Badger Cove Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
Livermore, CA
- Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
- Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
Last year the Saint Patrick’s Badger (aka The Leprebadger) fled his traditional weekend in March in search of better weather and drier trails (he just had too many rough years). It worked out great (couldn’t have asked for better weather), so we’re doing it in April again! Join for a … MORE
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Beautiful Trail race
It’s beautiful but hilly with a repeat stretch of a mile or so. Great group that run the race. Fantastic swag and AS support. Post race food is great. Trails … MORE
It’s beautiful but hilly with a repeat stretch of a mile or so. Great group that run the race. Fantastic swag and AS support. Post race food is great. Trails can be fairly eaten up this time of year and they were which was a challenge for me. Great views and if you love trails, you need to do it.
Sham”rocks” the Dublin hills
The course was beautiful. It was also challenging. If you’re looking for a fast flat run - this isn’t it. If you’re looking for a challenge with wonderful people this … MORE
The course was beautiful. It was also challenging. If you’re looking for a fast flat run – this isn’t it. If you’re looking for a challenge with wonderful people this race is for you. The Brazen community is one that you’ll love forever.
Beautiful course
Third time running Badger Cove. This time I chose the 5k. This race takes place at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore. This time of the year, the hills are … MORE
Third time running Badger Cove. This time I chose the 5k. This race takes place at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore. This time of the year, the hills are green and the trails can be muddy from rain. The 5k course has 310′ of elevation. It is all on dirt trails except for a small portion at the start and finish. There is one aid station for the 5k. The Aid Station well stocked. Brazen Racing always has top quality medals for all finishers. 5k/10k runners get a cotton t-shirt and 1/2 runners get the tech tee. Post race refreshments included It’s It ice cream, salty snacks, candy, fruit, pastries, bagels and other goodies. Del Valle is a very beautiful place.
I won third place in my age group today and got a bonus medal.
You want a challenge? You got it.
So much beauty. So much mud. And you have to run up one hill twice. (There is an aid station at the top). This race took my breath away in … MORE
So much beauty. So much mud. And you have to run up one hill twice. (There is an aid station at the top). This race took my breath away in its beauty and difficulty. I had a blast. Just do it.
Climbing? This is for you!
Woof - rough course after the rain! Lots of climbing, more climbing with a side of climbing. This course almost broke me as the mud was inches deep, hills were … MORE
Woof – rough course after the rain! Lots of climbing, more climbing with a side of climbing. This course almost broke me as the mud was inches deep, hills were high and I was just recovering from the flu. It was not a great time for me, I struggled to finish – but brazen racing put on a great event (as usual). Support volunteers were wonderful and encouraging, and other racers were friendly and just as supportive. Brazen has built up an amazing set of races and a great community!
Trail run with St Patty's theme
Another well organized and executed race by Brazen Racing. This year's course was slightly augmented due to heavy rains the week prior to race but it was still a fun, … MORE
Another well organized and executed race by Brazen Racing. This year’s course was slightly augmented due to heavy rains the week prior to race but it was still a fun, challenging half marathon (with bonus .8 miles due to course change). If you like hilly trail runs with a St. Patrick’s theme, this is the race event for you. Beautiful vistas from the course, well staffed aid stations, and good course marking/monitoring.
Brazen knows how to put on a race!
The infamous Badgercat (race was moved due to flooding) was my first 5K race (after only doing halfs). The course (wildcat) was tough (hills and mud galore) so I can't … MORE
The infamous Badgercat (race was moved due to flooding) was my first 5K race (after only doing halfs). The course (wildcat) was tough (hills and mud galore) so I can’t speak for the actual Badger Cove course.
Brazen did not let us down. I am sure other race promoters would just cancel a race if they couldn’t hold it at the original location but that didn’t stop Brazen. I was impressed with how organized it was and you can’t beat their bling! If you’re looking for holiday medals, this is a great St. Patrick’s Day one!
