From henceforth this race shall not be known as Sycamore Canyon, it shall be known as the First Annual Knee Socks Invitational.
If you have to ask why, there’s really no hope for you.
Tag Archive: Race Pictures
Into the Wild Half Marathon-ish – March 2011
A week after my triumphant return casual slide back into racing at the St. Patrick’s Day Half, I ran another trail half marathon—this one at Irvine Regional Park in Orange County. I’d never been to the park—heck, never even heard of it, despite living less than an hour away—so all I knew was that the race website promised hills, and lots of them. After the flatness of Coto de Caza, I was ready for some climbing. Bring it.
The hills…they was brought.
Shadow of the Giants 50k – June 2010
Random “vintage” Shadow running shirts decorating the course for the 20 year anniversary!
I look forward to running Shadow of the Giants every year. I rave about it to running friends, bore my poor non-running friends talking about it, and in general need to set up some sort of affiliate referral program, because I plug this race all. the. time. Shadow of the Giants was one of the first 50ks I did (maybe the second or third?) back in 2005, and I’ve tried to run it every year since, injuries & schedule permitting.
So what makes Shadow of the Giants so special?
Well, the setting is gorgeous, for one thing. Located at the base of Yosemite, the race runs on fire roads and singletrack through towering forests. It’s beautiful, it’s green, it’s peaceful—except for the year I came face to face with a black bear halfway through the run. I think nostalgia also plays a factor, since it was one of my first ultras and one of the pivotal races that got me hooked on trail running in the first place. Mostly, though, I think it’s the spirit of the race. It’s low-key and friendly, and presided over by that most mischevious of RDs, Baz Hawley (who also directs Saddleback, Twin Peaks, and a number of other CA races.) Baz spends the pre-race briefing telling dirty jokes, hassling the regulars, and swearing up a storm, but behind the laid-back act, there’s a well-organized race directing machine.
Rocky Road 50 Miler – April 2010
My first 50 mile race! If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be running 50 miles, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s been a slow but natural progression, from running a lap around the park to running 3 miles to running 6 miles to training for my first marathon to doing my first 50k. I stayed with 50ks for five years, and never much felt the urge to venture beyond. Marathon to 50k isn’t a huge jump, but 50k to 50 mile felt enormous. When I finally did get the courage to register for my first 50-miler in 2008, I got injured a few months prior and had to pull out of the race. So although I registered for the Rocky Road 50 miler just a few weeks before the race, it was really a distance in the making for the past few years.
Putting the “rock” in Rocky Road
For all the slow buildup leading to this race, there wasn’t any anxiety or drama associated with running a new, scary distance. It’s funny, but I had a really peaceful feeling about this race. No nerves, no doubts. Maybe because I’d been racing so much this spring, or maybe I was just older and wiser and knew that I was ready for it. Whatever the reason, I just accepted the distance and didn’t stress. I even slept like a baby the night before! (That NEVER happens.) The race was in a gated community in Orange County, so I was up at 4 am to drive down for the 7am start. The course was not physically challenging, but it was tough mentally: a hard 5-mile loop on singletrack, then 3 out-and-back sections of 15 miles each to make the 50 mile total.
Tilden Trails Marathon – April 2010
This was a gorgeous run in the Berkeley hills in Tilden Park. There were lots of other distances going on this day, but only about 16 of us marathoners. The course was a half-marathon loop that we did twice. I didn’t know much about the race going into it, but it turns out it was a tough course! Very hilly, lots of good climbs, and a fair amount of gooey, gloopy mud! I didn’t think I would like the two-loop setup, but it wasn’t bad at all- it was actually kind of nice to know what to expect and to know when I could push it and when to hold back.
Lots of greenery and tons of wildflowers
Just a small sampling of the muddy, muddy course
It was tough coming into the start/finish area, because almost everyone was running the half so they were finishing just as I had to go out again. But I felt good the whole race, took walk breaks when I needed to but still ran a lot at the end. It was very windy and cold up on the ridges, but when not at the top the weather was lovely–cool and overcast. It was a wonderful day to run, and a race I would definitely do again.
On top of Grizzly Peak
Final Stats:
Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Distance: 26.2 miles
Elevation gain: 11,800 feet
Garmin time: 5 hrs 17 min
Official time: 5 hrs 28 min (5th/8, 2nd woman, 1st age group)
Here is the race video I made about the 2010 Tilden Trails Marathon.
