Brazen New Year’s Eve Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
Castro Valley, CA
- Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
- Road (Paved), Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
Whether you are looking to squeeze in your first trail run or you’re looking to log that 1,000th mile before the clock strikes midnight on 12/31, this is your chance! And if that’s not enough New Year running for you, join us at Lake Chabot on New Year’s Day, do … MORE
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Great production but...
It was cloudy on race day, and drizzling. Pave road is wet BUT the trail was very very muddy. I've seen a lot of people tumbling and slipped. Aid stations … MORE
It was cloudy on race day, and drizzling. Pave road is wet BUT the trail was very very muddy. I’ve seen a lot of people tumbling and slipped. Aid stations was good, provided a lot of gels and foods! The race event was great except for the sound/music (needs more pumped up song beats on start/finish). And the medal is wood and generic lanyard (Should have been included in medal if you’re10k/half finisher). Nevertheless, good job! Maybe my first and last.
Mega Medal Part One
If you've always wanted an amazing Mega Medal - this is one way to get it! Complete the Almost New Year's Eve race and then do it all again on … MORE
If you’ve always wanted an amazing Mega Medal – this is one way to get it! Complete the Almost New Year’s Eve race and then do it all again on New Year’s Day and you get a beast of a medal 🙂
Some years (when the races fall on consecutive days) you can run both halves and brag that it took you a year to run a marathon!
But seriously, this is a great race. A flat, easy well-marked 5k course, with one well-staffed aid station. And of course, in true Brazen fashion, the swag is great and there is tons of stuff to eat at the finish.
Great way to end the year.
I've run many many Brazen races and many races at Quarry Lakes and I always find it enjoyable. Today, I ran the half marathon today. Brazen runs a half at … MORE
I’ve run many many Brazen races and many races at Quarry Lakes and I always find it enjoyable. Today, I ran the half marathon today. Brazen runs a half at Western Pacific and Quarry Turkey. This course if different than those two. As always, this race has the great Brazen vibe. The aid stations are well stocked with water, sports drink, sweet and salty snacks. The medal and shirt are awesome. Great post race food and there was plenty left for this half marathon back of packer.
If you run this race (any distance) along with the New Year’s Day race (any distance), you earn the connector medal to form a Mega-Medal.
Well supported, great swag, community!
This was my first Brazen race but definitely won't be my last. Communication was pretty good up until race day. Bib pickup was easy and I like it when it … MORE
This was my first Brazen race but definitely won’t be my last.
Communication was pretty good up until race day. Bib pickup was easy and I like it when it is at a running store in case I have last minute needs. Day of it was easy to find the location and there was plenty of parking. There was also restrooms available at the start which was a huge plus. I wasn’t as fond of starting in the cold grass but that’s preference.
The course was very flat (very!) and there was some scenery but there were also times when it was a bit mundane. I do like water and hills for views and hadn’t been to this park so it was just fine for me overall.
I loved that the aid stations were more ultra and less like a typical half. There was potato chips, M&M, trail mix, fig newton’s, etc and I strongly prefer that to just one type of gel.
The after food was also excellent like above with a ton of options – far beyond what you would normally get. Sweet breads, muffins, etc were plentiful. But you could still get plenty of fruit and bagels and such. Probably top 5 of races for me for the last 10 years in food.
One of the biggest things for me as a slower runner is that there was plenty of food left even after 3 hours and that people were still around then. They seem to treat all levels of runners with respect and appreciation – which is actually somewhat rare. Usually if you run more than 10 minute miles you are left w/o food or support towards the end and I’ve run in to the finish line being packed up even an hour before the official cut off time. So big hats off here to understanding its the journey that counts and not the time punch on the clock!
Also the medal is so incredibly fun! Super creative and very unique.
I’m very impressed by Brazen and will be seeking out other races.
Great run to end the year
While there isn't much scenery along the out and back course, this is a nice mostly paved run along the waterway beginning and ending at quarry lake. Bonus of a … MORE
While there isn’t much scenery along the out and back course, this is a nice mostly paved run along the waterway beginning and ending at quarry lake. Bonus of a flat course with great support along the way. As always Brazen puts on the best events – great on course support, medals and t-shirt designs of any race series I’ve ever participated in.
Nice course, nice food
The course was pretty good, a few small ups and downs but basically flat. I think there was some gravel but didn't seem to slow me down. Course seemed easy … MORE
The course was pretty good, a few small ups and downs but basically flat. I think there was some gravel but didn’t seem to slow me down. Course seemed easy to follow. I wasn’t worried about getting lost. The food afterwards was great, especially the ice cream sandwiches. I’d highly recommend this race.
