Brazen New Year’s Day Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
Castro Valley, CA
- Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
- Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
The sun is rising on the morning of January 1st. Where should you be? Pounding the trails of Lake Chabot, of course! Join Brazen Racing at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley for the scenic and invigorating 5K, 10K or half marathon. Better yet, make sure you run at the Brazen New … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jan 01):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 61 | 54 | 58 | 59 | 49 |
| L (°F) | 51 | 44 | 47 | 43 | 31 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Start off the new year right!
No better way to start off the new year than at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley with Brazen Racing's New Year's Day Runs. There's a 5k, 10k, and half marathon. … MORE
No better way to start off the new year than at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley with Brazen Racing’s New Year’s Day Runs. There’s a 5k, 10k, and half marathon. It’s always a very crisp morning. I ran the 5k which is and out and back on the paved path next to the lake. I’ve done the half marathon in the past. It is fun and challenging. Aid stations are stocked with sports drink, water, sweet and salty snacks. The medal and shirts are always nice. If you run the New Year’s Eve Race, you get a connector medal to form a Mega-Medal from the two races.
For the New Year, hit the ground running
I've done the Brazen New Year's Day Half Marathon a bunch of times. It's the best way to start the year. If you don't arrive in time to park inside … MORE
I’ve done the Brazen New Year’s Day Half Marathon a bunch of times. It’s the best way to start the year. If you don’t arrive in time to park inside the park then you can park on Lake Chabot Drive and walk in.
It can be cold at the start, once you start running you’ll warm up. It’s nice to run the course in the opposite direction to the Brazen Bad Bass Half. The course is well marked. It begins and ends on paved trails. The bulk of the course is on hiking trails. Aid stations are well stocked. The volunteers bring the Brazen spirit. There is always plenty to snack on at the finish.
If you did the Brazen New Years’ Eve race then don’t forget to pick up your connector medal. Also, check the finish times to see how you did in your age group.
Loved the Struggle!
Started the New Year off right! Part of Brazen’s Ultra Half Series. Pretty and changing views! Expertly run! Great people! Great medals! Loved it! MORE
Started the New Year off right! Part of Brazen’s Ultra Half Series. Pretty and changing views! Expertly run! Great people! Great medals! Loved it!
Best Race to start your New Year
Brazen has the best aid stations with such awesome and friendly volunteers! The Medals are top notch...and this particular race is part of a double medal challenge which is even … MORE
Brazen has the best aid stations with such awesome and friendly volunteers!
The Medals are top notch…and this particular race is part of a double medal challenge which is even more incentive to get up and start the new year right!
Brazen puts on a great spread of food after your done with your run!
Lake Chabot is gorgeous course and the views are spectacular. Nature at its finest!
Awesome First-Timer Race!!
This was my first 5K, roped my family into doing it with me and we all loved it. Brazen is so well organized, everything went off without a hitch, loved … MORE
This was my first 5K, roped my family into doing it with me and we all loved it. Brazen is so well organized, everything went off without a hitch, loved the post-race refreshments, on course photographers, and community of people. Loved racing for fun, with no pressure, surrounded by happy people. The course was hilly but nothing this beginner couldn’t handle :).
Enjoy the views, you've earned them!
Get there early to secure closer parking. Race t-shirts were awesome, but ran pretty big. I typically wear a unisex M, but should have ordered a S, there were none … MORE
Get there early to secure closer parking. Race t-shirts were awesome, but ran pretty big. I typically wear a unisex M, but should have ordered a S, there were none left at the end of race to exchange :(. As with all my experiences w/ Brazen Races, lots of food choices to choose from at the end, but no beer 🙁
Conquer the hill!
I guess I should have realized what a climb this race would be! Holy moly! I was so self-assured that I would slay this 10k! But after about 20 minutes … MORE
I guess I should have realized what a climb this race would be! Holy moly! I was so self-assured that I would slay this 10k! But after about 20 minutes of non-stop up, up, up climb, I finally was one of the walkers. It’s a beast, but this race will test your fortitude. Run this one, and then go home and nurse your wounds with a celebratory beer. You’ve earned it!