Tag Archive: Race Pictures
Sycamore Canyon 18k – April 2011
From henceforth this race shall not be known as Sycamore Canyon, it shall be known as the First Annual Knee Socks Invitational.
If you have to ask why, there’s really no hope for you.
Into the Wild Half Marathon-ish – March 2011
A week after my triumphant return casual slide back into racing at the St. Patrick’s Day Half, I ran another trail half marathon—this one at Irvine Regional Park in Orange County. I’d never been to the park—heck, never even heard of it, despite living less than an hour away—so all I knew was that the race website promised hills, and lots of them. After the flatness of Coto de Caza, I was ready for some climbing. Bring it.
The hills…they was brought.
Shadow of the Giants 50k – June 2010
Random “vintage” Shadow running shirts decorating the course for the 20 year anniversary!
I look forward to running Shadow of the Giants every year. I rave about it to running friends, bore my poor non-running friends talking about it, and in general need to set up some sort of affiliate referral program, because I plug this race all. the. time. Shadow of the Giants was one of the first 50ks I did (maybe the second or third?) back in 2005, and I’ve tried to run it every year since, injuries & schedule permitting.
So what makes Shadow of the Giants so special?
Well, the setting is gorgeous, for one thing. Located at the base of Yosemite, the race runs on fire roads and singletrack through towering forests. It’s beautiful, it’s green, it’s peaceful—except for the year I came face to face with a black bear halfway through the run. I think nostalgia also plays a factor, since it was one of my first ultras and one of the pivotal races that got me hooked on trail running in the first place. Mostly, though, I think it’s the spirit of the race. It’s low-key and friendly, and presided over by that most mischevious of RDs, Baz Hawley (who also directs Saddleback, Twin Peaks, and a number of other CA races.) Baz spends the pre-race briefing telling dirty jokes, hassling the regulars, and swearing up a storm, but behind the laid-back act, there’s a well-organized race directing machine.
Rocky Road 50 Miler – April 2010
My first 50 mile race! If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be running 50 miles, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s been a slow but natural progression, from running a lap around the park to running 3 miles to running 6 miles to training for my first marathon to doing my first 50k. I stayed with 50ks for five years, and never much felt the urge to venture beyond. Marathon to 50k isn’t a huge jump, but 50k to 50 mile felt enormous. When I finally did get the courage to register for my first 50-miler in 2008, I got injured a few months prior and had to pull out of the race. So although I registered for the Rocky Road 50 miler just a few weeks before the race, it was really a distance in the making for the past few years.
Putting the “rock” in Rocky Road
For all the slow buildup leading to this race, there wasn’t any anxiety or drama associated with running a new, scary distance. It’s funny, but I had a really peaceful feeling about this race. No nerves, no doubts. Maybe because I’d been racing so much this spring, or maybe I was just older and wiser and knew that I was ready for it. Whatever the reason, I just accepted the distance and didn’t stress. I even slept like a baby the night before! (That NEVER happens.) The race was in a gated community in Orange County, so I was up at 4 am to drive down for the 7am start. The course was not physically challenging, but it was tough mentally: a hard 5-mile loop on singletrack, then 3 out-and-back sections of 15 miles each to make the 50 mile total.
Tilden Trails Marathon – April 2010
This was a gorgeous run in the Berkeley hills in Tilden Park. There were lots of other distances going on this day, but only about 16 of us marathoners. The course was a half-marathon loop that we did twice. I didn’t know much about the race going into it, but it turns out it was a tough course! Very hilly, lots of good climbs, and a fair amount of gooey, gloopy mud! I didn’t think I would like the two-loop setup, but it wasn’t bad at all- it was actually kind of nice to know what to expect and to know when I could push it and when to hold back.
Lots of greenery and tons of wildflowers
Just a small sampling of the muddy, muddy course
It was tough coming into the start/finish area, because almost everyone was running the half so they were finishing just as I had to go out again. But I felt good the whole race, took walk breaks when I needed to but still ran a lot at the end. It was very windy and cold up on the ridges, but when not at the top the weather was lovely–cool and overcast. It was a wonderful day to run, and a race I would definitely do again.
On top of Grizzly Peak
Final Stats:
Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Distance: 26.2 miles
Elevation gain: 11,800 feet
Garmin time: 5 hrs 17 min
Official time: 5 hrs 28 min (5th/8, 2nd woman, 1st age group)
Here is the race video I made about the 2010 Tilden Trails Marathon.
Hi, I’m Elizabeth.
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