Neither snow nor rain…the 2023 Horseshoe Lake Half Marathon
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” That’s the motto of the Postal Service, but if you notice, there’s something missing…high winds. Well, missing from the motto, but not from the Bay Area in March, 2023!
For many years, I have put on a race in the Santa Cruz Mountains to benefit the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. It started with a 50K, which I organized from 2002 through 2013. The local running club Stevens Creek Striders took it over when it got to be too much for me, but gave it up after a few years. Two years ago I decided to revive the tradition, but turned it into a half-marathon requiring a lot less work (and fewer volunteers and supplies). In 2021 the event was just a “virtual” race (runners showed up whenever they wanted to and timed themselves) thanks to the pandemic, but in 2022 and this year it was an in-person event.
In all those years, we had some challenges. Some years it rained. One year there was a fire very near the course just days before the race. But never, in the history of both events, were there challenges like the ones this year’s race faced. There was rain, and yes, there was even snow, in the days and weeks before the race. But above all, there were high winds. Winds which brought down more trees than in my memory going back at least 25 years, both on the course and on the roads as well. Winds (and fallen trees) which closed many of the major roads into the mountains until literally the day before the race. Winds which saw my home with no power for two days early on race week. Three days after the race, a “bomb cyclone” hit the Bay Area!
A sample of the obstacles runners faced on the course.
But somehow, almost miraculously, it all worked out. Race day was dry, race day was warm, race day was downright lovely. And 43 runners started, 43 runners finished, and 43 runners had a wonderful time touring the trails of Skyline Ridge and Russian Ridge Open Space Preserves, featuring a mix of beautiful wooded sections along with open areas with simultaneous views of both San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. With trees they had to climb over, trees they had to duck under, trees they had to go around, and trees they had go through. But nothing that could stop a group of Bay Area trail runners!
The pack heads for the singletrack
And there was a real race going on. Up front in the men’s race, Brian Cox and Gaspar Mora dueled for 13 miles, until Cox finally pulled away at the very end. Incredibly, despite having to negotiate all the obstacles along the way, both not only broke the previous course record, but smashed it by almost five minutes. The women’s course record was thought to be softer, but even so, Sylvie Abel lowering it by six minutes was an impressive performance. Both winners won a bottle of wine from our local Cooper-Garrod Vineyards for their course records.
Brian Cox and Sylvie Abel showing the form
that brought then the wins and course records
Gaspar Mora and his pacer
And the winners weren’t the only ones setting records. Six other age group records fell as well — Eddie Sanchez in M20-29, Alex Vaynshteyn in M30-39, and Stephen Ryner Jr. in M50-59, Whitney Trainor in F40-49, and 14-year-old Vivienne Ko (in her first ever race!) in F10-19, along with Abel’s course record in F30-39 and Cox’s in M40-49.
14-year-old Vivienne Ko and 11-year-old Brandon Tsai
looking strong as they approach the finish
As always, thanks to the indispensable volunteers — Tom Davis and Ellyn Bush at the start/finish, and Anil Rao, Anil Chandran, and Mandie Holmes at the aid station. Tom’s photos of the start and of all the finishers can be found and downloaded (for a limited time!) at http://www.geometer.org/horseshoe/.
The race was also a huge success financially as well. The race director pays all the expenses for the race (including schwag — this year a coffee mug with the race logo) out of pocket, and matches all entry fees and additional contributions. The result — $4280 raised to support the work of Santa Clara Audubon Society for their programs in nature education for local children, as well as their work in preserving habitat for wildlife (and runners!). Visit scvas.org to learn about the work they do in more detail.
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age Division Div. Pl. Sex Sex Pl.
