Dick Collins Firetrails
Castro Valley, CA
- 100K, 50 Miler, Marathon
- Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
Join us as we continue the tradition of Dick Collins Firetrails. When you step up to the start at Firetrails, you are stepping into history, one that winds back to when Dick Collins was the race director. Dick is a legend. He’s remembered on a bench near the turnaround for … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Sep 26):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 77 | 75 | 75 | 69 | 66 |
| L (°F) | 59 | 60 | 62 | 58 | 58 |
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Train for a 50
This was my second 50 miler and it was much harder than my first. The course was more difficult, but it's mostly due to lack of training. Bib pickup can … MORE
This was my second 50 miler and it was much harder than my first. The course was more difficult, but it’s mostly due to lack of training.
Bib pickup can be done morning of at the start. Bring a headlamp because it’s dark, but it probably won’t be needed on the course.
The course is an out and back course that starts at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley and has a turn around point in Tilden Park in Berkeley. You run on the trails around Lake Chabot, through the redwoods in Skyline Park in Oakland and then into Tilden where you turn around and head back. There are some hills and it’s known as being a warm race with a lot of exposed sections. Stay hydrated and walk the hills to make your way through it.
Every aid station is full of helpful volunteers ready to refill your water and get you what you need. The aid stations are themed and the Oktoberfest one (at mile 8ish and 40ish) had beer for the runners heading back to the finish. Lots of food at each one, including grilled cheese and boiled potatoes.
When you cross the finish, there is a table right next to the arch that has your race swag. The finishers are given a jacket and a cinch bag with a race shirt and plastic stemless wine glass and there is plenty of food at the finish area, including BBQ. It’s a fun race that I definitely would’ve liked more had I been better trained.
GREAT 50 for a first timer
This was my first 50 miler, and I'm so glad I chose it. Production wise, couldn't have been better. They had super clear communication leading up to the race, and … MORE
This was my first 50 miler, and I’m so glad I chose it.
Production wise, couldn’t have been better. They had super clear communication leading up to the race, and did a quick briefing before the start as well. It even started on time! There were plenty of bathrooms and I didn’t see any big lines.
Plenty of aid stations, and great volunteers there. Only complaint about it was that the salted potatoes were way under cooked and hard. I usually fuel my ultras with those, but had to switch to something else.
The mile markers were MILES off from my watch, but it’s possible it’s an error on my watch’s part as it was going in and out of the trails.
The food at the end was great – lots of hot, grilled food. Only thing I wish was better was the swag – the hoodie they gave out was very plain, and a cheap wine glass. Would have liked a medal… for $150 I would have expected better swag.
And as for the difficulty? Well, it’s 50 miles on a hilly trail… you know what you’re getting into.