Montara Mountain Trail Run
Pacifica, CA
- 50K, Marathon, 20 Miler, Half Marathon, 10K, Kids Run
- Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
Montara Mountain features the only undisturbed Coastal Mountain Habitat found over 100 miles of coastline. Experience groves of Huckleberry, Honeysuckle, Lilac, Chinquapin and Manzanita, with beautiful views of the Pacific Coast as you climb.
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Hills, Eucalypti, Hills, and Views
Event & Course Description: Coastal Trail Runs' (CTR) Montara Mountain Trail Run (MMTR) is run in San Pedro Valley Park near Pacifica. There are 5 distances, 10K, half marathon, 20 … MORE
Event & Course Description:
Coastal Trail Runs’ (CTR) Montara Mountain Trail Run (MMTR) is run in San Pedro Valley Park near Pacifica. There are 5 distances, 10K, half marathon, 20 miles, Marathon, and 50K. I did the 10K. The several distances do different combinations of two connected loops, along with a long out-and-back section. The 10K “just” does the first loop.
Other than very brief sections through a parking lot at the start and finish, the 10K is all on unpaved trails, mostly single track. Also other than at the start and finish, there is not much of the course that is flat. Runners are either climbing up or down hills. There are two hills in the 10K, the first climb up is about a mile and a quarter long, and then a similar distance down. The second hill is about 2 miles up, and is slightly longer going back down. The rate of climb, up and down for both hills is ~500” per mile. This is not SUPER steep, but it is quite a workout. I’d rate this the second or third toughest 10K I’ve done.
What can I say about the setting and course of this race?! My 5-shoe rating is a good summary. The first couple and last couple of miles of the 10K course are through beautiful and fragrant eucalyptus groves. The middle, higher, part of the course is manzanita scrub, with views of the surrounding hills. At several points along the second hill, as runners go up seemingly unending switchbacks, there are multiple overlooks where the runner can see the ocean surf along the coast at Pacifica. The day before the 2017 race there had been rain, and winter 2016-2017 has been quite rainy. Another organizer had had to move their race from this venue to another venue just a month earlier, because the trails had been closed due to fallen tree. For MMTR, the 10K course was definitely wet, had some quite muddy patches, and runoff flowing down parts of the trail. But as a whole the trail was in very good condition. The weather also was very cooperative. Race day caught a break between two storms.
Organization & Production:
CTR is an excellent organizer of small-medium sized, low cost trail runs. CTR’s website has all the information a runner needs to check out a race, register, study the course map and elevation profile (a must for most CTR races!), and get to and from the race. While CTR did not have mile markers at MMTR (just as at Crystal Springs Trail Run), the course is copiously marked with color-coded flags. There were few places where a runner could go off course, but CTR also has color-coded don’t-go-this-way flags. Check-in with CTR is always race day, and is well organized. CTR does not do chip-timed starts, just the finish. Runners to whom 10 or 20 seconds offset matters should line up at the front of the pack of starters. Really, the only thing about which a runner need worry is running the race.
The 10K course did not have an aid station. This is dictated by the location and limited access for bringing in aid station goodies and volunteers. The only aid station encountered by any distance is in the start/finish area. Runners are expected to bring whatever water, gels, or snacks they might need for 6-7 mile spacing between aid station encounters. CTR’s aid stations typically have water, electrolyte drink, and various candies and salty snacks. The finish area goodies are similar, and include several items that are less suitable for eating on the trails.
Swag & Goodies:
Bib: Coastal Trail Runs’ bibs are plain white, with CTR’s logos and a sponsor’s logo, and the bib number. Simple and functional.
T-Shirt: CTR gives the same, tech type, T-shirt to runners of all distances. The race T-shirt for the 2017 Montara Mountain Trail Run is fluorescent yellow. On the front is the race logo (which can be seen on CTR’s website) – a eucalyptus tree – the race distances, race name, and date. The back has the organizer’s, and sponsors’ logos. It won’t be one of my favorite race Tees, but it’s still very nice.
Finisher’s Medal: The finisher’s medal for MMTR is simple but elegant. Like that of Crystal Springs Trail Run, the medallion is a wire-crushed silver-colored disk into which the race logo, distances, and name have been stamped. The ribbon is aqua colored, with “2017” at multiple places along its length.
My Results & Opinion of the Race:
As noted above, Coastal Trail Runs does low cost trail races. There are a few aspects where the “low cost” is noticeable – parking not being pre-paid is probably the most obvious. On the other hand, the Processing Fee for Coastal race registration is $3-$4 lower than for most races, and after 3 Coastal races in a calendar year one can get a 5% discount for the rest of that year. Aside from that, the other aspects of being careful with expenses are barely noticeable, and nothing really detracts from the runners’ race experience. The race experience – all the aspect of a race taken together – is the bottom line, in my opinion. Coastal provides an excellent race experience.
I was very happy with my finish time, despite not being 100% health-wise (again!). The downhill of the second hill is very runnable, and I was able to maintain a pretty quick walking pace for the final couple of miles. In better circumstances I probably would have run some of it. Would I do Montara Mountain Trail Run again? Very possibly. It’s a really great park and trails, and Coastal Trail Runs does great races.