trail runs. I may be a little biased in saying this, because it is in my back yard, but we have two opportunities to run in Huddart County Park this month. If you have never made the trip to Woodside (just outside of Redwood City) to do any runs.......  this is a must in my opinion. We truly are blessed to have runnable weather in the month of December. Most of the rest of the country is knee deep in cross training already and we are still racing! How awesome is that. Take a look at the calendar below and get out there and support our cold weather running scene.

Skyline to the Sea Marathon Review 2013

Saratoga Gap Parking Lot

What a perfect morning for a race. The sun was out bright and early burning off the fog as I made my way down Hwy 35 heading towards the Saratoga Gap. My wife and son were in the car with me and we talked about where they could possibly park to see me along the course. The course does have a few road crossings and passes through Big Basin Redwoods State Park so those would probably be her best option for catching a glimpse of me as I ran by. The parking lot at the corner of Hwy 9 & 35 was the start area of this race. Most people parked at the finish line area and took the shuttle bus up to the start. This was not an option for me. The finish line where the buses were lined up would add at least an hour to my morning and I was waking up at 6am as it was. Those buses were late to arrive at the starting area so by the time everyone unloaded and got their race bib, it was apparent that the race would not start on time. I hung out chatting with my wife and few 50k runners to pass the time and before we knew it we were gathering up for our pre-race announcements. A little more time was given to the racers who were desperately trying to get through the long restroom lines but within 10 minutes or so we were heading over to the start line which is a short walk away from the Saratoga Gap parking lot.

Nike Womans Marathon Bib For Sale

 A friend of mine from my running group can no longer participate in the NWM on October 20th. The event is sold out to my knowledge so if you want to run the full marathon leave a comment below. She is picking up the bib this coming weekend and will sell it at a 50% discount ($100). Tell a friend and help out a fellow runner!

Trail racing in the Bay Area for October 2013

Trail racing in the bay area is at its best in  October in my opinion. The heat of summer is mostly behind us replaced by the crisp, cool autumn weather. A little rain starts to creep in and the dry dusty hardpack gives way to a softer more forgiving trail. The colors are changing and the trees are really begging to be looked at. If your not out in the woods in October you may want to check your status as a trail runner. Check out the upcoming races around the bay and do yourself a solid, sign up for an awesome race.

My picks for the fall/ winter trail races of 2013

Fall trail racing is the best!

 My racing so far this year started out with a marathon and two 50k races in the late winter & early spring. After a lot of high mileage training and racing I needed to back off for a while. My high mileage racing was followed by a 10k and three trail half marathons in the late spring & early summer. Now that this lower mileage cycle is done and my life outside of running has calmed down a bit, I am excited to get back to the longer trail races that focus more on strategy than speed. I have three races I have picked out for the fall trail racing season in the Bay Area this year and the first one is fast approaching.

Trail racing in the SF Bay area in September

Fall trail racing is on it's way!

September is one of my favorite running months. To me it signifies the entrance of fall like weather and although we still have plenty of really hot days before the cooler weather settles in you will notice the mornings and evenings are a bit cooler starting sometime in September. In other words, perfect running weather. We have some great races to choose from in September and a wide variety of distances. If you are looking for scenery you need to sign up for the Big Sur Trail Marathon and if you are looking for a challenge, trust me when I tell you to sign up for the Drag-N-Fly half marathon. It is crazy difficult, at least it was in last years sweltering heat. If you prefer your races to be a bit more manageable look to the Zoom Running events, they are targeted at the more casual runner's. Take a look at the upcoming races and get yourself signed up and I will see you in the woods!

August Trail Racing in the Bay Area

 If you look up the origin of the word August you will see that it is an ancient word meaning "awesome running choices", no kidding. We have several races that I would love to run this month including the sold out Tamalpa Headlands 50k. I might show up to that one anyway just to cheer on the elite runners. I have committed to the Crystal Springs Trail run on the 10th and now I am doing a rock, paper, scissors thing with myself to see what other event I can run in August. We have every distance imaginable to choose from this month including 100 miles, 50 miles and some odd ball distances like 6k, 12k, 18k, 25k, 30k. We even have a 100 yd dash for the youngsters and a 5 yd "diaper dash" for the crawlers!!! Every weekend has a race for you this month but the weekend of the 3rd/4th is stacked and so is the weekend of the 24th/25th. Choose wisely!

July trail races in the Bay Area

 We are blessed again to have quite a few trail events to choose from in the month of July. Not as many as in June but that was almost too many to choose from! Sunday the 7th and Sunday the 28th do not have any events as far as I can see but every other weekend day does. Especially the 6th, 13th & 20th. Take a look at the upcoming races for the month of July and get registered before they sell out.