I wrote this post four years ago, in the fall of 2013, and am updating it since I revisited this cool urban run last week. Now that the entrance to Yerba Buena Island is open and links to Treasure Island, you can loop around there for a longer run!

I wrote this post four years ago, in the fall of 2013, and am updating it since I revisited this cool urban run last week. Now that the entrance to Yerba Buena Island is open and links to Treasure Island, you can loop around there for a longer run!
So much of my stress is tied to perfectionism, to wanting to get it just right or not do it at all. I overthink and underproduce.
I approached the Diablo Trails Challenge 50K as a pre-Miwok 100K reality check and final long, hard run before tapering. But at a certain point I made the decision to race, not just run.
Trail Runner magazine asked, “What would you nominate for the best ‘old-school’ trail race and why?” Like a favorite old shoe, the Skyline 50K feels good and doesn’t wear out. Always friendly, never flashy.
Racing four very different races in a six-week period gave me a lot of time to ask “Why?” Why do I repeatedly register for something that sort of feels like taking a test? This post recaps the races and gives four reasons why.
The Trail Runner blog symposium prompt this month is, “Tell about someone awesome you’ve met through trail running.” A lot of runners think Ann Trason is more than awesome; she’s considered legendary because of her unparalleled accomplishments at the peak of her running career. But I think she’s awesome for what she’s doing now, and […]
Many runners and hikers don’t know of or don’t use the treasure trove of East Bay trails maintained by EBMUD. Here’s what you need to know to run or hike on them—along with a guide to my favorite, Ramage Peak Trail.
Now in its 30th year, the Skyline 50K in the Oakland Hills is one of the oldest continuously run 50Ks in the country, always held the first Sunday in August. It exudes an old-school ultrarunning spirit and tradition carried on by dozens of longtime Bay Area trail runners who come together in their version of […]
I never expected the Ohlone 50K to turn into a race that took everything out of me as I tried to maintain the lead.