1 1:35:03 7:18.7 7 Brian Cox, San Mateo 42 M40-49 1 M 1
2 1:35:50 7:22.3 27 Gaspar Mora Porta, Campbell 45 M40-49 2 M 2
3 1:43:16 7:56.7 45 Alex Vaynshteyn, Los Gatos 39 M30-39 1 M 3
4 1:45:09 8:05.3 6 Marko Cater, San Jose 42 M40-49 3 M 4
5 1:45:22 8:06.3 11 Chris Eide, Palo Alto 46 M40-49 4 M 5
6 1:48:59 8:23.0 1 Sylvie Abel, Los Gatos 31 F30-39 1 F 1
7 1:53:29 8:43.8 28 Mac Murrett, Los Gatos 44 M40-49 5 M 6
8 2:00:22 9:15.6 33 Stephen Ryner Jr., Cupertino 53 M50-59 1 M 7
9 2:02:07 9:23.7 31 Steven Pocoroba, San Jose 36 M30-39 2 M 8
10 2:04:19 9:33.8 40 Whitney Trainor, Menlo Park 43 F40-49 1 F 2
11 2:05:33 9:39.5 30 Luciano Piccoli, San Jose 47 M40-49 6 M 9
12 2:06:21 9:43.2 24 Robert Luemers, Los Gatos 32 M30-39 3 M 10
13 2:07:58 9:50.6 19 Kiran Krishnamurthy, Cupertino 47 M40-49 7 M 11
14 2:09:44 9:58.8 17 David Jarmus, Campbell 34 M30-39 4 M 12
15 2:11:19 10:06.1 49 Laura McNeil, San Jose 41 F40-49 2 F 3
16 2:14:09 10:19.2 16 Sumit Jain, Sunnyvale 31 M30-39 5 M 13
17 2:14:22 10:20.2 3 Felicia Baeza, San Jose 31 F30-39 2 F 4
18 2:16:49 10:31.5 15 Eric Gras, Sunnyvale 42 M40-49 8 M 14
19 2:17:43 10:35.7 39 Ajay Thadhlani, Santa Clara 46 M40-49 9 M 15
20 2:20:04 10:46.5 10 Chakradhar Dunna, Cupertino 53 M50-59 2 M 16
21 2:23:58 11:04.5 5 Bob Callahan, San Jose 62 M60-69 1 M 17
22 2:24:51 11:08.5 20 David Payne 69 M60-69 2 M 18
23 2:25:37 11:12.1 12 Gary Eldridge, San Jose 61 M60-69 3 M 19
24 2:26:35 11:16.6 21 Daniel Lehnert, Santa Clara 35 M30-39 6 M 20
25 2:35:24 11:57.3 23 Keith Lubliner, San Jose 62 M60-69 4 M 21
26 2:35:31 11:57.8 22 Orly Liba, Palo Alto 41 F40-49 3 F 5
27 2:37:01 12:04.7 41 Brandon Tsai, San Jose 11 M10-19 1 M 22
28 2:37:02 12:04.8 43 Itao Tsai, San Jose 51 M50-59 3 M 23
29 2:40:08 12:19.1 4 Margaret Branick-Abilla, Half Moon Bay 54 F50-59 1 F 6
30 2:43:01 12:32.4 42 Chia-Hsuan Tsai, Saratoga 43 F40-49 4 F 7
31 2:47:59 12:55.4 36 Nay Wei Soong, Saratoga 59 M50-59 4 M 24
32 2:52:46 13:17.4 32 Amy Rhoads, Mountain View 51 F50-59 2 F 8
33 2:55:59 13:32.2 26 Bruce Mcloughlin, Saratoga 63 M60-69 5 M 25
34 3:06:51 14:22.4 18 Heidi Ko, Fremont 46 F40-49 5 F 9
35 3:06:53 14:22.6 50 Vivienne Ko 14 F10-19 1 F 10
36 3:07:23 14:24.9 9 Carrie Dion, Los Gatos 69 F60-69 1 F 11
37 3:07:52 14:27.1 13 Steve Fields, Fremont 62 M60-69 6 M 26
38 3:08:03 14:27.9 46 Lisa Waxman, Mountain View 48 F40-49 6 F 12
39 3:11:35 14:44.2 35 Eddie Sanchez, Morgan Hill 29 M20-29 1 M 27
40 3:11:48 14:45.3 37 Ed Stubbins, San Mateo 52 M50-59 5 M 28