Notes:
I liked that even though the gear check shut down, our gear was close by. I’d just suggest that next time add a few more porta potties.
A great race to start the year!
This is a varied terrain race with amazing cues and some technical portions (nothing to challenging). A great park to run in. As always Brazen puts on a great event, … MORE
This is a varied terrain race with amazing cues and some technical portions (nothing to challenging). A great park to run in. As always Brazen puts on a great event, consistently the best finisher medals, t-shirt designs and support on any race series I’ve ever participated in.
Beautiful Run!
I love this race! It is a great way to start the year and the course is gorgeous. The parking is a bit of a pain and if you don't … MORE
I love this race! It is a great way to start the year and the course is gorgeous. The parking is a bit of a pain and if you don’t get there early enough you are walking a good distance, which can be hard when you have young ones that come to watch mom run. Aid stations are always great and medals are awesome! The course has so nice rolling hills so it has that challenging part to it.
Potentially hilly but fun
I hike here a lot, and I don't even like to hike up this one hill the 10k and half people have to do, especially not on new years day, … MORE
I hike here a lot, and I don’t even like to hike up this one hill the 10k and half people have to do, especially not on new years day, your personality might differ. But the 5k’s nice, it’s scenic, rolling but mostly up hills on the way out and on the way back obviously it’s the reverse. You don’t make it to the nasty hill.
Chabot doesn’t allow amplified sound, so the whole thing’s a little more low key than a lot of Brazen races but a lot of people are just kind of taking it easy so that’s all good.
Um....wait. There is a hill?
5k is fun and paved. 10k goes off path, over a bridge, and up and up and up and up and up some more....and then up. And then you get … MORE
5k is fun and paved. 10k goes off path, over a bridge, and up and up and up and up and up some more….and then up. And then you get to come back down. Great course, great scenery!
Start your New Year right!!
Brazen offers the best trail runs!! Great medals! Awesome T-shirts! You can even purchase a sweatshirt! And of course amazing food at the finish line as well as along the … MORE
Brazen offers the best trail runs!! Great medals! Awesome T-shirts! You can even purchase a sweatshirt! And of course amazing food at the finish line as well as along the course. A family atmosphere, and a fantastic race company. Chabot offers runnable hills and a great view of the lake the first 2 miles… then along the back side there are eyculaptus trees and rolling ups and downs as you head from mile 3-8.. then you finally reach the downhill part of live oak where you can say hi to some fellow runners running the 10k course. The last 2 miles are easy pavement and some more fantastic views of Lake Chabot. At the end, run in for your medal and your it’s it ice cream! Always a great way to start!
Brazen's first race of the Year!
This race happens at Lake Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley, CA. The race starts inside the park on the paved path and later the converts into the trail for … MORE
This race happens at Lake Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley, CA. The race starts inside the park on the paved path and later the converts into the trail for most of the course and ends at the paved again for around last 1 Mile. Total elevation of the course is around 2150′ as per my Garmin watch. I like this course as one starts running around the Lake and later into the beautiful trails in the woods. During this time of the year vegetation is usually green with pure oxygen. Brazen Racing did a great job in provideing good aid station support, creative medal and some good food at the finish line (love the It’s It ice-cream). If one did the previous race which is New Year’s Eve then one will receive a connector medal as well. This year New Year’s Eve happened on Dec 30th and the New Year’s Day was on Jan 1st with a day break in between. I did both the races and had a great time!
When I did this race series 2 years back in 2016-17, got cramps during this specific race as the New Year’s Eve Half Marathon was a day earlier and being a new runner my legs took a toll. This time around got PR in NY’s Eve race and got my new course PR in NY’s Day! Happy to end 2018 and start the new year 2019 with a bang!!
Gorgeous views, Gentle Hills
This gorgeous 5k course offers gently rolling hills on a paved trail along the edge of Lake Chabot. There's plenty of shade from the stunningly beautiful trees, and also a … MORE
This gorgeous 5k course offers gently rolling hills on a paved trail along the edge of Lake Chabot. There’s plenty of shade from the stunningly beautiful trees, and also a couple of restrooms along the way. This course is great for fast runners, hikers, and those with kids in strollers, too! All ages, shapes, sizes and skill levels are encouraged to participate!
