Stefan Ryser's Staging Area

This 2017 Trail Hog race was overshadowed with a unique weather forecast. The entire Bay Area had temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit on race day which is unusual. Even at 7 am it was already the in the 80s, and a measured temperature on the course around 10 am was 105 F. The weather forecast was accurate. The race director sent out a warning email with a red background. Trail running is an activity that isn’t just running, it is about finishing the race without getting lost, and without injuries. There were a few things that were on my to-do list: drink from the bottle in between aid stations and completely refill at each of the four aidstations, don’t push the pulse too high, use the sponge baths they provide at the aid stations, and most importantly evaluate yourself at mile 6, if I was still fresh enough to continue with the second loop. If not, call it the day, there is no shame in giving up, not at a day like that. In fact, I felt great at mile 6. That coincided with runners from the 5K race joining the course, and I had enough energy to keep up with fresh legged Mike B. and Sallie A. for a quarter mile. It was so fun running with them, that I had an extra boost. Fast forward, it is fair to say that the second loop took the energy out my body. The last 2 miles weren’t easy, in fact, I decided not to run at all, but walk, no standing. The sun was brutal, nevertheless just putting one step after another. The key is listening to your body, the moment you have a headache, stop, lay down in the shade, but so that others can see you. Thinking through all that takes preparation, and that is part of Trail running. Brazen organization was great once again. The aid stations were stocked with so much ice, that I could take an ice cold sponge bath even at 10 am with temperatures above 100 Fahrenheit, that isn’t logistically easy to achieve.

Brazen Racing produced the first time a 30K. I ran the Diablo HM from Brazen multiple times and the helipad was the highest point of the course and it is practically only downwards from here. For the 30K course they put the aid station at the helipad and added a 10K back and forth loop to the summit. Sounds easy. This little loop to the top was exactly what the name of that mountain is. The course got steep and the temperatures warmer, much warmer. Brazen offered to make a deal with the devil at the helipad, you can switch from the 30K to HM and it is not a DNF. I did the reverse and switched from HM to 30K. Well, Mike Beckwith ( the guy with bib #111) and Brad Gaiser talked me into it. Half a mile under the summit I immensely regretted that decision. Nevertheless, I got to the top, rested 10 minutes in a great chair they offered, and finished that race. I am glad and proud of it. I added 4254 feet to the high flyer account from Brazen. Well that is another crazy thing Brazen does: for 21,120 feet from the ultra series races, you will become a member of the Brazen high flyer club. I might do the 30K next year again, for sure the HM.

This is the mother of all races: 4000 feet elevation change in 14 miles and the completion of the Brazen ultra half series. It was so hard that I almost gave up at mile 9.5, ahead of the third and toughest of three hills. Brad Gaiser told me you can walk from here as you already made the cut-off time. I got two salt tablets to treat my cramps and started walking uphill for an entire mile. I had cramps in places I didn’t even know I had muscles. When finished people applauded, I got a coaster, a finisher medal and a hoodie, and Sallie Arellano brought a bottle of champagne and I got a small glass of champagne. Pretty cool, but I am quite exhausted. Mike Beckwith gave me a hug at the finish line. Next year, I will run the 5k and want to see how everybody comes in after the half marathon.

This was an inaugural Brazen race. I love the medals and then I got a little connector medal to combine the medal with the one of Bay Breeze.

Registration is as challenging as the course. Half the race is sold out within 18 minutes and a few days later they opened up for the second half of available registrations and sold out within an hour or so. Usually registration is in March and race is in June. The race is must for trail runners. I booked a room at one of the two hotels in Stinson Beach and had a great weekend. 700 runners run from Stinson Beach up to Mount Tamalpaias and down to Mill Valley, and back. That alone is a bit insane. In order to spread the crowds on the course they let the oldest run first. 80+ year old women at 8am (there are people in every wave!) It is not the slowest first, but the oldest first. Some of these “older” runners are clearly faster than me. Double Dipsea is just different! I love that Brazen Racing organizes it. Oh, in Mill Valley you run down an insane amount of stair steps and then back up. Insane is kind of the right word.

Two loops in the shape of the number eight form the course. Each loop roughly a 10K and tough. 4000 feet elevation changes over the entire course. You need some mental toughness not to give up after the first loop, as the finish line is right there in the middle and you have a mile long ascending road in front of you. Temperature is a factor, it will be always quite warm for the second loop. The views are spectacular. The race completes the Brazen Ultra Half Series, for which finishers receive a great coaster (believe me it is a coaster you want.) At this race you’ll find elite runners and hikers, and all shades in between. This is one the best Brazen Racing productions and a must for trail runners.

The half-marathon course leads around the lake, and an extra loop over a not so little hill adds up to 13.1 miles. It is the same course for the New Year’s Eve race and the reverse course for the New Year’s Day race. Even non-runners have a great time there, you can rent a boat.

I thought I was ready for my first 50K, but wasn’t. I had cramps in the very first mile, got so much behind that I missed a turn and lost valuable time and energy. At the mile 23 aid station I did not make the time limit. Was my first DNF ever. Frankly, I was happy to give up and got a ride from a Park Ranger to the finish line. The aid stations were great, the entire race was absolutely great. The elevation gain/loss number is insane. The course in its entirety is fabulous. Three months later I completed my first 50K and will make another attempt at the 2015 Diablo Trails 50K. It is probably one of the hardest 50Ks in the Bay area.

If you have done only road races, but want to do trail races, the Badger Cove Brazen race might be the right race to start a new life style in running. It is not the hardest course, however tough enough to be part of the Brazen Ultra Series championship that ends on October 3, 2015, i.e. a true trail race. Brazen never disappoints, flawless organization, great aid stations, creative finisher medals, and enough volunteers to pick up bibs and shirt on race day without waiting too long. The course is interesting, panoramic views are phenomenal. Runners with St. Patrick’s Day outfits are always fun to watch.

This is one of the bigger productions of Brazen Racing. Flawless organization. Great atmosphere. Brazen Racing keeps the score of runners that finish a 10K in less minutes than their age and calls them Ageless Wonders. If you are in for that challenge, this 10K is a must. https://brazenracing.com/agelesswonders.html

The Tarantula race was this year newly added to the Brazen races. That was exciting. The course was interesting, quite an ascending part at the beginning, rewarded by a great view over the lake and at the end circling mile long loops around the finishing area. Blogger and regular Brazen runner Not-That-Lucas nicely described the race: https://notthatlucas.blogspot.com/2014/11/running-with-tarantulas.html