41 3:13:26 14:52.8 25 Robin McCreight, Mountain View 45 F40-49 7 F 13
42 3:23:43 15:40.2 34 Besaint Sahni, Sunnyvale 51 F50-59 3 F 14
43 3:25:30 15:48.5 38 Alexandr Syskin, Santa Clara 31 M30-39 7 M 29
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 1:35:49 7:22.2 7 Brian Cox, San Mateo 42
2 1:35:55 7:22.7 27 Gaspar Mora Porta, Campbell 45
3 1:43:16 7:56.7 45 Alex Vaynshteyn, Los Gatos 39
4 1:45:09 8:05.3 6 Marko Cater, San Jose 42
5 1:45:22 8:06.3 11 Chris Eide, Palo Alto 46
6 1:53:29 8:43.8 28 Mac Murrett, Los Gatos 44
7 2:00:22 9:15.6 33 Stephen Ryner Jr., Cupertino 53
8 2:02:07 9:23.7 31 Steven Pocoroba, San Jose 36
9 2:05:33 9:39.5 30 Luciano Piccoli, San Jose 47
10 2:06:21 9:43.2 24 Robert Luemers, Los Gatos 32
11 2:07:58 9:50.6 19 Kiran Krishnamurthy, Cupertino 47
12 2:09:44 9:58.8 17 David Jarmus, Campbell 34
13 2:14:09 10:19.2 16 Sumit Jain, Sunnyvale 31
14 2:16:49 10:31.5 15 Eric Gras, Sunnyvale 42
15 2:17:43 10:35.7 39 Ajay Thadhlani, Santa Clara 46
16 2:20:04 10:46.5 10 Chakradhar Dunna, Cupertino 53
17 2:23:58 11:04.5 5 Bob Callahan, San Jose 62
18 2:24:51 11:08.5 20 David Payne 69
19 2:25:37 11:12.1 12 Gary Eldridge, San Jose 61
20 2:26:35 11:16.6 21 Daniel Lehnert, Santa Clara 35
21 2:35:24 11:57.3 23 Keith Lubliner, San Jose 62
22 2:37:01 12:04.7 41 Brandon Tsai, San Jose 11
23 2:37:02 12:04.8 43 Itao Tsai, San Jose 51
24 2:47:59 12:55.4 36 Nay Wei Soong, Saratoga 59
25 2:55:59 13:32.2 26 Bruce Mcloughlin, Saratoga 63
26 3:07:52 14:27.1 13 Steve Fields, Fremont 62
27 3:11:35 14:44.2 35 Eddie Sanchez, Morgan Hill 29
28 3:11:48 14:45.3 37 Ed Stubbins, San Mateo 52
29 3:25:30 15:48.5 38 Alexandr Syskin, Santa Clara 31
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 1:48:59 8:23.0 1 Sylvie Abel, Los Gatos 31
2 2:04:19 9:33.8 40 Whitney Trainor, Menlo Park 43
3 2:11:19 10:06.1 49 Laura McNeil, San Jose 41
4 2:14:22 10:20.2 3 Felicia Baeza, San Jose 31
5 2:35:31 11:57.8 22 Orly Liba, Palo Alto 41
6 2:40:08 12:19.1 4 Margaret Branick-Abilla, Half Moon Bay 54
7 2:43:01 12:32.4 42 Chia-Hsuan Tsai, Saratoga 43
8 2:52:46 13:17.4 32 Amy Rhoads, Mountain View 51
9 3:06:51 14:22.4 18 Heidi Ko, Fremont 46
10 3:06:53 14:22.6 50 Vivienne Ko 14
11 3:07:23 14:24.9 9 Carrie Dion, Los Gatos 69
12 3:08:03 14:27.9 46 Lisa Waxman, Mountain View 48
13 3:13:26 14:52.8 25 Robin McCreight, Mountain View 45
14 3:23:43 15:40.2 34 Besaint Sahni, Sunnyvale 51
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 3:06:53 14:22.6 50 Vivienne Ko 14