Good way to see out 2018
Smooth production, good food afterwards, easy flat course to run, easy directions to follow, all in all a good experience! Great medal too by the way! MORE
Smooth production, good food afterwards, easy flat course to run, easy directions to follow, all in all a good experience! Great medal too by the way!
Always a reliable race
I like the 5k at this event, you get a very scenic route. With the longer runs less so, since you get diverted out of the immediate lake area. There … MORE
I like the 5k at this event, you get a very scenic route. With the longer runs less so, since you get diverted out of the immediate lake area. There are technically some small hills but the trail runners are all thinking “what’s he talking about?”, it’s only a factor if you’re used to running around a really flat neighborhood or track most of the time.
Brazen is always on point for all the practical stuff, super organized, best food ever, shirts actually meant to be run in.
Good Race
It's a trail run around a lake, definitely need the gaiters for your shoes. It is a race I always love to do considering the time of the year. Especially … MORE
It’s a trail run around a lake, definitely need the gaiters for your shoes. It is a race I always love to do considering the time of the year. Especially when it’s a brazen race. They are the best organizers. Very loving.
Brazen's last race of the Year!
This race happens at Quarry Lakes Regional Park in Fremont, CA which is in my backyard with around 5 mins drive. The race starts inside the park on the gravel … MORE
This race happens at Quarry Lakes Regional Park in Fremont, CA which is in my backyard with around 5 mins drive. The race starts inside the park on the gravel path and later the converts into the paved for most of the part and ends at the gravel again to the finish line (same as starting line). Overall the course is pretty flat with some minor total elevation of around 200 feet as per my Garmin watch. I like this course as it starts around the Quarry Lake and later the paved course runs next to the Alameda creek. During this time of the year vegetation is usually green. Brazen Racing does overall a great job and provide good aid station support every 3 to 4 miles, creative medal and some good food at the finish line (love the It’s It ice-cream). If one is doing the next race which will happen on New Year’s Day 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!
Got my NEW PR and 1st in my Age Group Award!! Woohoo!!
Love the Brazen races!
I ran the half marathon distance of this race in 2017, and in 2018 when a friend who was new to running wanted to do her first 10k, I suggested … MORE
I ran the half marathon distance of this race in 2017, and in 2018 when a friend who was new to running wanted to do her first 10k, I suggested this one – the flat, fast course is perfect for a beginner, and the atmosphere at Brazen races is always fun! Packet pickup is always easy, race morning is well coordinated and organized, and the race itself is great as always! The race photographers did a great job too! Brazen is an awesome organization and I love supporting them, and will always choose a Brazen race whenever possible!
Squeeze in your end of year miles!
Brazen always puts on a good race in terms of production, and this one was no exception. Plenty of parking, fee covered by Brazen at Quarry Lakes park. The scenery … MORE
Brazen always puts on a good race in terms of production, and this one was no exception. Plenty of parking, fee covered by Brazen at Quarry Lakes park. The scenery is OK – better than a concrete jungle, but not pretty enough to distract :-). The course is mostly flat, but parts are on trail which has some slight inclines. The course was well marked, and had volunteers directing the racers of various distances. Overall, this was a fun way to get in a final race of 2018. Just wish I had performed better! I had some heavy legs after a killer Lagree workout the day before. Next time!!
Great Aid Station Fun!
Brazen Racing’s Almost New Year’s Eve starts and finishes in Fremont’s Quarry Lakes Park. I did the half marathon in 2017, and my description in my Rave of the course … MORE
Brazen Racing’s Almost New Year’s Eve starts and finishes in Fremont’s Quarry Lakes Park. I did the half marathon in 2017, and my description in my Rave of the course was pretty thorough, plus or minus some punctuation oopses. In 2018 I volunteered, working at an aid station.
Our aid station was between miles 4 and 5 for runners of the half marathon, a turn-around point in an out-and-back leg. We only saw runners of that distance. We packed all our stuff at the start/finish area – tables, water, fruit, goodies. We were able to park our vehicles 20 or 30 yards from where we set up. While Brazen advises those who do the early, “Hikers” start that aid stations may or may not be fully set up, we were fully set up long before the first “Hiker” showed up.
We had the usual fluids: water (30 gallons!); electrolyte drink mix with the necessary 5 gallon jug; cans of Coke; pitchers and paper cups. For snacks we had regular and peanut M & Ms, trail mix, gummy bears, Skittles, Jelly Belly jelly beans, Rice Krispy Treats, Payday bars (the Treats and Paydays were cut up, potato chips, and peanut butter filled pretzel bites. For fruit we had cut up bananas and orange wedges. That I can remember. This is typical of a Brazen aid station.
