Overall Rating
Overall Rating (34 Reviews)
4.8
(34 Ratings) 🏆 (34 Reviews)
DIFFICULTY
4.4
SCENERY
4.8
PRODUCTION
4.9
SWAG
4.7
Join Brazen Racing in the beautiful redwood groves of the Santa Cruz Mountains! Tucked away just outside Silicon Valley, Sanborn County Park features miles of single-track trails dappled with filtered light through lush canopy. Half Marathon and 10K runners will ascend to peaks offering spectacular views and all distances will … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Dec 14):
  2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
 
H (°F)  62  54  51  56  58
L (°F)  42  36  40  42  49
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Recent reviews

    Mess1964 FIRST-TIMER '22

    Had a great time at this race, even though it was raining and it was my first half marathon, brazen race put on a great event I am looking forward … MORE

    Had a great time at this race, even though it was raining and it was my first half marathon, brazen race put on a great event I am looking forward to the next race my next race is the New Year’s Day looking forward to that one. It will be a half marathon.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
    My Media

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    gaurav.kimothi FIRST-TIMER '19

    Be ready for climbing. The trails are single track and somewhat technical. Accelerating on the downhill can be a challenge too. Overall a beautiful course. Watch your footing and have … MORE

    Be ready for climbing. The trails are single track and somewhat technical. Accelerating on the downhill can be a challenge too. Overall a beautiful course. Watch your footing and have fun.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    3

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    Fragileflower12 FIRST-TIMER '18

    Up and up and up! Beautiful Saratoga. Fantastic race support and medals. Trails and trails. Cool weather so be prepared for fog/rain or sun/bugs. And dry or mud. Just depends. … MORE

    Up and up and up! Beautiful Saratoga. Fantastic race support and medals. Trails and trails. Cool weather so be prepared for fog/rain or sun/bugs. And dry or mud. Just depends. A lot of single track with runners heading both ways. Lots of turns but course is easily followed.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    VeganRunner FIRST-TIMER '18

    Lots of elevation in this race, just when you think the climbing is over, there is more :P Beautiful course, be mindful of the roots and rocks. The closest bathrooms … MORE

    Lots of elevation in this race, just when you think the climbing is over, there is more 😛 Beautiful course, be mindful of the roots and rocks. The closest bathrooms were closed, give yourself a few extra mins to use the further bathrooms. Hot water was gone by the end of race which was a bit of bummer, as it was freezing and I would have loved to warm up 😉 Great race and awesome T-shirt graphic! (With Brazen Races lately, I’d order a size smaller than usual)

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    Sama REPEAT RUNNER '18

    This is one tough one even for a 5K, straight up but return is fast, single trail, yet it is so beautiful surrounded by trees. I would do it again. MORE

    This is one tough one even for a 5K, straight up but return is fast, single trail, yet it is so beautiful surrounded by trees. I would do it again.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    damnchap REPEAT RUNNER '18

    This is a great hill climb challenge to start out with, and a fast decent at the end. I have a real love hate relationship with this course. As always … MORE

    This is a great hill climb challenge to start out with, and a fast decent at the end. I have a real love hate relationship with this course. As always Brazen gives the best swag and their t-shirts are well designed.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    Profile photo of Kerry Hines Long
    kerrytl12 FIRST-TIMER '18

    Brazen Racing did it again. Another wonderful trail race. The run was beautiful. There was plenty of everything at the aid stations. The shirts and medals were GORGEOUS. By running … MORE

    Brazen Racing did it again. Another wonderful trail race. The run was beautiful. There was plenty of everything at the aid stations. The shirts and medals were GORGEOUS. By running Brazen Races I have been introduced to areas I would never have run before. The whole Brazen group is so friendly that you just feel like you’re running with friends.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
    My Media

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    Detsie REPEAT RUNNER '17

    I've done the half twice and the 5K twice. The course is gorgeous with cooler temps, technical trails, and a lot of #elevert. Just about everyone I know has fallen … MORE

    I’ve done the half twice and the 5K twice. The course is gorgeous with cooler temps, technical trails, and a lot of #elevert. Just about everyone I know has fallen at least once on the half course (including me). There are a lot of hidden roots and rocks in addition to the twigs, pine cones, and other debris on those trails.