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 1:48:59 8:23.0 1 Sylvie Abel, Los Gatos 31
2 2:14:22 10:20.2 3 Felicia Baeza, San Jose 31
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 2:04:19 9:33.8 40 Whitney Trainor, Menlo Park 43
2 2:11:19 10:06.1 49 Laura McNeil, San Jose 41
3 2:35:31 11:57.8 22 Orly Liba, Palo Alto 41
4 2:43:01 12:32.4 42 Chia-Hsuan Tsai, Saratoga 43
5 3:06:51 14:22.4 18 Heidi Ko, Fremont 46
6 3:08:03 14:27.9 46 Lisa Waxman, Mountain View 48
7 3:13:26 14:52.8 25 Robin McCreight, Mountain View 45
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 2:40:08 12:19.1 4 Margaret Branick-Abilla, Half Moon Bay 54
2 2:52:46 13:17.4 32 Amy Rhoads, Mountain View 51
3 3:23:43 15:40.2 34 Besaint Sahni, Sunnyvale 51
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 3:07:23 14:24.9 9 Carrie Dion, Los Gatos 69
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 2:37:01 12:04.7 41 Brandon Tsai, San Jose 11
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 3:11:35 14:44.2 35 Eddie Sanchez, Morgan Hill 29
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 1:43:16 7:56.7 45 Alex Vaynshteyn, Los Gatos 39
2 2:02:07 9:23.7 31 Steven Pocoroba, San Jose 36
3 2:06:21 9:43.2 24 Robert Luemers, Los Gatos 32
4 2:09:44 9:58.8 17 David Jarmus, Campbell 34
5 2:14:09 10:19.2 16 Sumit Jain, Sunnyvale 31
6 2:26:35 11:16.6 21 Daniel Lehnert, Santa Clara 35
7 3:25:30 15:48.5 38 Alexandr Syskin, Santa Clara 31
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 1:35:49 7:22.2 7 Brian Cox, San Mateo 42
2 1:35:55 7:22.7 27 Gaspar Mora Porta, Campbell 45
3 1:45:09 8:05.3 6 Marko Cater, San Jose 42
4 1:45:22 8:06.3 11 Chris Eide, Palo Alto 46
5 1:53:29 8:43.8 28 Mac Murrett, Los Gatos 44
6 2:05:33 9:39.5 30 Luciano Piccoli, San Jose 47
7 2:07:58 9:50.6 19 Kiran Krishnamurthy, Cupertino 47
8 2:16:49 10:31.5 15 Eric Gras, Sunnyvale 42
9 2:17:43 10:35.7 39 Ajay Thadhlani, Santa Clara 46
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 2:00:22 9:15.6 33 Stephen Ryner Jr., Cupertino 53
2 2:20:04 10:46.5 10 Chakradhar Dunna, Cupertino 53
3 2:37:02 12:04.8 43 Itao Tsai, San Jose 51
4 2:47:59 12:55.4 36 Nay Wei Soong, Saratoga 59
5 3:11:48 14:45.3 37 Ed Stubbins, San Mateo 52
Place Time Pace Bib# Name/City Age
1 2:23:58 11:04.5 5 Bob Callahan, San Jose 62
2 2:24:51 11:08.5 20 David Payne 69
3 2:25:37 11:12.1 12 Gary Eldridge, San Jose 61
4 2:35:24 11:57.3 23 Keith Lubliner, San Jose 62
5 2:55:59 13:32.2 26 Bruce Mcloughlin, Saratoga 63
6 3:07:52 14:27.1 13 Steve Fields, Fremont 62