Lon Freeman on his way to a new course record: 4:27:25 | Race Director Steve Patt finishes...much later |
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Sweep Tom Davis and runner Chuck Wilson |
Tom Davis shows the dry way to cross; most runners just waded across at mid-thigh (or so) level, about 10 yards to the right in the picture at left |
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2005 Winner Zack Grossman |
Brian Robinson (2nd) and Sarah Slaymaker (1st woman, 3rd overall) approach the 19M aid station, wet but in good spirits |
Andy Black shows the form that earns him the nickname "Fast Andy" |
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Led by Amrita Zerbe and Clem Choy, runners face the first crossing of Stevens Creek |
Wally Hesseltine shows what it looks like when you're having fun, elements be damned |
Birthday Boy Steve Patt toughs it out to the finish |
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Beth Vitalis (L) and Julia Blanton (R), 2nd and 3rd women |
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Kevin Sawchuk, seconds away from setting a new course record
at the 2004 Stevens Creek 50K - 4:35:13

Gillian Robinson crossing Stevens Creek
(photo courtesy D.C. Lundell)

The 2003 race starts on a beautiful Bay Area day.
It's all downhill from here...not!

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Start/Finish |
Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve parking lot on the west side of Skyline Blvd. (Highway 35), 0.9M S/SE of the intersection of Page Mill Rd. and Skyline Blvd. (35), and 5.4M N/NW of the intersection of Rt. 9 and 35. |
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Driving |
From the north/east, it is probably best to use 92 or 84 to reach 35 (Skyline), and then go south until you pass Page Mill Rd. and then go 0.9M further on the right. From the south, ascend to 35 on Rt. 9 from Saratoga, and then go north 5.4M to the preserve on your left. |
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Date |
Saturday, September 8, 2007 |
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Start Time |
9:00 a.m. [Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 7:28 pm]. Race briefing will start at 8:45 and the race will go off promptly at 9. Please arrive with suitable time to spare. |
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Distance |
50K |
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Fee |
None, but we WILL ask for a voluntary donation on race day which will be donated to the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, perhaps the premiere defender of wildlife habitat and open space land in the area (bring a check if you are concerned about tax-deductibility; otherwise cash; $20 is suggested, more is even better, but the amount and the donation itself are entirely voluntary). |
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Registration |
REQUIRED so we can know how much food and water to have available and also because there is a limit imposed by our permit. |
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Timing |
Using PocketTimer Pro from Stevens Creek Software (naturally) |
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Aid |
At 10.9, 19.3, and 24.9M (two water bottles or equivalent suggested). Full aid is provided, including water, Cytomax, Coke, potato chips, pretzels, boiled potatoes, M&Ms, and the signature of this race, Girl Scout Thin Mints (tm). Some GU will be available, but if you rely on GU or equivalent you should make sure you have a supply of your own. |
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Post-Race Food |
Yes, including sub sandwiches and other goodies |
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Volunteers |
Most welcome and very much needed! (Please use registration form below as well) Information about various volunteer jobs is found here. |
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T-Shirt |
There is always a special giveaway at this race. The registration form asks for your T-Shirt size "just in case" we decide on a T-shirt (fairly unlikely, to be honest). |
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Route |
A mix of single-track and fireroad, covered woods and open hillsides. Two crossings of Stevens Creek; quite likely in September neither will involve getting wet. Course drains well and only minor mud will be encountered, probably none unless it has rained hard and recently. The basic route proceeds south (southeast) from the start via Stevens Canyon and up the Table Mountain/Charcoal Flat Trail to Saratoga Gap, then back via Long Ridge Open Space Preserve to the start, then north (northwest) along the Bay Area Ridge Trail through Russian Ridge O.S.P. to Rapley Ranch Road and then bac.k Climbing is approximately 5000' overall but with only one sustained climb (1100' over 3.6M) and virtually all climbs are "runnable" (i.e., only a few short "very steep" sections). At the same time, however, virtually the entire course is rolling; there are no flat sections of any signficant length. A detailed map and description with distances is found here. A picture tour of the course can be found here. Maps of all these trails are available online. |
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Course Records |
Lon Freeman (M), 4:27:25 Sophia Lewis (F), 4:45:27 |
Parking |
Plenty available at Start/Finish (free). When you enter the parking lot, turn LEFT and park in the "Equestrian lot" (i.e., do NOT turn right and park in the main lot which is where one usually parks at this preserve). |
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Bathrooms |
At the start there is a bathroom in the main parking lot (the one to the RIGHT when you enter), so when you arrive in the morning, you may want to go there first, then drive back to the other (lower) parking lot. On the course you pass (within 30 yards) that same bathroom just after the 19M aid/finish line at around mile 20; the only other bathroom is in the Skyline Ridge parking lot which you run through at mile 22 and 29. There are also 31 miles of trails. :-) |