We had a pavilion in case shade or shelter from rain was needed. It was a beautiful very cool day, so we didn’t use it.
In my opinion, “working” at an aid station hardly deserves to be called working. Several hundred pounds of water, goodies, and tables have to be brought from vehicles to the trail and set up (there were three of us sharing that work), but that takes perhaps 20 or 30 minutes. Once the runners start coming, though it becomes fun. The “Hikers” come one or two or three at a time, with the fastest of the regular-start runners mixed in with the slowest “Hikers”. We chat with them, offering liquids and goodies. This also is a safety check for whether any are having trouble. For all the serious purposes, it was a fun few seconds or couple of minutes with each runner.
Then the main pack of runners came in waves of 3s and 6s and #s, where one is continually offering water or electrolyte drink or snacks and still keeping an eye out for a runner who might be struggling. Since we were at the ~1/3 point in the half marathon course, many – especially the fastest – just did the turn-around and kept running. Others snagged a cup of water and a snack item and headed back out. Others spent a minute or two grazing and chatting. It was a slightly crazy time, handing out water (me), pouring more glasses of water and electrolyte drink, replenishing water bottles, and cutting up more fruit and candy bars, but it was FUN!
As the runners thinned out again and we knew there were only a few more, we consolidated our goodies onto one table and started packing things we knew we wouldn’t need. The course uses a public trail, so all along we offered water and such to others running or biking or walking on the trail. A few stopped and took up our offer, chatting about the race, and such. One family stopped with us for quite a while as their two pre-school-aged daughters grazed and we chatted with the parents.
Finally the “sweeper” came, assuring us that there were no more runners coming. We finished packing (we left the trail a little cleaner than it was before the race) and headed back to Quarry Lakes Park. All in all it was a very pleasant and fun 3 or 4 hours. For volunteering Brazen gives those who do a race T-shirt and credit for a “free” race.
Good Route, Great Food
For Brazen, it's a really optimal running situation. Not too many people to create a crazy crowd, but just enough for it to be festive. The routes are always in … MORE
For Brazen, it’s a really optimal running situation. Not too many people to create a crazy crowd, but just enough for it to be festive. The routes are always in parks, which is always nice with the scenery. And after the race, you get a medal and get to eat whatever it is that you crave.
An annual tradition, NYE & NYD races
If you want to end the year right, enjoy an easy course, score an Its It and get a mega medal, then you will want to run this race (and … MORE
If you want to end the year right, enjoy an easy course, score an Its It and get a mega medal, then you will want to run this race (and the NYD one a few days later).
Like all Brazen Races, this one is well organized. I love being able to pick up my race packet the morning of the race. And there’s plenty of parking and it’s free.
This course is not the most picturesque or challenging but you can get a PR on it as it’s fast and flat.
Great way to end the year!
My friends and I took on this race and New Year's Day as a challenge on how to end out the year and start up the new one. The course … MORE
My friends and I took on this race and New Year’s Day as a challenge on how to end out the year and start up the new one.
The course is pretty easy and it made for a good run. This was my second 5k ever and it wasn’t too bad of a struggle. Plus, they have ice cream after the race. Huge upside.
Finish out the year with a kick!
This is Brazen Racing's last race of the year, and it may or may not be on the 31st of December depending on what day of the week it falls … MORE
This is Brazen Racing’s last race of the year, and it may or may not be on the 31st of December depending on what day of the week it falls on. For 2017, it was ON the 31st, which means if you want to get their free “connector medal” for finishing both this, and the New Year’s Day race, you have to races back to back.
The Eve version is held in Fremont at Quarry Lakes. It’s partially paved and pretty flat, so course-wise it’s pretty straightforward and the view is meh. But they have a ton of space at the finish line area, so you can bring your family and they can hang out (maybe bring a camp chair?).
Tip: If you want to see all the crazy people who ran every single Brazen race in the calendar year, show up early. They have a special presentation for streakers, before the race. You can see how they are essentially one big running family. Hopefully it’ll make you want to sign up for some Brazen races yourself!