    Brazen does an amazing job on all its races, and this one is no exception. Aid stations are well-stocked and the race directors are positive and supportive of all runners. The little owl mascot of SR is my favorite logo, and the town of Saratoga is sweet place to have a snack after the race.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    greeneyegirl9 REPEAT RUNNER '16

    This is one of my favorite Brazen races and I have done them all. It is set in the beautiful mountains of Saratoga, CA. The course is mostly shaded with … MORE

    This is one of my favorite Brazen races and I have done them all. It is set in the beautiful mountains of Saratoga, CA. The course is mostly shaded with huge redwoods. I have done both the half marathon distance and the 10k. Both are challenging courses as you start off going up up up. There will be plenty of aid stations with lots of snacks, soda, ultima sports drink and water. Then on your way back you get some much needed downhills. Be careful as there are some roots that are hard to see. This is my favorite for race bling as the shirt and medal have a owl logo on it (I’m a sucker for a owl). This race also brings out the Christmas in us all as we dress up for this event. Hope to see you decked out in December!!!

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
    My Media

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    Tessa REPEAT RUNNER '16

    Well, my first year doing this tough half marathon, I finished with an age group win. This year, I was dead last. It rained almost non-stop for the last 2 … MORE

    Well, my first year doing this tough half marathon, I finished with an age group win. This year, I was dead last. It rained almost non-stop for the last 2 hours of the race, and normally I don’t struggle too much with slippery mud but this year I just kept slipping and falling. It was a tough one for me, but I enjoy this race so much. It is so pretty! The terrain is not easy. It doesn’t matter if it is raining or not, but I will always do this race for as long as I can. There is a really tough climb, it seems like it goes on forever. Coming back down the switchbacks (when it isn’t raining) is so much fun.

    The swag for this race never disappoints. The snow owl is one of my favorite shirts and medals that we get from Brazen Racing. The medal glows in the dark, it’s really cute!

    Brazen Racing is such a nice organization. They stayed out there for me as the last finisher and they even kept the arch up for me. Not all organizations do this, and I’m not going to lie, I got emotional when I saw that they had not taken it down when I came around the corner for my race finish. After 4.5 hours of fighting through the rain, mud, slipping and falling…it meant so much to me.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

    1 member marked this review helpful. Agree?

    M_Sohaskey Jan 05, 2017 at 12:12am

    Brilliant! Both you and the folks at Brazen. Great review, and your story speaks volumes as to why Brazen has such a devoted following. I haven't yet had the opportunity… MORE

    Brilliant! Both you and the folks at Brazen. Great review, and your story speaks volumes as to why Brazen has such a devoted following. I haven't yet had the opportunity to run either Trailquake or Summit Rock, but I'm hoping to tackle that monster hill one day soon, preferably sans rain & mud. Great job hanging tough, #75 – clearly you have the perfect never-say-die mindset to be an ultrarunner! :) LESS

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    Stefanryser REPEAT RUNNER '16

    Despite continuous rain for the entire morning, this is a great course. The terrain was soft, and once on the top there were rolling hills. Coming down was mud, by … MORE

    Despite continuous rain for the entire morning, this is a great course. The terrain was soft, and once on the top there were rolling hills. Coming down was mud, by then 500 runners from all three distances were over a narrow but steep trail and created mud. As the rain wasn’t enough a nest of wasps or hornets attacked some half marathon runners. They said the stings were really painful. At this time of the year the lush green in the forest was just great, almost calming. Despite the rain, the volunteers were so friendly, many smiled. This was just a pleasurable event, rewarded with a great finisher medal that serves as a Christmas tree ornament for those that wanna use it that way.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    Profile photo of Kari Haupt
    itsjustkari VOLUNTEER '16