BadgerCat did not disappoint
The Badger Cove race usually takes place at Lake Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore, but due to the severe flooding and damage from the winter storms, the park had … MORE
The Badger Cove race usually takes place at Lake Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore, but due to the severe flooding and damage from the winter storms, the park had not reopened and the original race location had to be cancelled. Luckily, Brazen Racing was lucky to secure the Wildcat Canyon Regional Park where the May Wildcat race takes place. Wildcat has great views and lush green hills from all the rain. This race has been dubbed BadgerCat. I ran the half marathon, but it was not the usual Wildcat course. The BadgerCat edition was an out and back with two good hills. We ended up with about 2200 ft of elevation. There was plenty of mud and muck and cows on course. One participant even had her shoe sucked off and had to finish the race with one shoe because it could not be pulled from the mud. Let’s hope the course dries out some for the Wildcat race in May.
The half marathon had three aid stations that you saw twice which were well stocked with food, water, and sports drink. Volunteers were there to help.
All participants receive a gender specific cotton or tech tee based on what race you ran. 5k/10k get cotton and half marathoners get a tech.
All finishers get an awesome medal. Brazen medals are one of the best.
The usual yummy post race food and it’s It ice cream sandwiches were available at the finish.
I’m so glad that this race was not completely cancelled. A big thanks to Brazen Racing and the East Bay Regional Park District for coming together at the last minute to secure this venue.
The BadgerCat
Due to the flooding in Del Valle (the usual venue for Badger Cove) the race was moved at the last minute to Wildcat Canyon (the usual venue for Wildcat). So … MORE
Due to the flooding in Del Valle (the usual venue for Badger Cove) the race was moved at the last minute to Wildcat Canyon (the usual venue for Wildcat). So we have the Badger Cove, Wildcat Edition – it may be the one and only!
With all the crazy rains that we had in the winter we knew that this race would be hilly and muddy – and we weren’t disappointed. The course was slightly different from the typical Wildcat course and it made for a challenging race. The first mile hill is a beast, but the longer climb just past the 10k turn around was no joke either. Once you get to the top of that climb the run along the Nimitz trail had beautiful views and nice rolling hills. From there it’s out to the turn around and then you head back.
As usual with a Brazen race the food and friendly volunteers are unlimited and the shirts and medals are great!
Last-minute venue change but still fun!
QUICK BITS This race is normally at Lake Del Valle in Livermore, but due to flooding, the East Bay Regional Park District and Brazen Racing determined that the location would … MORE
QUICK BITS
This race is normally at Lake Del Valle in Livermore, but due to flooding, the East Bay Regional Park District and Brazen Racing determined that the location would not work for the race this year. With just days to go, Brazen nmade the decision to change the location of the race to El Sobrante, near San Pablo. Although this caused some people to have to cancel their race plans, most people took it in stride and had an enjoyable race.
Brazen gets lots of kudos for working very hard to get the word out about the last-minute change.
THE COURSE
With the venue change came an obvious course change. The race essentially was a simplified version of their Wildcat race (held later in the spring), through Wildcat Regional Park. The half marathon course started with a big hill for the first mile, and although the course is definitely hilly, this particular course is an out-and-back, which meant any uphill you trudged up on the way out, you went down on the way back. The course had an elevation gain of roughly 2,000 feet with max elevation at 1,100 feet.
AID STATIONS
There were three aid stations on the course, and with the out-and-back route, meant you wound up passing each of them twice (for a total of six station stops). As with all Brazen aid stations, they were well stocked, with water, sports drink, and carby snacks like jelly beans and cut up fruit.
GOODIES/BLING
Finisher’s medal: Brazen always rewards every finisher with a beautiful finisher’s medal that is specific not just to the race, but to that year’s race. No generic race medals, or an undated version with the date just printed on the lanyard. This race was no exception.
Age group medal: If you are fast enough to earn an age group medal, Brazen made a custom version specific to this race. If you find out you won an age group but didn’t get an AG medal, let them know so they can get it to you.
Race shirt: Gender-specific shirts were available in male, female, and youth sizes, and you could choose between tech fabric and cotton versions. 5K and 10K participants get a cotton shirt and half marathoners get the tech, although 5K and 10K folks can pay extra to upgrade to a tech shirt.
You can pick up your shirt before the start of the race so you can wear it for the race–or if you’re like me, change into it after the race so you have a clean shirt to wear when you go and have brunch after the race.
