Bay Trailrunners Coastal Marin 50k
Robert Rhodes puts on a series of 50k runs, that aren't really races - they are more Fat Ass style. This one is quite unique. Early Saturday morning, we all met up at Fort Point in San Francisco. Robert arranged for a bus to take us to Olena ~30 miles across the bridge and beyond. We'd run in smaller groups but meet up periodically, say every 3-5 miles, whenever we got to a large intersection. That allowed us to run in different groups every few miles; changing conversations throughout the run was pretty enjoyable. A mobile aid station provided us food and drinks, and of course, our "drop" bags. And not only is the format different, but so is that fact that it's a 33 mile (not 50km) point-to-point course in the Headlands. Those of us who live here have run this area a lot, but rarely cover that much ground end-to-end.
Olema to Cardiac. We start on gentle rolling hills through grassland, passing some cows along the way. Then we enter a wet forest on Bolinas Ridge. Even in the driest of summers, the passing fog will collect on the trees. The dripping rain will keep the trail soft and muddy in spots.
Willow Camp to Cardiac. The Coastal trail is a fun, exposed single track trail - full of hikers but also full of other trail runners. Thankfully, we're already on the ridge so we don't have to climb up Willow Camp itself!
Miwok Trail. We descended from Muir Wood down the infrequently seen Miwok trail, and then back up Coyote Ridge on Miwok, and thankfully, not Green Gulch - home to some bad memories for me.
Marincello Trail. After Tennessee Valley, it's up the famous Marincello trail. It seems like no run goes through this area without going up this trail. No complaints from me. After a modest climb, you can see so much of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate. A quick scat down Alta trail and we find ourselves at the Golden Gate brdige.
Golden Gate to San Francisco. I have to imagine that running across the Golden Gate is on many runners' bucket lists. It was on mine. If I can recommend anything though, is to amend your bucket list. Keep the Golden Gate run, but run it at night or very early in the morning. By mid-afternoon, the bridge is chock full of tourists, oblivious to your need to set a 50k PR. How rude!
Total: 50k+, about +5,000 ft gain. No major pain inducing climbs. Two medium sized Headlands climbs, but overall relatively easy. Trip over the Golden Gate - a bonus or a detraction, depending on your point of view. Overall, an A+ experience I'm looking forward to doing again someday.
Olema to Cardiac. We start on gentle rolling hills through grassland, passing some cows along the way. Then we enter a wet forest on Bolinas Ridge. Even in the driest of summers, the passing fog will collect on the trees. The dripping rain will keep the trail soft and muddy in spots.
Willow Camp to Cardiac. The Coastal trail is a fun, exposed single track trail - full of hikers but also full of other trail runners. Thankfully, we're already on the ridge so we don't have to climb up Willow Camp itself!
Miwok Trail. We descended from Muir Wood down the infrequently seen Miwok trail, and then back up Coyote Ridge on Miwok, and thankfully, not Green Gulch - home to some bad memories for me.
Marincello Trail. After Tennessee Valley, it's up the famous Marincello trail. It seems like no run goes through this area without going up this trail. No complaints from me. After a modest climb, you can see so much of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate. A quick scat down Alta trail and we find ourselves at the Golden Gate brdige.
Golden Gate to San Francisco. I have to imagine that running across the Golden Gate is on many runners' bucket lists. It was on mine. If I can recommend anything though, is to amend your bucket list. Keep the Golden Gate run, but run it at night or very early in the morning. By mid-afternoon, the bridge is chock full of tourists, oblivious to your need to set a 50k PR. How rude!
Total: 50k+, about +5,000 ft gain. No major pain inducing climbs. Two medium sized Headlands climbs, but overall relatively easy. Trip over the Golden Gate - a bonus or a detraction, depending on your point of view. Overall, an A+ experience I'm looking forward to doing again someday.
Ultra Sports Live's Course Preview.
Me, stepping gingerly through Muir Woods
Group photo. courtesy of Let's Wander Photo.
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