Events

Dick Collins Firetrails

2020 Registration opens November 26!

Cull Canyon Regional Park, Castro Valley, CA

September 26, 2020

Overview

<< See Blog for Dick Collins Firetrails Updates

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Welcome to Dick Collins Firetrails!

Join us on September 26 as we continue the tradition of Dick Collins Firetrails. This race has been run in one form or another for decades, going way back to when Dick Collins himself was the race director. Firetrails for many years was also directed by the great Ann Trason, as well as by Julie Fingar and her great NorCal Ultras. Now it’s up to us to carry on the tradition.

Dick Collins Firetrails is now made of 3 events: Bay Ridge 100k, Firetrails 50, and The Golden Hills Marathon.

UTMB points. We are proud to say that Dick Collins Firetrails offers them for The Bay Ridge 100k offers 4 points and Firetrails 50 offers 3 points. Golden Hills Marathon offers 2 points.

P-USATF Grand Prix The Firetrails 50 mile race is part of the Pacific USATF Grand Prix.

NOTE to Runners: If you plan to check out the course on your own from Cull Canyon, beware that you’ll pass through EBMUD land which requires you to have a day-use permit. They’re cheap and worth having! You can find them here.  You do NOT need a permit to run the race or to take part in our training camps.

The Courses

Again in 2020 will start and finish at Cull Canyon Regional Park, just minutes from Lake Chabot. Both Bay Ridge 100k and Firetrails 50 are out-and-back courses along the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Firetrails 50 turns around at Skyline Gate and has a total elevation of 8,700ft. Bay Ridge 100k continues to the Steam Trains and has an elevation profile of 11,400 ft.

The Golden Hills Marathon is a point-to-point race. Runners meet at Cull Canyon Regional Park and check-in there. You’ll board a bus to the Chabot Space and Science Center on Skyline Blvd in Oakland at 7 AM for the race, which starts at 8 AM. Runners may also be dropped at Chabot Space and Science but there is limited check-in. You are strongly encouraged to pick up your bib on Friday afternoon at Golden Squirrel. The total vertical for the marathon is 4,000 ft.

Starting Time, Time Limits, Changing Distances

The 100k starts at 5 am in front of Cull Canyon. You will park on the street in front of the park and we will check you in and start you at the park gate. Bring your drop bags to check-in, as well as your post-race bags and we will have them for you when you return.

The Firetrails 50 mile starts at 6 am at Cull Canyon, where you’ll park. You will be able to enter to park at 5am. Please park inside of the Cull Canyon parking lot to leave room for the 100k runners on street.

The Marathon starts at 8 am. Runners park at Cull Canyon and are bussed to the start. Busses leave at 7:00 sharp.

Time limits are:

100k (5am start)  = 16.5 hours
50 mile (6am start) = 15.5 hours
Marathon = 13.5 hours (you really shouldn’t need it!)

Contact us for more info. Cutoffs are firm because of our permits and the general curfew in the East Bay Regional Parks. All cutoffs are firm and you will be removed from the course if you miss them.

Changing distances will not be allowed during the race. If you start in the 100k, you will not be allowed to ‘drop down’ to a shorter distance during the race and receive an official finish. If you wish to change distances, you must do so before the start.

Because of the generous time limit, there is no early starts in this event.

Schwag and Awards

All finishers receive shirts, medals, and wine glasses. Additionally, Bay Ridge100k runners have the chance to earn the Bay Ridge Rhino buckle. 100k and 50 mile runners receive a custom hoodie or jacket which marathon runners can purchase separately. Age Group awards are for winners in each 10-year age group.

Aid Stations, Crew Access, Pacers…and Bathrooms

Click on the Course link at the top of the page for maps, narrative, aid stations, and driving directions. Crew has access to many of these stations unless we have specified otherwise. For the 50 mile and 100k pacers will be allowed from Lake Chabot Marina on the return route only. No pacers are allowed for the marathon.

 

Sponsors

 

  • Bay Ridge 100k

    The Bay Ridge 100k leaves Cull Canyon, passes through Chabot Staging Area and proceeds to Chabot Marina. From there, the course heads off to the Steam Trains in Tilden Park. The altitude profile for the Bay Ridge 100k is approximately 11,000 ft.

