The Ruth Anderson Memorial Endurance Run race headquarters is in the parking lot at the north end of scenic Lake Merced lake at the foot of Sunset Boulevard in San Francisco, California. This is where you will park, check in, get your number, and receive aid.
It’s a mostly flat, certified, 4.48-mile loop on either an asphalt path or groomed dirt shoulder around the lake. It’s possible to run on the groomed shoulder path about 90% of the loop. There is approximately 100′ of elevation gain and loss per loop.
With two exceptions, you will stay on the paved path that circles the lake. There are two spots approximately 0.75 miles after the start of the first lap where you will go straight and not follow the longer paved route. We will try to mark this on race day and will announce it prior to the start.
Runners will enjoy one aid station per loop fully stocked with water, electrolytes, and a wide selection of foods. You will also have access to your vehicle and are allowed to set up supplies near the aid station. A second water fountain is located about half way through the loop.
Format
Runners will be allowed to choose their distance during the race, but a runner can only be a finisher at one distance. Once reaching the 50 km point, a runner must decide whether to continue or stop. If the runner stops at 50 km., he/she is a finisher in that race and his/her tag will be pulled. Choosing to go beyond the 50 km. point makes the runner an entrant and competitor in the 50 mile event. You cannot continue past one distance and decide later that you want to be scored in the earlier distance. If you have questions, please ask.
There is a generous cutoff for 50 km. as long as you can keep moving. Cutoff for that distance is 7:30hrs (Time of day 2:30pm) to continue to 50Mi distance.
50 mile runners have another cutoff to meet based on a 15 min./mi. finishing pace: They must finish their 10th lap (44.2 miles) by 11 hours, i.e. by 6:00 p.m., into the race.
Start, Finish, and everything in between
New this year, there is only one turn-around point for the 50 mile event. The parking lot at the foot of Sunset Blvd. is “Race Headquarters.” This is where you will park, check in, set up your supplies, get aid, and have your completed laps counted. It is now the finish line for the 50 km. and 50 mile events.
The start line for all races is a 0.28 mile walk from this area, and after a short announcement we will head there about 6:45. Note that it will still be a little dark at this time of the year.(see Lighting needs section below).
The first running loop for everyone is 4.2 miles followed by multiple 4.48 mile loops.
The first finishing decision is for the 50 km. After you finish your sixth full lap (mile 31.1) you can stop or choose to continue to 50 miles…
The next finishing distance is 50 miles. So that you can finish back at Race HQ, after your 11th lap you’ll run out 0.51 miles to a turn-around point then run back to the finish line at Race HQ. The turn-around point will be clearly marked with chalk and a small sign. You’ll have time to get to know this location well, but ask us as you go by if you are confused.
Lighting needs
Civil sunrise is at 6:48 am that day. The start is at 7:00, so you will be running in the semi-dark for part of the first lap. Even though most of the route is on a wide, public path, you might want to carry a small light at the start. You can drop your light near the timing tent.
Civil sunset is at 7:02 pm that day.
SPECIAL NOTE FROM THE RD:
If it is your First Ultra, please reach out to RD [email protected] for a 20% discount code.
All finishers will receive a custom Ruth Anderson Memorial Patch and car sticker.
If you think you might set a USATF age-group record, please let us know in advance so we can be sure to have the appropriate timing in place.
The best way to find the start is by entering “Sunset Circle Lake Merced San Francisco” in Google maps.
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Second time at the RA 50km
I entered this year's Ruth Anderson race with the goal of doing the 100km. I thought that after the American River 50 miler 2 weeks earlier, a 62 mile finish … MORE
I entered this year’s Ruth Anderson race with the goal of doing the 100km. I thought that after the American River 50 miler 2 weeks earlier, a 62 mile finish would be a nice stepping stone to the Keys 100 next month. Well, my plans were not to be this year – but with Rajeev Patel as Race Director, the event was still fantastic!