POST-RACE INFO
Brazen is known for generous post-race snacks. Lots of fruit, bagels, chips, cookies. They won’t replace a sit-down protein meal, but it’s perfect for a quick refueling after a race. As always, they offer It’s-It Ice Cream sandwiches (pro tip: Look for the white styrofoam coolers by the post-race food tables. There is usually a volunteer there who will hand you one; it’s free–just ask!).
GENERAL THOUGHTS
I’ve been running Brazen races for a few years, and this is the first time they had to change the venue at the last minute. Considering all the logistical issues they must have faced, I was very impressed at how smoothly things went. Sure, there were some things they couldn’t change… for example, the race shirts still say “Del Valle.” But if you didn’t know that they had to move the race, you wouldn’t have noticed. The start/finish area, course, and aid stations looked completely normal, and everything ran smoothly.
Badgers @ the Wildcat
The race was run at Wildcat in El Sobrante because Lake Del Valle was not ready to support the race. Either way it was a challenging race.I should know when … MORE
The race was run at Wildcat in El Sobrante because Lake Del Valle was not ready to support the race. Either way it was a challenging race.I should know when Sam says “rolling hils” that does not signify easy hills. Like all things Brazen it was a well marked course with great people volunteering at the aid stations. The first mile included cows, ruts and is mostly uphill and if I learned anything from past Brazen 10k’s for me it makes the most sense to run uphill until I can’t then speed walk and start running again when it levels out. This prevents me from running outta gas in the last mile. The trail itself had few muddy places with few choices but to get dirty! No complaints here I enjoyed the mud last year and this was not close to as wet. We ran on pavement for bit to dirt trail again all the way to turn around then back to the finish line. Was happy with my time and managed 2nd in my age group! Was excited to have such a good run at such a challenging venue the 2nd place was a bonus.
Many thanks to Sam, Jasmin and the parks getting us a place to run and all the volunteers who came out and supported us.
Leprebadger's Excellent Journey
Event & Course Description: Trail races are probably affected by weather more than street and road races, plus or minus rain-or-shine policies. Brazen Racing's 2017 Badger Cove illustrates this. 2017 … MORE
Event & Course Description: Trail races are probably affected by weather more than street and road races, plus or minus rain-or-shine policies. Brazen Racing’s 2017 Badger Cove illustrates this. 2017 Badger Cove was probably scheduled with the park at Lake Del Valle 6-9 months in advance. Well, California’s drought was broken, in a wet and dramatic way in late 2016 and early 2017. Between damage to trails and to facilities, it was recognized 2 or 3 (?) weeks before the race that the Lake Del Valle course and facilities would not be ready, and an alternate venue selected and courses mapped out.
2017 Badger Cove was run in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, where Brazen Racing does a race in May (“Wild Cat”), but using a course somewhat different from Wild Cat. Where the half Marathon course for Wild Cat is a figure-8, with an out-and-back tail off one of the loops, 2017 Badger Cove was a straightforward out-and-back course, with different turn-around points for each distance. BadgerCat, being one of Brazen’s Ultra Half series races, featured three fairly steep climbs, the shortest being .85 miles – not for the faint of feet. BadgerCat, like Wild Cat, paid off those who manage to do the work with 180-degree to 360-degree panoramic overlook views of the San Pablo and San Francisco Bay area.
Organization & Production: It’s a Brazen Racing event. That means that from registration through leaving after finishing, “all” a runner need worry about is getting there (pretty easy) and running the race (much less easy). The course was well marked with color-coded ribbons and a course marshal at a key turning point.
Aid stations were well spaced and stocked, with the three aid stations also being the turn-around points for the three distances. Street and road runners accustomed to aid stations with just water and sports drink at each aid station and maybe GU at selected stations will find Brazen’s aid stations’ offerings much more elaborate. In addition to those three items at each aid station, Brazen also offers Coca Cola and a wide variety of sweet and salty snacks. The finish area has even more goodies!
Swag & Goodies:
Bib: The bib features a green-clad, determined-looking, fist-pumping Leprebadger (St. Patrick’s Day!), the usual race and bib number information, and the runner’s name. All on a dark brown wood grain background.
T-Shirt: The tech-type race T-shirt is medium-dark green, with the name of the race and the year on the front. On the back is the Leprebadger, a rainbow and pot of gold, the race name, and the race information and sponsors’ logos.