  • Firetrails 50

    Firetrails 50 leaves Cull Canyon Recreation Area and proceeds through Chabot Staging Area. The course then moves over to Chabot Marina, where you'll find aid at the Cove Picnic Area, the start/finish location of the race in past years.

    The altitude profile for the 50-mile race is 8,500 ft.

  • Golden Hills Marathon

    Golden Hills Marathon is a point-to-point run from Chabot Space and Science Center in the Oakland hills to Cull Canyon Recreational Area. Elevation is 4,250. After the first 1.4 miles, Golden Hills runs the same course as the 50-mile and 100k. Runners will encounter the lead runners in those races somewhere on the Stream Trail.
Updated 9/12/2019

Times, Getting Here, Where to stay

BIB PICKUP

Friday, October 4, from 1 - 6pm at the Golden Squirrel, 5940 College Avenue

Saturday, October 5 (RACE DAY) from 4 - 4:45am 100k only, 5-6am 50 mile only, 6 - 7am Marathon only.

START TIMEs - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

5:00 AM: Bay Ridge 100k

6:00 AM: Firetrails 50 mile

8:00 AM: Golden Hills Marathon - please note busses to start leave Cull Canyon Regional Park school at 7:15 am sharp.

Getting Here

The race will be held at Cull Canyon Recreation Area, starting at 18627 Cull Canyon Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94552 This location is a short 20-minute drive from downtown Oakland and approximately 40 minutes from downtown San Francisco.

Where To Stay

If you're coming from outside of the Bay Area, there are a number of places to stay nearbyt. Please use this link to see the closest hotels to the starting point.

Parking

Parking is FREE, first of all. For 100k runners, you will park on the street in front of Cull Canyon Regional Park. Firetrails 50 and Golden Hills Marathon runners will park in the parking lot, which opens at 5:00AM.

For spectators, there may or may not be room in the parking lot. Parking is first come, first serve. Should they lot be full, they should park on the street, making sure to observe the parking laws, signs, and notices.

Drop Bags, Pacers, Time Limit

DROP BAGS

We support drop bags at Skyline Gate and Lake Chabot Marina. Bring your bags to the start on the morning of the race and we'll transport it to the aid station in time for your arrival. Bags will be returned to the finish after the aid station closes. Please be sure to clearly identify your name and number on your bag.

PACERS

Pacers are allowed for the 100k starting at the Skyline Gate Aid Station on the return and again at Lake Chabot Marina. For Firetrails 50, pacers are allowed at Lake Chabot Marina only. No pacers are allowed for the Golden Hills Marathon. Pacers must provide their own transport to these locations. There are no shuttles provided by the race.

TIME LIMIT

The time limit are:

100k = 16.5 hours

50 mile = 15.5 hours

Marthon = 13.5 hours

All time limits and cutoffs are firm. You will be removed from the course if you miss them. Additionally, runners are not allowed to change distance during the race and receive an official finish. If you wish to run a different distance, you must do so when signing in for the race.

There are no early starts in this event.

Awards

Everyone receives an award for finishing. All runners receive a finisher medal, a shirt, and a custom wine glass that's specific to their event. 100k and 50-mile finishers also receive a custom jacket or hoodie (marathoners can purchase one separately.) Competitive Awards will be given to the top overall male and female, as well as the top male and female finishers in each 10-year age group.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a pre-race packet pickup?

We will have packet pickup on the Friday before race day October 4, at the Golden Squirrel on College Avenue from 1-6. The address is 5940 College Avenue. See you there!

Can I get my bib on race day?

Of course.

Are there places where my friends and family can crew or watch?

Most of the aid stations are vehicle accessible. Look under Aid Stations under the Course link for each race and many of them have a link to driving directions. Any aid station that does NOT have 'No Crew" next to it is open for spectators. Many of these locations are tight on parking. Make sure you're crew knows to leave plenty of time to park and get to you.

What sport drink will there be?

We will be serving Gu sports drink and Gu gels.

Do you need volunteers?

Our races depend on the generous spirit of the running community to ensure every participant is well supported. Volunteers will receive a free entry to a future Scena Performance event. Please fill out the volunteer form to indicate your interest and we'll get back to you with more information.

Dick Collins Firetrails