I got to the race start a bit later than I would have liked. I was rushing around, still putting on my shoes when the racers starting walking to the start line. It was cold, so I had my tights on plus gloves, head cover and three layers of shirts (those 3 layers stayed on my entire race). But I didn’t have time to grab my water bottle or camera. I knew the water bottle would be OK as I could get it at a later lap and there were aid stations every 2.5 miles or so (one good thing about a loop course). I never did get my camera so all images here were politely “borrowed” from the works of Peter Lubbers and Chihping Fu.
At the start, Rajeev said a few words and everybody shouted thanks to the wonderful volunteers who braved the cold and very windy morning. I saw a lot of Ultraholics such as Chihping, Yuki, Dr. Mark, Steve, Michael, etc. I tried to do some last minute adjustment on my shoes as they weren’t feeling right.
We lined up and we were off. From the get go, it was Mark, Michael, a very established ultra runner named Jean Pommier, and me. Before the first aid station, Jean opened up a lead. I decided to see if I could follow him. So I slowly started catching up and we entered the second aid station together.
Jean stopped for something and I kept going. I had the lead all to myself, but with runners such as Michael, Jean and Mark “the Machine” Tanaka running, I knew that would be a short lived fantasy.
I kept running right at or slightly under 7 minute miles. That is what I ran the first 4 1/2 laps in last year, but this year it felt much harder. As I was coming up the west side of Lake Merced, the gusts were so strong they literally would stop me in place or push me to the side. And I am not a light runner.
As I approached the “base aid station” I was the front runner. But Jean was merely seconds behind me. I stopped to drop off some gear and grab my iPod, Jean didn’t stop. Soon he had 10 seconds on me, then 30 seconds. By the time I reached the south end of Lake Merced, Jean was on the other side approaching the south aid station. It was as we both had rockets on our feet – but his was pushing him forward while mine were facing backwards 🙂
Anyway, I kept running. My legs were feeling heavy and sore. I think it was in part due to the 50 mile race 2 weeks earlier, but what really bothered me I believe were my shoes. I noticed it at the American River 50 but put it down to the shoes being too new. However, here again my legs were fatiguing way too early. Later I was discussing this with Peter Lubbers and he suggested that it may be the inserts I have in my shoes as he experienced similar things when he tried them. So I will try pulling the inserts and just using the shoe-issued insoles. Soon I came up along Yuki and said hello. He looked strong and gave me a smile and words of encouragement.
Anyway, I continued fighting the wind and doing my laps. I came through the marathon at 3:30 flat. Not bad, but a tad slower than I would have liked. On the 5th lap as I stopped at the south aid station, Mark Tanaka passed me. I was surprised it took 5 laps – assuming he would have passed me earlier. But he was running a very smart race and went on to win the 100km in a great time. I wished him well and off he went.
I begin to reconsider the 100km. I was feeling fine, but my legs were just plain tired. The wind and cold were not making my day too enjoyable, but everyone had to deal with that.
I came into the “base aid station” to finish lap 5. There I saw Peter Lubbers. Peter and I ran the final 30 miles of TRT100 together where we both completed our first ever 100 miler. Peter is training to try and break the run-through time record for the entire Tahoe Rim Trail this August. He snapped some photos and decided to run with me a lap.
We ran together a bit. Twice I decided to walk a while and we chatted about various things. I learned that Peter had volunteered to be the 50km timer. After a bit we entered the South Aid Station.
Then we started running again. Soon we came up on Chihping. Chihping was in his 5th lap but had decided that he would stop there due to a possible injury. Since he has the Grand Slam coming up, I know he made a smart decision. Chihping snapped some photos too.
As I entered the base station Rajeev asked how I was doing. I told him that I had decided to stop at the 50km mark. It wasn’t anything major such as my dehydration at AR50 or the piriformis at RR100, I just didn’t have a longer run in me that day. So I opted to enter my last lap and promised myself that I would go out and do one final 50 to 62 mile training run between now and the Keys Ultra.
I sat down and changed my shoes for the final lap to see if that helped. Sure enough, the shoes (even though they were an old pair I had with worn out soles) felt much better. I even toyed with the idea of running 50 miles, but decided I would be risking injury doing that in the old shoes. So I pushed the last lap.