Spoiled by Brazen races
Closing out the year by running a half marathon sounded like a great idea, and Brazen offers a NYE race at Quarry Lakes in Fremont. Brazen races are so well-done … MORE
Closing out the year by running a half marathon sounded like a great idea, and Brazen offers a NYE race at Quarry Lakes in Fremont. Brazen races are so well-done and chill that I have gotten spoiled by them and am no longer interested in running races put on by other organizations. Packet pickup at RoadRunner Sports in Berkeley was super fast and easy. Get to the race a few minutes before start time, no trouble finding parking, get to the start line, off we go. The race is mostly on flat, paved roads, with a few rolling hills. The 5k and 10k share part of the course with the half, and on those parts that are shared, there can be some congestion, but it’s really not a huge deal. For the parts of the race that are half marathon runners only, it’s pretty easy to pass people when you need to, and for the most part there’s plenty of space. There were plenty of aid stations but I also carried my own water, because sometimes it’s nice to have water when you want it and not wait for the next aid station. I was also thrilled to see that the aid stations were carrying Ultima Replenisher as their electrolyte drink – it’s sugar-free, and as someone who eats a ketogenic diet, I was really excited to see them offering a keto-friendly drink! I chose not to get the race shirt, so I can’t comment on that, but the medal was awesome as usual. The race production is always so smooth and easy and makes choosing to run a Brazen race a no-brainer! Plus, free race photos! I will be running this one again, and may even attempt to do the NY Day race the next day – though that course is hillier and I imagine it will be a total butt kicking, but that’s a good way to start off the year, right!? Thanks Brazen!
Cool Year's Eve Day Run
Event & Course Description: Brazen Racing runs out the old and runs in the new year with a pair of races on New Year's Eve Day (NYE) and New Year's … MORE
Event & Course Description: Brazen Racing runs out the old and runs in the new year with a pair of races on New Year’s Eve Day (NYE) and New Year’s Day (NYD). In 2016 and now 2017 NYE was run in Quarry Lakes Park in Fremont and the Alameda Creek Trail, while NYD was run at Lake Chabot near Castro Valley. Quarry Lakes Park is the former site of a sand and gravel quarry, with lakes formed by ground water and water from the nearby Alameda Creek. The park is a mix of public use areas and preserves for local plants, animals, and birds, with trails around the lakes in the park. There is plenty of parking inside the park, and the parking fee for NYE is pre-paid.
I did the half marathon and will note where the other distances leave the half marathon course. Most of the 10K and half marathon courses were new for Brazen. All runners started with a clockwise circle 2/3 of the way around Horseshoe Lake. 5K runners then turned right to finish their loop course with a 2/3 circle around Rainbow Lake back to the finish. 10K and half runners turned left, zig-zagged up to the Alameda Creek Trail, crossing a pedestrian bridge to the other side of the creek. Once there, all runners turned right for the first of two out-and-back legs for runners of the half. About 2/3 of the way on this leg 10K runners turned around, headed back into the park, and followed the course taken by the 5K runners back to the finish. Half marathon runner went a bit farther, turned around, and when they reached the pedestrian bridge continued out for their second out-and-back leg in the other direction on the Alameda Creek Trail. This leg was about as long as the first leg. Half runners turned around, crossed the pedestrian bridge into the park and then completed their circle around Horseshoe Lake back to the finish (a different and shorter route than that taken by other runners).
The 5K course is almost entirely packed dirt with some fine gravel, and that course is half of the 10K course. The part of the 10K and half marathon course on the Alameda Creek Trail is entirely paved. So the 10K course is about 50-50 dirt-paved, and the half marathon course about 80% paved. The trail on the side of Alameda Creek across from Quarry Lakes Park has a fair amount of shade, so the 10K course had about 20-30% shade, while the half marathon course had 30%-40% shade. SF Bay Area December weather can vary, so runners need to check weather forecasts for race day several days ahead. If rain is forecast for race day or the previous or following day come prepared for wet weather. NYE 2017 had near perfect running weather – a bit chilly (Bay Area chilly, not Illinois chilly), with some clouds.
Organization & Production: Brazen is one of those organizations where runners’ only worries are getting there, running their race, getting home, and stiffly hobbling into their dwelling. All necessary information is on the website, online registration is easy, the pre-race instructions email is sent several days before the race and gives very complete information and instructions, and everything from start/finish area set-up through aid stations and back for recovery flow smoothly. For those who could, there was packet pick-up at Road Runner Sports in Berkeley for several hours each on the two days before the race. Or one may pick up one’s bib and race T-shirt on race day morning. Either option always runs smoothly and quickly.