Brazen Racing does it right! From the totally awesome shirts, to the super detailed bling (with custom, race-specific lanyards, too!), you’re sure to feel pampered! But wait, there’s more! The aid station had not only water, but also electrolyte drink, chips, fresh cut fruit, candies and a whole bunch of stuff. The aid station volunteers are also first rate! They keep the refreshments fully stocked until the last person comes through, and they offer support and encouragement to help us all keep moving! Once you’ve finished your race, you’re met by yet another volunteer that gives you a medal, and maybe another offers a water. You’ll make your way over to the post-race “cafe” where you’ll find several varieties of fresh cut fruit, chips, donut holes, pretzels, candies, nuts, cookies, cheesecake and/or pie, sometimes fruit gummies, and bagels (THEY HAVE NUTELLA!!!). They also have several flavors of It’s It ice cream sandwiches….YES you read that right ITS IT!!! (and did I mention THEY HAVE NUTELLA!!!)
They usually offer on-site medal engraving, so you can customize your bling right there on the spot. You’ll also want to check the stats to see if you might have earned an age group award (medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in every category!), and then stop by the Photo Booth for your post race Selfie!!
This is one of the best ways to kick of a new year – I’ll be back year after year, for sure!!
Pretty big hill 😁
Great flat-ish paved trail to start. Little rollers. Then, you turn and head up a big hill/trail. Reach the top, turn around and come down the big hill and back … MORE
Great flat-ish paved trail to start. Little rollers. Then, you turn and head up a big hill/trail. Reach the top, turn around and come down the big hill and back to finish. Great medals. Great way to start a new year!! Great AS support!
Only 700ft climbing, seemed more!
A great way to kick off the New Year. Run around Lake Chabot on paved trails and then a little uphill trail running. The map says only 700ft of climbing … MORE
A great way to kick off the New Year. Run around Lake Chabot on paved trails and then a little uphill trail running. The map says only 700ft of climbing but it felt like a lot more!
Another well organized Brazen event and really well attended.
Perfect way to start the new year
Third time running the Brazen New Year's Day Run. This year, I ran the 5k. The 5k is a great course. It’s all paved and it has nice tree lined … MORE
Third time running the Brazen New Year’s Day Run. This year, I ran the 5k.
The 5k is a great course. It’s all paved and it has nice tree lined areas. You can see Lake Chabot on your left heading out. There is one aid station at the 5k turn around. It is well stocked with water, sports drink, sweet and salty snacks. Brazen has great volunteers. All finishers get a top notch medal and yummy post race snacks.
Be A Badass New Year's Morning
I've done the half a bunch of times, and this is one of my favorite new year traditions. It's freezing at the start so I wear a long down coat … MORE
I’ve done the half a bunch of times, and this is one of my favorite new year traditions.
It’s freezing at the start so I wear a long down coat and bag check it right before the race begins. The course is a clockwise loop around the lake with a long downhill that’s got a lot of steep spots (“Live Oak”) about 3-4 miles from the finish.
After a cross the line, I put my coat back on, eat an It’s-It (green tea is my fave), and take a photo with my medal in front of the race banner. I am always so happy and proud to ring in the new year this way — nothing beats crushing a hilly half!
New Year, New You!
Set your alarm and start the New Year off strong! The half marathon wasn’t easy, but it was fun and challenging - worth every step. Plus, incredible support from the … MORE
Set your alarm and start the New Year off strong! The half marathon wasn’t easy, but it was fun and challenging – worth every step. Plus, incredible support from the awesome people at Brazen Racing.
Heart-pounding NYD race
This race is the second in a series where you get an amazing mega medal. Who doesn't want three medals, right? Unlike the NYE course, this one is really hard … MORE
This race is the second in a series where you get an amazing mega medal. Who doesn’t want three medals, right?
Unlike the NYE course, this one is really hard if you run the 10K or half marathon. Big uphills and downhills, so this course is not for the faint of heart. But it is a beautiful course, and if you run the half, you run all the way around Lake Chabot which is super cool.
Like all Brazen races, this race is well put on and has a terrific snack table at the finish line.
I have been doing the double race for 5 years, and love it.