Finisher’s Medal: The gold-colored medallion features the fist-pumping Leprebadger breaking a finish line tape, a rainbow behind him with, and a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The race details are cross the tape, on the rainbow apex, and on the side of the pot.
My Results & Opinion of the Race: Sigh … it’s been a frustrating year for me, health-wise. “Courtesy” of gout flairs in both feet, I had not been able to do any more than normal walking for three weeks, and then still didn’t do any for the week leading up to the race. I didn’t want to overdo and re-inflame the affected joints. After 4 weeks of almost nothing but normal, part of daily life, walking, I was very unprepared, and had to turn around somewhere between mile 4.5 and 5, returning to aid station 2. After helping serve out water to runners for a while, I was driven back to the start/finish area. Since I had completed a little more than 10K (completing 5K would have been handled the same), I did receive a finisher’s medal.
Added comments: Brazen has some really caring runners! Even had I been “aware” enough to try, I could not have counted how many people encouraged me and asked how I was doing. One kind lady stayed with me last last half mile or so before I turned around, making sure I was OK. Brazen runners and volunteers communicate about struggling runners. People who passed me told the volunteers at the next aid station about me, including my bib number. Had I made it to that aid station I would have been fully and caringly quizzed as to how I was doing. As things happened, that quizzing happened at the aid station to which I returned. At Brazen races, word of a struggling runner gets communicated to people who need to know, and appropriate action is taken. Similarly, when I reached the aid station to which I returned, they communicated that I was safe and needed a ride back to the finish area. No one wants to need assistance, but Brazen is prepared (and has handled more serious situations). My thanks to to Brazen – the company, the volunteers, and the runners.
What can I say? It’s a Brazen Racing race. That means well organized and a first-class experience. Brazen has many repeat runners who know each other, which makes for a family-like atmosphere. With the caveat of checking out the maps and elevation profiles, I’d recommend trying a Brazen race to anyone not familiar with Brazen. Would I do a Brazen race again? I’ll be volunteering at one next week. Would I do Badger Cove again? Probably, but I’d try to be better prepared!
Mud Run!!
First time running this race(5k) and it was a mud run from all the rain that we had leading up to the race. Some sections were completely flooded and we … MORE
First time running this race(5k) and it was a mud run from all the rain that we had leading up to the race. Some sections were completely flooded and we had to run through the water and muck. There was a lot of slipping from the mud. It was a lot of fun. Aid Stations were plentiful and well stocked. Brazen Racing always has top quality medals for all finishers. 5k/10k runners get a cotton t-shirt and 1/2 runners get the tech tee. Post race refreshments included It’s It ice cream, salty snacks, candy, fruit, pastries, bagels and other goodies. Del Valle is a very beautiful place and I even saw two bald eagles.
Tough, but beautiful race
I didn't realize that this was ALL hills, it was beautiful but much harder than I had expected. Make sure to bring a water belt, limited stations on the course. MORE
I didn’t realize that this was ALL hills, it was beautiful but much harder than I had expected. Make sure to bring a water belt, limited stations on the course.
Love this race! It's a family tradition!
Great challenge on the hills. And always great views. This is now a race me and my husband and kids run together. This year the usual course was washed out … MORE
Great challenge on the hills. And always great views. This is now a race me and my husband and kids run together. This year the usual course was washed out but the new trail was actually even better than the original.
Beautiful green hills and lake views
Course description: Badger Cove is a challenging hill trail race set along and above the southern half of the east shore of Lake Del Valle (near Livermore, CA). Starting at … MORE
Course description:
Badger Cove is a challenging hill trail race set along and above the southern half of the east shore of Lake Del Valle (near Livermore, CA). Starting at the East Beach picnic area, the 2015 course had a short southward out-and back leg, and then the half marathon followed a long, more or less out and back, leg northward that included going up and down a steep hill twice – outbound and inbound – and a loop around the southern peninsula of Badger Cove.
I had fairly high expectations for how pleasant the views would be, expectations met and exceeded. The rolling and steep hills were covered with green grasses, sometimes with groves of trees, sometimes dotted with large lone trees. There were beautiful hilltop overlooks with vistas of Lake Del Valle and of the surrounding hills. The views of the lake from the Badger Cove peninsula were gorgeous!
