March 2015 Trail Racing Calendar for the San Francisco Bay Area

See the entire 2015 calendar here

March 2015

March 7th- Romancing the Island 12K & 25K- Angel Island via Tiburon ferry
March 7th- Sanborn Park Trail Challenge- Half Marathon, 9 mi, 4.2 mi- Sanborn Park, Saratoga

March 8th- Ilsanjo Classic 10-miler & Neo-Classic 4-miler- Howarth Park, Santa Rosa

March 14th- Badger Cove- Half Marathon, 10k, 5k- DelValle Park, Livermore- Read my review from 2014
March 14th- Zombie Runner San Francisco- 5k, 10k, Half Marathon- Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco

March 14th- Marin Ultra Challenge- 50mi, 50k, 35k, Half- Fort Baker,GGNRA, Sausalito
March 21st- Napa Valley Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K SOLD OUT
March 22nd- Canyon Meadow Trail Run- 50k, Marathon, 30k, Half Marathon, 5mi- Redwood Regional Park, Oakland
March 22nd- Calero Resevoir- Marathon, Half Marathon, 9k- Calero Park, Santa Clara
March 22nd- Whiskey Hill Redwood Run- Half Marathon, 10k- Huddart Park, Woodside
March 28th- Brazen Goonies- Half Marathon, 10k, 5k- Lagoon Valley Park, Vacaville
March 30th- Golden Gate Headlands Marathon, Half Marathon & 7 Mile- GGNRA, Marin

Special Events in March

Run Rugged Trail Camp

March 27-29 2015

 Camp Monte Toyon is a beautiful camp adjacent to The Forest of Nisene Marks Redwood State Park in Aptos, California Educational clinics will include: Ultra running, Hydration, Nutrition, injury prevention, and more!! Meet and run with athletes from The North Face, GU, and Nathan. Vendors will be on hand all weekend with demonstrations and gear to try. Raffles and prizes throughout the event! Cost $349 prior to 12/31/2014 $399 after 12/31/2014 Cost includes all meals and lodging! Tentative Schedule of events: Friday 4pm til 6:30pm Welcome Reception and Camper check in at Fleet Feet Sports 7:00pm Dinner at Camp Monte Toyon 8:30 Nathan Light Up Your Night Hike to Overlook 10:00pm Lights out.....Long day ahead! Saturday 7:30am Breakfast 8:30 Seminar (TBA) 10:00am Trail Run!!! (Multiple distances and paces) 12:00 Lunch 1:30- 3:30 Seminars and group activity 4:00 Trail Run!! 7:00pm Dinner 8:30pm Campfire program Sunday 7:00 am light breakfast 7:30 am Trail run! (Multiple distances) 12:00 Lunch and departures.

Attention Trail Runners: We need your help with a very worthy cause.

If you are from the south bay or are an avid trail runner chances are you have heard of TCTRuns.com (Troys California Trail Runs) because of their massively popular races that are held down that way. TCT holds races all over Northern California but a good portion of those runs are located in the greater San Jose area parks. TCT has a race coming up next month being held at the Almaden Quicksilver Park that is appropriately named "Well Water for Africa Adventure Race". In road racing it is very common for races to benefit designated charities but you don't see that as much in the trail racing and this is our chance to run one for a cause.

Race Report: Trail Hog Half Marathon 2014

Brazen Racing's Trail Hog Half Marathon was this past weekend on Saturday the 6th. This race is held at the Joseph D Grant County Park which is situated at the foot of Mt Hamilton in East San Jose. To get to this park you need to leave a little early because the drive is very curvy through narrow, hilly roads that tend to be foggy in the morning. GPS and Google will tell you to take Quimby Rd to get there. Don't do it, instead opt for Alum Rock Ave and Mt Hamilton Rd. It is a bit longer but it is more drive-able and more scenic.

 This race was #6 for me in the Brazen Racing Ultra Half Marathon Series. You only need to run 5 to get into the championship race but running more than 5 is to your advantage because Brazen is only calculating your 5 BEST times to determine your place in the standings. I ran this race for that very purpose, let me explain.

Trail racing in the Bay Area for March 2014

Badger Cove is part of the Brazen Ultra Half Series

14 races (maybe 15???) to choose from in the month of March. That's 5 more than last month and a sure sign that spring is on it's way. I have finally made up my mind on what type of running I want to do in 2014. I've decided to run the required 5 races plus the finale in Brazen Racing's Ultra Half Series. The series is 13 races and a finale but to be considered a finalist in the series you only need to run 5 of the 13 and then run the finale. Sounds like a fun challenge! The series has already ran 3 races which leave 10 to choose from so I better get on the stick and start running some of these races. Race #1 for me will be March's Badger Cove on the 15th. I might jump into the Woodside Half a few weeks earlier just because I love Huddart Park. Most people will probably run the Marin Ultra Challenge on the 15th so if you think you want in on that race I would suggest signing up early. This month has a couple ultra distance races and a couple marathons to choose from so not only are we getting more races but along with that we are getting more distances to choose from which is awesome! Check it out......

Waterfalls of the San Francisco Bay Area

Berry Creek Falls

The Bay Area is known as one of the top trail networks in the United States. We have an extensive network of trails that spread out through dozens of parks and open space preserves. Our Redwood trees are a known highlight of the bay area but our waterfalls seem to be rarely talked about. Some people that I talk to don't even realize that we have waterfalls in our parks. That to me is unfortunate. I would suggest to you that if you have never seen Berry Creek Falls in Big Basin Redwood State Park you really need to go check it out. This will likely spur you on to go find some of the other falls in the area. They really are quite beautiful and well worth the time and effort it takes to go see them. The rainy season is approaching. The waterfalls will soon be in full force. Continue reading for a list of great waterfalls and where you can see them in the Bay Area.

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.

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.

June trail races in the Bay Area

An explosion of races fall out of the sky in the month of June! Eleven "one off" events (events that are not part of a regular race companies schedule) and four events from Coastal Trail Runs help thicken the selection. ITR and TCTR are both holding 50 milers. Not to be out done PCTR is holding a 6 hour and a 12 hour event. Every distance imaginable is available including the odd ball 8k, 15k, 25k & 30k distances. The world famous Dipsea & Double Dipsea is taking place in June as it does every year. It really doesn't matter which side of the bay you live on, chances are that a race is being held in your neck of the woods this weekend. We have races as far flung as Vallejo & Brentwood to Santa Cruz and all points in between. If you cant find a race with a distance you want that is close to home in the month of June you are one tough customer to satisfy. Get out there and enjoy the trail season!