The Woodside Crossover takes place amidst the forested slopes and steep, cool canyons of Huddart Park and Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve comprise a trail running paradise within the heart of the San Francisco Peninsula. Participants will enjoy the beautiful trails under the canopy of towering 2nd and 3rd …
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The Woodside Crossover takes place amidst the forested slopes and steep, cool canyons of Huddart Park and Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve comprise a trail running paradise within the heart of the San Francisco Peninsula. Participants will enjoy the beautiful trails under the canopy of towering 2nd and 3rd generation, moss covered redwoods as they clip past the many small streams and gullies along the way. As runners make their ascent, they’ll enter the mixed evergreen forest, which leads to the drier Chaparral and Manzanita covered area of the ridge-line. Intermittent views offer well-deserved rewards throughout the twisting single-track trails and hills, which including the renowned Crystal Springs and Skyline Trails. Keep your eyes open, as you’ll probably be sharing the trails with black-tailed deer, coyotes, bobcats and gray foxes. Distances of 10K, Half Marathon, 35K and 50K make for the perfect proving grounds for runners, and hikers, of all abilities–from the first time trail runner to the grizzled, ultra-marathon veteran.
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Bananaslugs and water and mud, oh my!
I ran this race last year and I really loved it so I decided to do it again. It also helped one of my friends registered me for as an … MORE
I ran this race last year and I really loved it so I decided to do it again. It also helped one of my friends registered me for as an early birthday present so I didn’t have a choice!
The race starts at Huddart Park which is a beautiful place, but then goes into Purisima, which is just so incredible. There is a big creek that flows down the middle, lots of waterfalls (especially after a good rain), and it’s so lush and green. Plus, banana slugs are everywhere! You can also see Half Moon Bay and the beach when you’re higher up.
It had rained the day before and overnight, but finished a little while before the race began. Thanks to the weather, it was a very wet course. We ran through small streams, huge puddles, so much mud and had to climb over lots of trees. That all just made it so much more fun! And I saw hundreds of banana slugs, no joke. Those things are so cool.
This race isn’t the easiest and it has some pretty decent hills. It’s also kind of a different course with how it is set up. The runners hit the same aid station three times which is kind of nice, but also tough because you’re so close, yet so far from the finish! The beginning of the race was a long stretch to that aid station, then a big loop through Purisima, an out and back section, and then back to the finish, but on a different way from the beginning. It definitely does not lack scenery!
Inside Trail always does a great job with their races and race swag. Every runner gets a medal and a shirt, but the 50k runners also get a pint glass! And they have a table of food at the end. I ate probably 3 entire quesadillas while waiting for my last friend to come in.
This is definitely a race I would do a third time!