Redwood Park races

[whognu]

Hi,

I'm going to be in CA from the 17th-26th, and I'm interested in doing one of the Redwood Park races. I have a few questions, though, if anyone has a moment to answer them.

I've not done much trail running - are these courses considered challenging? I just don't have much of a sense of it from the elevation graphs, since most of my runs are pretty flat (I live in the Midwest).

I'm a pretty slow runner (my last 10K was 62 minutes on a flat course) - will that be a problem for anyone? I don't want people having to wait around just for me.

Do these races normally sell out before race day? I won't be pre-registering because I won't be sure I can make it until race day.

Are there any shower facilities available after the race? I'll be flying into SF Friday evening, and I don't know if I'll be able to get back to my hotel room before checkout on Saturday.

Are there specific, runner-friendly hotels in the area that I should consider instead of staying near the SF airport?

It looks like Oakland has highs in the 70s for the coming week - is that about what's expected for the race date?

Thanks!

[mtiedens]

Hi -

First - according to the home page, it looks like at least some of the Redwood Park distances are close to selling out. The shorter distances tend to sell out first, so you might want to throw your hat in the ring. If you cannot, they are pretty good about posting the if it sells out by friday so you can decide on sat. morning if you want to make the trip.

On the hills, the 10K here as a very steep section - the French trail - that most people walk. I'd add 30-40 min. to your 10K time. A good target for the 20K would be 2:30-2:45, I think. You will not have to worry about people waiting around for you in any case. I'll be out for 5+ hours on the 50K.

No showers, just bathrooms. There is a spigot near the bathrooms to get most of the heavy dirt off the feet an ankles.

If you get late checkout, you should be ok at SFO. I am sorry, but I do not know hotels in the Oakland area.

Should be a very fun day!

Hope to see you there.

[whognu]

Thanks for the reply! I wish I could sign up early, but there are just too many variables at this point (flight delays, depending on my brother to show up and get the car rented on time, etc.). I guess I'll have to take my chances. It's mostly a vacation - I'm not going to stress over it either way.

I'm sure I could get through a 10K, and a 20K is probably doable if I take it easy. If that's sold out, I'll just try to get to a different run, I guess, since I don't think a 30K+ trail run would do my fickle knee any favors.

Hope to see you there!

[Jason]

Hey man,

Come on out! Trail running is a whole different scene to what you're probably used to, and everyone is into having a good time. The start times are the same and the courses are shared, so don't worry about your time. Even if you do the 20k there will be tons of people on the course long after you anyway!

Hotels... hotels... lets see. Hmm. You could spoil yourself and stay at the Claremont. We use it a lot for business and truthfully I don't know the rates, but it's a great place to stay, it's right close to the hills, has a few bakeries and coffee to walk to as well as a few restaurants, and it would be a cool way to cap off the day (or start the day if you're staying on Friday night.) It's only a short drive to the start too. Hell, if you stay Friday night and don't have a car I'll pick you up on the way over.

claremontresort1-px.rtrk.com/

FYI: The mornings out here are cool even if it ends up warming up during the day.

[whognu]

Thanks for the advice!

I ended up getting a cheap hotel right near the SF airport, since I won't have a car until my brother gets in late Friday night. I'm planning to drag him out of bed bright and early Saturday, and he can drop me off at the race, which Google assures me is just about an hour away.

I'll probably try to grab a shower at a Y or something, so I don't have to go back to the hotel afterwards. Then I just have to convince him to make a detour to Davis so I can grab a burrito at Dos Coyotes.

It sounds like a really cool run, so I hope the logistics work out. I'm also considering the quicksilver race Sunday morning, depending on how spent I am after the run on Saturday. I might as well run through as much of CA as I can while I'm there....