Favorite Bay Area trail running races/race organizations?

Triathlon Forum
1

Hi there,

We’re looking at doing some trail running races in the Bay Area next year. Anything in the 5k-40k range.

Any favorites?

Is there a substantial difference in the experience offered by the various race organizations? Redwood Trails, Pacific Coast Trail Runs, and Envirosports all have similar pricing. A number of the Envirosports races sell out 2-3 months in advance; why? Does Envirosports put on the better trail races? There is also a new organization offering trail races, called recreation4fun.com - anyone done their races?

And yes I also am aware of the races put on by DSE Runners (such as the Double Dipsea) and the Auburn Trail Marathon/Half. Those particular races look fantastic.

Thanks.

2

Does Envirosports put on the better trail races? NO!!! Not better than Wendell & Sarah from Pacific Coast. They are the best, from trail markings to aid stations to volunteers to finish line food. Also, super venues and lots of options for each race. ES trail races are fun, just not quite the caliber of PCT. I do both but prefer PCT.

Redwood Trails seem to have less options for running races and more other stuff (kayaking, etc.)

Haven’t done any recreation4fun.com races, but the venues are good.

DSE races are nice. Very cheap, very low frills. Good training races.

Auburn race: Don’t know anything about it, but I’ll bet it’s a bear of a course.

clm

3

Have to agree with Cathy. PC Trail Runs is the better trail run company in the SF bay area.

4

The best trail races are the East Bay Triple Crown series. Tilden Tough Ten, Lake Chabot Challenge and the Woodminster XC. Well organized and sometimes pretty competitive races on beautiful courses.

5

Just yesterday I was looking for info on the Lake Chabot Challenge, but couldn’t find it. Who runs that one? And who runs the Woodminster XC? Thanks.

6

I think the Golden Bay Runners do Chabot. LMJS put on Tilden, not sure who does Woodminster, but I’m pretty sure all three have the same Race Director.

7

I love Wendell & Sarah’s races and do a lot of them each winter. The most popular 50K is probably the Way Too Cool, but reg fills in 15 mins so you have to be determined:

http://www.run100s.com/wtc.htm

8

Woodminster: http://www.theschedule.com/EventInfo.cfm?EventID=13015

Tilden Tough Ten: http://www.lmjs.org/Tilden_Tough_Ten

Lake Chabot Challenge: www.goldenbayrunners.org/trail_challenge.htm

(Golden Bay Runner’s site is down at the moment, but here is another link with info):

http://pacificstriders.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_pacificstriders_archive.html

.

9

I agree with Cathy - Pacific Coast Trail Runs. I’ve been doing their runs for a number of years and have never had a negative experience (outside of the race that was marred by a bee swarm and they had to fly in evac helicopters for the runners who were stung hundreds of times…)

Seriously, they put on top-notch races on challenging courses. They (Wendell & Sarah) are both ultra runners themselves, so they know what the athletes need/want.

Envirosports came along and, or so it seems, copied all the locations from PCT.

10

I agree with Cathy - Pacific Coast Trail Runs. I’ve been doing their runs for a number of years and have never had a negative experience (outside of the race that was marred by a bee swarm and they had to fly in evac helicopters for the runners who were stung hundreds of times…)

Seriously, they put on top-notch races on challenging courses. They (Wendell & Sarah) are both ultra runners themselves, so they know what the athletes need/want.

Envirosports came along and, or so it seems, copied all the locations from PCT.

I love Pacific Coast Trail Runs too but to be accurate, Envirosports has been around a lot longer and is considered the pioneer. You’ll notice from their calendar of events that their events are 17th annual, 19th annual, etc., in the locations where Pacific Coast Trail Runs has been doing them since 2003 or 2004.

11

I stand corrected. Thank you for pointing that out.

Now that I think about it, I was confusing Envirosports with Redwood Trails - but I’ll profess no knowledge to how long they have been around.

12

Regarding the bee swarm (was actually yellowjackets), was that the Stinson Beach race? That was three years ago, I ran that race. I ended up getting diverted down the Steep Ravine trail on the way back down to Stinson to avoid the problem.

Actually, a friend of mine told me that there was an issue with hornets in the PCTR’s Seacliff Beach race, very recently. I was not too sure how serious it was, but I heard these hornets were very aggressive and were actively chasing people pretty far! Of course, I don’t mean to make it seem like it reflects on PCTR, this stuff happens. I like their races!

13

I’m referring to the Stinson beach race three years ago…I believe it was November. I had the good fortune of being in the longer run, and so I didn’t go past the hive until well after the swarm had dissipated. I only got stung 8 times. My buddy got it about 15. by the time we got down to the finish, the medivac was already there.

Still a great race though!

14

Ow. I got stung 3 times by what I never saw but was told were wasps on the Skyline 50K. They came from a hole in the trail. Each runner who went past them started yelling, running fast, and brushing themselves. I’m somewhat allergic to bees and these stings from whatever they were got pretty swollen, but I didn’t break out in hives or anything like I usually do.