Brazen marks its courses well, though once one was on the Alameda Creek Trail the choices were to stay on course, wander into people’s back yards, or tumble down the bank into the creek. The markings on trails in the park were clear. Brazen also places numbered mile markers along its course, making keeping track of one’s progress easy. Brazen had four aid stations at this race. The first was inside the park, about 1.4 miles from the start. The second was at the end of the pedestrian bridge, where 10K runners would pass it twice, and half runners three times. This station area got a bit congested as outbound mid-pack 10K runners and mid-pack and slower half marathon runners inbound from their first out-and-back leg arrive around the same time-frame from two different directions. The volunteers did their best to spread runners out by how they positioned the tables and the volunteers handing out water and electrolyte drink. The other two aid stations were at the ends of the two out-and-back legs, encountered only by half marathon runners. Brazen aid stations always feature a wide range of sweet and salty snacks, fruit, water, electrolyte drink, and sodas, and GU gel packets.
Swag & Goodies: Brazen’s recovery area food is pretty amazing for variety. Finishing runners were greeted by having their names called out on the PA system, given their finisher’s medal, and handed a bottle of water (if wanted). A few yards away in a covered picnic area was an even wider variety of cookies, chips, cakes, pretzels, fruit, and candies. Brazen’s “signature” recovery snack is multiple flavors of It’s It ice cream sandwiches (my favorite is mint ice cream!). Evidently there is a Costco near Quarry Lakes Park, as there were boxes and boxes of extra large pizzas – I saw “deluxe”, pepperoni, no-meat veggie, and cheese. The deluxe was very tasty.
Bib: Brazen doesn’t do plain race bibs. The usual pattern has distance color-coded stripes, the distance, the race name and date, artwork shared with the race T-shirt, the runner’s name, Brazen Racing’s logo, and the bib number. NYE 2017 bib artwork featured a black hotrod that looked like a hybrid of the Beach Boys’ “Little Deuce Coupe” and ZZ Top’s panel wagon. Running from the front of the hotrod, along the front fenders, and onto the doors were blue flames. At the back of the hotrod was a sign, “Now Leaving 2017”.
T-Shirt: The NYE 2017 race T-shirt for half marathon runners is a light blue tech type with the Brazen Racing logo across the chest in front and race artwork and sponsors’ logos on the back. The race artwork has the hotrod described above with a large full moon behind it. It’s definitely going to be a favorite!
Finisher’s Medal: The finisher’s medal is large and substantial. It features the hotrod, full moon, the “Now Leaving …” sign, and fireworks bursts. As mentioned above, Brazen does a pair of New Year themed races. I didn’t do NYD, but its medal replaced the moon with the Sun and the sign with a “Now Entering 2018”. The NYD hotrod is purple with yellow flames. For those who participated in both races there was a connector medal with an arched bridge and the words “Pedal to the Metal”. All. Extremely. COOL!
My Results & Opinion of the Race: Having done seven Coastal Trail Runs races and eight Brazen Racing races in 2017, comparing the two is almost inevitable. Using Rock ‘N’ Roll events as a sort of standard for high-end price, Coastal would be low price, and Brazen medium. Coastal’s Tees, and medals are simpler and use the same artwork year to year; Coastal’s bibs are plain white with bib number. Brazen’s Tees, medals, and almost all bibs have artwork that changes from year to year. Both have a fairly wide variety of aid station snacks, Brazen a bit more. Brazen’s recovery area food is more varied, but Coastal grills burgers or brats for finishers of their longer distances, and their finish area cooler has bottles of beer. What the two have in common is that both provide their runners good value and excellent race experiences in a wide variety of venues and trails. Personally, the differences between the two aren’t much of a factor when I choose between the two. The dates, venues, terrains, and distances are my main considerations. I have some preference for Brazen, but on balance Coastal is not a step-down.
2017 was a frustrating year for me, a couple of steps backward (at the least) in my capabilities. Brazen New Year’s Eve was just my fourth completed half marathon in 2017. But I finished NYE under my own power and vertical, and it was my second half in the month of December. So I’ll take it as a restart point. As a whole I like Quarry Lakes Park. It’s really pretty. OTOH, Alameda Creek Trail to me is just OK. However, the new course went farther toward the foothills above Fremont, and that part was prettier as well as not familiar. It looks like Brazen’s Western Pacific half and full Marathons will use the course Brazen usually uses. This may be because that Marathon course is certified for qualifying for the Boston Marathon. I haven’t planned out much of 2018, but the chances that I will “run” or volunteer at Western Pacific and/or New Year’s Eve in 2018 are pretty high.
Fun run to end the year right!
I have run both the New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Brazen Race for a number of years because I love the super cool "Mega Medal" you get when … MORE
I have run both the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Brazen Race for a number of years because I love the super cool “Mega Medal” you get when you finish both race.
Any race you run with Brazen is well organized with terrific volunteers and a hugely supportive running community. A gem for San Francisco Bay Area Runners!