    Accurately measured and timed, incredible support at aid stations and along the course, and speaking of aid stations...the best in the biz!! This course has a lot of single track, … MORE

    Accurately measured and timed, incredible support at aid stations and along the course, and speaking of aid stations…the best in the biz!! This course has a lot of single track, and the 5k is mostly under the cover of gorgeous trees. This is a steep climb up to the turn around, but coming down is fast and super fun! This is not a course where you’ll earn a PR, but you will earn tons of “trail cred” and most importantly, your It’s It ice cream sandwich at the end. Did I mention the first-rate bling? Are you fast? 1st, 2nd and 3rd place award medals for overall winners (male and female) and also in age groups!! But truly the best part is the people. Race Directors, Volunteers and Runners are all some of the best people I’ve ever met!

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    Profile photo of Barbara Rausch
    noneleft FIRST-TIMER '16

    This race takes place at Sanborn Park County in Saratoga. There is also the Trailquake Run at the same location at the beginning of June. Today, it rained and rained … MORE

    This race takes place at Sanborn Park County in Saratoga. There is also the Trailquake Run at the same location at the beginning of June. Today, it rained and rained and rained. There was mud, puddles, a slick course, lots of leaves, tree roots, rocks, some stairs, single track, and plenty of opportunity to wipe out. I ran the 5k and the first half of it goes up and up to the aid station. You, then, turn around and come back down the way you came. The 5k has about a 700 ft climb. I wiped out on the same course at Trailquake in June, so I was quite nervous with the slick conditions that I would do the same. I paid close attention to all the roots, rocks, and mud and I stayed up right. Besides the hills, the course is quite nice. You run through beautiful redwood groves and under lovely tree canopies. It’s definitely a tough course, but if you are up for a challenge, it is well worth it.
    Aid station and finish area were well stocked with tasty treats. There was coffee and hot water for apple cider and hot chocolate with whip cream and marshmallow. Awesome finishers medals and shirts for all. I placed first in my age group and scored a coveted age group medal. It was a great day despite the pouring rain.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    cenevoldsen FIRST-TIMER '16

    It got really steep really fast and there was no letting up till you reached the top. And that's how I like it. Wet, wild and wonderful. Don't expect to … MORE

    It got really steep really fast and there was no letting up till you reached the top. And that’s how I like it. Wet, wild and wonderful. Don’t expect to beat any PR on this course.
    You run on a narrow single track most of the way and you had to pay attention every second, looking out for roots, slippery mud and of course your fellow runners. As you sprinted down the mountain, calling out to other runners was a must, as there was no way you could stop in time in if someone came in your way.
    Needless to say, the setting in Sanborn is gorgeous. The rain made the experience that much better actually.
    Production was top notch, and I ended up winning some extra swag in addition to the medals. I’ll be wearing my brand new Brazen Racing soft tee with pride 🙂
    Definitely recommend this race, and I’ll be back!

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    mikebeckwith REPEAT RUNNER '16

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas At this race, you know There's a half and a five and ten-k It's way up a hill they say With ribbons … MORE

    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
    At this race, you know
    There’s a half and a five and ten-k
    It’s way up a hill they say
    With ribbons that tell you which way to go

    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
    Runners are all in store
    For the coolest sites to see
    The views with all the trees
    And the medal that you wore

    A very great run and a lots of fun is the wish of Jasmin and Sam
    Folks that will talk, and some that will walk, and everyone’s a friend
    And lots of clapping all around as they cheer the runners in

    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
    At this race you know
    There are volunteers to help
    Some parking us as well
    The awesome kind that doesn’t mind the cold

    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
    Soon the race will start
    Then you’ll finish and get your bling
    It’ll make you want to sing
    Owl dressed as Santa plays the part

    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
    Now the race is done
    This whole race was in the rain
    I can’t wait to do it again
    Brazen races are funnnnn

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
    My Media

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    mikebeckwith Dec 13, 2016 at 5:21pm

    And for that, ChiefRaver, you are welcome. :)

    And for that, ChiefRaver, you are welcome. :)

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    Katie_Ho Dec 13, 2016 at 2:00pm

    OMG, this cracked me up. Well-done, Mike!!