Organization & Production:
I’ve said in other reviews of their races that I think Brazen is the best organizer of small-medium sized races at their price point in the SF Bay Area. From online information and registration through finish line goodies and activities, Brazen does it right! Quite a few racers and volunteers have participated in multiple Brazen races and have become friends. Together with Brazen’s people they create a friendly, family-picnic-like atmosphere. 2015 Badger Cove was no exception.
All the many individual details that create a total race experience were up to Brazen’s usual high standard. Set-up began while still dark (I had arrived early, and almost walked into a picnic bench while looking for the porta-cans), and race day check-in was running by 6:45, well before sunrise. The early “Hikers” start was delayed 15 minutes, for safety. By the time I reached the first aid station it was fully set up. Course marking and monitoring was excellent. I was among the very last to complete the race, so I saw that the aid stations had plenty of drinks and snacks to the very end.
Badger Cove Half Marathon 2015 did not use the course ordinarily used for the race, due to a key trail section having been closed. This forced a near complete re-routing, within the same area of the park but using perhaps just 2-3 miles of the usual course. The resulting course was a bit more difficult than the usual one. I mention this: to point out that I did not experience the usual course (more on this later); to highlight Brazen’s flexibility. I do not know how much notice Brazen had – probably not long – but they plotted a new, equivalent, course, marked and monitored as well as in any Brazen race. Had I not known the course was different and Brazen had not used it before, I would not have known from the organization and marking.
Swag & Goodies:
Brazen’s race swag – T-shirt, bib, and finisher’s medal – are normally excellent. The 2015 Badger Cove T-shirt was green, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, with a “Leprebadger” theme front and back. The bib featured a fairly real-looking badger. The finisher’s medal depicted the Leprebadger dancing in front of his pot of gold (at the end of a rainbow, of course); the St. Patrick’s Day themed ribbon gave the name of the race, and featured shamrocks and the Leprebadger running the race. Whether on race day or at early packet pick-up, those who registered 3 weeks before race day or earlier receive their race T-shirt with their bib. I believe late registrants (up to race day unless sold out) receive their T-shirts before the race on a first-come-first-served basis. This works better for slower runners/walkers like me than giving out T-shirts at the finish on a first-finished-first-served basis.
Finish area goodies … the goodies were the same as usual, excellent. Brazen is consistent, which means few surprises – not all surprises are good. So, It’s It ice cream sandwiches in several flavors, pastries, cookies, cake, bananas, oranges … more than I can easily recall.
My Results & Opinion of the Race:
How did I do? This was the first race in quite a while when I had done all my personal prep without forgetting anything (full meal, sunscreen, water, etc.). And I did not make errors like being overly or under aggressive. The course was the most difficult I’ve ever done – I knew it would be, even the regular course – and it was a warm day (mid 70s in the shade when I finished). Badger Cove is not Brazen’s most difficult race, but on that day my just under 5 hours finish time was what I could do. It wasn’t what I wished to do, but I’m working on being as happy with that finish time as I should be. Four years ago a 5K on flat streets would have been a challenge for me.
Would I do Badger Cove again? I’m an older guy, and Badger Cove is at or near my physical limits. I’m working on that. That aside, based on the race experience – Brazen, the volunteers, the participants, and the Badger Cove course – I would do Badger Cove again.
Do I think this review will be useful for others interested in this race, given the somewhat different course? I look at races as a whole experience, from learning about it and signing up through leaving the parking lot after the race. The race information, registration, and total race organization were Brazen’s excellent norm. The race was set in the same area of the same park, with the same or similar trails and views. The new course was a little more difficult, but as a whole I think my total race experience was the same as it would have been and this review is as valid and useful as if the regular course had been used.
Great Trail course nearby Livermore
If you have done only road races, but want to do trail races, the Badger Cove Brazen race might be the right race to start a new life style in … MORE
If you have done only road races, but want to do trail races, the Badger Cove Brazen race might be the right race to start a new life style in running. It is not the hardest course, however tough enough to be part of the Brazen Ultra Series championship that ends on October 3, 2015, i.e. a true trail race. Brazen never disappoints, flawless organization, great aid stations, creative finisher medals, and enough volunteers to pick up bibs and shirt on race day without waiting too long. The course is interesting, panoramic views are phenomenal. Runners with St. Patrick’s Day outfits are always fun to watch.