I came up on the 50km timing point. There was Peter and Hao doing the timing. I crossed it in 4 hours 14 minutes 27 seconds. I found out that I had taken 3rd in the 50km.
Jean Pommier had decided to stop at 50km too – with an awesome 3:44 time. As I was changing shoes, another runner Ron Duncan passed me to take second.
All in all, I was pleased. I would have liked to have done the full 100km, but some days just aren’t to be. Still, managed a 3:30 marathon, a 50km slightly above 4 hours despite less than stellar conditions, 3rd place overall and 2nd in my age group. I’ll take it 🙂
Rajeev did an awesome job race directing. The volunteers were unbelievable – suffering through horrible wind and cold. The wind was so strong, it ripped out the tent stakes from the base aid station tent and almost blew the tent into the lake, knocking over one of the great volunteers too. The south aid station had to give up on their tent – the winds made it impossible to stake it down and even with 5 people holding it, they had trouble even trying to set it up. Looking it up, it appears that gusts reach nearly 40mph, while sustained winds averaged between 26mph and 30mph. The temps barely cracked 60 F.
At the finish I saw Rajeev Char who had come down to help with timing the 50 mile event. He is training hard for two Ironman events this year. Our friend and co-Ultraholic Anil was in India at the time, so he did his own self-supported Ruth Anderson 50km run! He ran in Lalbagh Gardens in Bangalore with his wife Rashmi serving as sole crew and aid station.
All in all, this was a great event!
My first sub-4:00 50 km
At first, I was entered in the 50 mile option, but due to a training injury I decided to do the 50km option instead. I met a bunch of the … MORE
At first, I was entered in the 50 mile option, but due to a training injury I decided to do the 50km option instead. I met a bunch of the UltraHolics gang at the start. After warming up a bit, we all went to the starting line. This race takes place around Lake Merced in San Francisco. Mostly a paved bike path around the lake, but some “trail” option (unpaved jog path next to the asphalt for parts of the run). The gun went off and we started running. I was in a very comfortable pace and found myself with the lead pack (two faster runners were up front). As I was running past Mile 1, I passed someone who looked familiar. It was John Mintz – the runner who took first place in the San Francisco One Day 12 Hour run (my first Ultra). I chatted with him a bit – he was doing the 50 mile option. After a bit I picked up my pace and ended up catching the top 2 runners.
I ran with both of these guys for a bit. They were going for the 100km option. They were both from Europe. One was training for the Basel 24 Hour run (which I was also eyeing at that time – it is a one day race around a track in Basel, Switzerland which is a frequent business travel destination for me. I ended up doing Quicksilver 50 Mile instead (race report below)). After a bit, one of the runners took off at a pace I decided not to match.
We finished the second loop averaging to the second 7 minute miles. The loops were 4.5 miles long. I was in second place at that time, but then the other lead runner took off to catch the first runner. This left me in 3rd place – a position I maintained almost all the race.
The laps went by and I felt really strong. I came up on Rajeev who was grabbing a drink at an aid station. I shouted “No loitering.” and we started running a bit. He was nursing an injury though.
As I came around the 6th lap, I was beginning to get a bit tired. I passed the race organizers table and told them that I was only doing one more lap (runners can decide their distance 50km, 50 mile, 100km, during the race – but one foot into the next distance and the runner is bound). As I went into my last lap, I was pretty tired. I had pushed a sub-3:20 marathon and needed just one more lap. I had to stop a couple of times to stretch out my legs. I then popped into a port-a-john for a quick stop. When I came out, I saw another runner ahead of me. I caught up to him and we talked a bit. He was going to do the 50 miler, but decided to do the 50km instead. We ran together for a bit but then he picked up the pace. I couldn’t hold on. He came through the 50km in first place – around 3:51. I came to the finish about 3 minutes later with a 3:54 and a second place finish. I was very happy as this was only my second Ultra ever and I achieved a second place overall finish and I went sub-4 in the 50km