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Click to view Coxie02's profile Amateur
Coxie02
16 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

Mar 6, 2006 8:14 PM

Redwood Trails Races?

Hi all,

I'm going to be headed out to California for a couple weeks in May, and I was looking at a race in Boulder Creek. My fiance and I will be staying in Berkeley, but are thinking of driving down to run the race. I emailed the RD to try to get some info about things to do in the area of the race, and all he could offer were the beaches of Santa Cruz. I'm from New Jersey and have only been to CA once before, and not even to the same area, so I'm pretty unfamiliar with what there is to do.

Are the races good? I've heard the trail running out there is great, so I'd like to do what I can while I'm there. Is there anything else to do around the Boulder Creek area beside the beaches? (not that sitting on the beach is bad, but I'd like to do more than that while I'm there)

Any help would be awesome.

Thanks,
Coxie
Click to view Coxie02's profile Amateur
Coxie02
16 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
1. Mar 7, 2006 9:39 PM in response to: Coxie02
bump....can anyone from CA help? I've been reading the CA Trail Running thread but I don't know how close any of that is to where we'll be. Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller?
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Click to view SLOjim's profile Legend
SLOjim
369 posts since
Nov 17, 2007
2. Mar 8, 2006 8:23 AM in response to: Coxie02
I live in So Cal but our favorite vacation spots are on the coast up around the bay area. Big Sur tops the list with both beautiful coastline and impressive redwood groves with lots of trails (a few hours south of SF). Most of the trails are within the state parks.....here's a link for CA state parks above and below the bay area .... (for distances, directions, and driving times from where your staying try using mapquest)
http://www.parks.ca.gov/parkindex/results.asp[/URL" target="_blank">
Here's another link for trail runs that have maps and elevations http://www.pacifictrailruns.com/[/URL" target="_blank">

Last year I ran the half marathon at the Avenue of the Giants (4 hours above SF).... it's not a trail run but it's is run 95% thru the best coastal redwood groves.
http://www.theave.org/[/URL" target="_blank">

I hope this helps a little and maybe someone from the area can add more.


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Jim[/URL" target="_blank">

Get involved....
 Munch-In-Training[/URL" target="_blank">
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Click to view hup027's profile Community Moderator
hup027
263 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
3. Mar 8, 2006 8:45 AM in response to: Coxie02
The Big Basin area is wonderful. By all means, run the race. Redwood Trails is a first class organization.
As for stuff to do, Santa Cruz has a very lively downtown area, with an array of live music, plus the Boardwalk area, if you are so inclined. Down the coast about 40 miles are Monterey and Carmel. There is a world class aquarium in Monterey and some world class shopping in Carmel What sorts of things are you interested in doing?
If you decide against the race, there are some great trails right above Berkeley (Tilden Park comes to mind).
If you give some input on what you are looking to do, maybe I (and others) can give some more ideas.



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hup[/URL" target="_blank">
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Click to view Coxie02's profile Amateur
Coxie02
16 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
4. Mar 8, 2006 11:07 AM in response to: Coxie02
Awesome! Thanks for the help. I'm really excited to head out there, and since we'll be there for probably 2-3 weeks we'll have the chance to check out some different things. I did register for the race; I haven't run trails in a while so we'll see how that goes

The half-marathon looks pretty cool too, although we might try to head to Napa or somewhere south for that weekend.

hup, what's Tilden Park like? I'm looking to do a lot of running, but I'm also training for a couple of sprint triathlons this summer so swimming and biking are also on the calendar.

-Coxie
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Click to view tomrunsalot's profile Pro
tomrunsalot
104 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
5. Mar 8, 2006 12:32 PM in response to: Coxie02
quote:<HR>Originally posted by Coxie02:

hup, what's Tilden Park like? I'm looking to do a lot of running, but I'm also training for a couple of sprint triathlons this summer so swimming and biking are also on the calendar.

-Coxie<HR>


hup's right. The Redwood trails folks are great. Thier races are small, informal but very well organized. Since you're from out of state they might make you lead the group singing the national anthem.

Tilden is a wonderful park, part of the East Bay Park district, home of the finest running trails in America. You can get maps and stuff at http://www.ebparks.org/[/URL" target="_blank"> In fact, hup, me and other coolrunners are meeting there on March 18 for a group run.

Tilden is hilly. If you start low, you have to slog up some 800-1000 feet, but then you get million dollar Bay views. Gorgeous. Another park you might like for mountain biking is the Redwood Park south of Berkeley.

If you here in May, then YOU MUST consider the bay to breakers race the third Sunday in may (baytobreakers.com) It will have 70,000 runners, the worlds largest taco shell fight, dozens of naked runners, a big costume contest and a wonderful post race party with beer and bands.
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