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California > Fall Showdown Trail Half Marathon, 5-Mile & 5K
El Sobrante, CA • Saturday, October 5, 2013 • Course Map
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Set among the hills of the San Pablo Reservoir Recreation Area, just south of San Pablo Bay and a short drive from the nearby cities of Berkeley and Richmond, lies the Old San Pablo Dam Road along the western shore of the San Pablo Reservoir, which runners will make their way around at the early fall 2013 running of the Fall Showdown Trail Half Marathon, 5-Mile & 5K.
A race that usually attracts a small field of participants -- the race's 2011 running saw 57 runners cross the finish line in all three races combined, including 12 in the half marathon alone -- the Fall Showdown Trail event features an out-and-back course that starts and finishes near the northwest corner of the reservoir, and takes runners all the way around to the trails that run alongside the southern end of Briones Reservoir and back again.
From the starting line near the reservoir's shoreline, on Old San Pablo Dam Road, runners then head southeast along Old San Pablo Dam Road as it winds along the shoreline, and unfolds along mostly flat terrain for nearly the first five miles of the race, which is a combination of paved and natural surfaces.
That changes when runners hit the middle portion of the race, as they make the turn off the road and onto the Oursan and Bear Creek Trails, which lead north toward the Briones Reservoir. Between mile markers 4 and 5, runners hit a steep, challenging uphill stretch that climbs some 500 feet along Oursan Trail. This stretch also shows off the beautiful scenery that can be seen from the highest point of the race, including the San Pablo and Sobrante ridges as well as the valley below.
Runners make two turnarounds along the southern end of Briones Reservoir along Oursan Trail before turning back onto Bear Creek Trail and then making the return route back to the race finish line, retracing their steps along the route they ran earlier in the race.
The return brings them back through the meadows and trails between Briones and San Pablo (including a stretch along Bear Creek Road) and then brings them back to the Old San Pablo Dam Road for the final few miles along the reservoir shore to the finish line.
The race is organized by Wolf Pack Events, a locally-based race manangement company started by Wolf Hillesheim, whose goal especially is to design races and events that attract people 50 and older and encourage them to become more active and attentive to their health.
Race Weather & Climate
Located in Northern California's San Francisco Bay Area, about 15 miles north of downtown Oakland, El Sobrante typically sees mild to moderately cool and usually dry weather in October, when its average monthly temperatures range between 53°F and 72°F and rainfall totals average just over 1.4 inches for the month.
On the day of the race (Oct. 5), the average low is 55°F and the average high is 74°F.
Course Map
View the race route map for the Fall Showdown Trail Half Marathon
Starting Time
8:00 AM
Fees
See race website
Registration
To reserve your spot in the early fall 2013 running of El Sobrante's Fall Showdown Trail Half Marathon, 5-mile or 5K race, register online at Active.com.
Official Race Website
www.wolfpackevents.com
Leave a Comment
Ever run in California's annual Fall Showdown Trail Half Marathon? Share your impressions and read fellow runners' stories and tips for the event.
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