    OMG, this cracked me up. Well-done, Mike!!

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    mikebeckwith Dec 13, 2016 at 2:05pm

    Thank you, Katie. I have to ask. Did you read it, or sing it? :)

    Thank you, Katie. I have to ask. Did you read it, or sing it? :)

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    mikebeckwith Dec 15, 2016 at 7:52am

    Very cool, Barbara. :)

    Very cool, Barbara. :)

    noneleft Dec 14, 2016 at 8:54pm

    I sang it!

    I sang it!

    ChiefRaver Dec 13, 2016 at 5:17pm

    I couldn't help but sing it. And now it's stuck in my head. :)

    I couldn't help but sing it. And now it's stuck in my head. :)

    patvencool REPEAT RUNNER '16

    w0W! Summit Rock trail race course is absolutely beautiful. Lush, green, tree canopy, twigs, rocks, climb climb climb, embedded/exposed tree roots. This course is everything a trail race is all … MORE

    w0W! Summit Rock trail race course is absolutely beautiful. Lush, green, tree canopy, twigs, rocks, climb climb climb, embedded/exposed tree roots. This course is everything a trail race is all about. Uphill climb, downhill flyin.
    WARNING: This is a course where many runners slip, trip & fall with so many embedded rocks and roots. So be careful on both the uphill and even more so on the downhill.
    Well stocked aid station, well supplied end of race food table.
    Beautiful race shirts, incredible finishers medal.
    Plenty of port-a-potties
    Plenty of parking. $6 to park

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    Well organized run on a pretty course. It's single track for a bunch of the way, so there's a fair amount of passing/crossing, but everyone is super polite and slower … MORE

    Well organized run on a pretty course. It’s single track for a bunch of the way, so there’s a fair amount of passing/crossing, but everyone is super polite and slower runners call out to warn of descending runners. I ran with my daughter and she loved the “candy stations”! Hope we can do the half next year.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    Tessa REPEAT RUNNER '15

    I had just come back from a surgery, so I did the 5k this year instead of the HM. I wasn't sure what to expect for the 5k course, and … MORE

    I had just come back from a surgery, so I did the 5k this year instead of the HM. I wasn’t sure what to expect for the 5k course, and I was pleasantly surprised. It isn’t an easy 5k, but the trails are so pretty! This is a very technical course. It rained before the race this year, so it was a bit slippery out there, but I had a blast. The swag was so great this year, I don’t know how they are going to top it next year. I’ll be back to find out though 🙂

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    Profile photo of Terry Canale
    tocanale REPEAT RUNNER '15

    This race starts off pretty fast but turns to uphill climbing quickly. The first 3 miles or so are all uphill to expect to hike during that time. quite a … MORE

    This race starts off pretty fast but turns to uphill climbing quickly. The first 3 miles or so are all uphill to expect to hike during that time. quite a bit of single track as well. after 3 miles the trail is more rolling, but still climbing, however the trail allows you to pick up speed and run. Then you get a break and hit some down hill, before doing a little more climbing before the turn around. Going back is faster since the get the rolling portion is more of a down hill and the last 3 miles is all down hill, but lots of single track and turns. It’s definitely very challenging for the first part, but fun on the way back.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    BriannaRae74 FIRST-TIMER '15

    Summit Rock was an amazing experience. The course was just the right amount of challenging. The scenery was beautiful, the brazen racing crew was friendly, the post race eats were … MORE

    Summit Rock was an amazing experience. The course was just the right amount of challenging. The scenery was beautiful, the brazen racing crew was friendly, the post race eats were delicious and their was a free shuttle service to the cars. I also love that it was star wars themed! This was my first time racing with brazen and I honestly cannot wait to race with them again. I will definitely be back to do summit rock again next year.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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  1. Races
  2. Summit Rock Half Marathon, 10K & 5K