Events

Dick Collins Firetrails

RACE DAY WEBCAST

Lake Chabot Marina, Castro Valley, CA

September 30, 2023

Overview

Be sure to stay up-to-date including the latest on the course moving back to Lake Chabot! Look at the Firetrails Blog!

Welcome to the 40th Annual Dick Collins Firetrails, run this year on September 30, 2023! When you step up to the start at Firetrails, you are stepping into history, one that goes back to when Dick Collins himself was the race director. You’re also standing on the shoulders of giants, including Dick, of course, who is remembered on a bench near Skyline Gate. And also, the great Ann Trason who still holds the course record. She had a special connection to Dick and considered him a mentor. Now it’s your time.

Dick Collins Firetrails 2023 has 3 events: Firetrails 50, The Golden Hills Marathon, and (NEW!) Dinosaur Ridge 30k. We will not be running the Bay Ridge 100k this year but we are looking forward to it being back in 2024.

UTMB Index. We are proud to say that both Dick Collins Firetrails races are UTMB Index events. Firetrails 50 counts as a 100k event and the Golden Hills Marathon counts as a 50k event.

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 Dinosaur Ridge on your own, 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

Click on ‘Course’ above for the Aid Station locations, crew info, cutoffs, and elevation profile, as well as for the Athete Guide, which contains maps and turn-by-turn instructions. 


Starting Time, Time Limits, Changing Distances

The Firetrails 50 mile starts at a.m.am, where you’ll park. You will be able to enter Lake Chabot at 5a.mm. You will see areas for your drop bags as you enter the main event area in the parking lot. There will also be space for your post-race bags.

Golden Hills Marathon starts at 8a.mm.
Dinosaur Ridge 30k starts at 8:3a.mam.

Time limits are:

>> 50-mile (6 am 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 at 1p.mpm. You will be removed from the course if you miss the cutoffs.

Changing distances will not be allowed during the race. If you wish to change distances, you must do so before the start.

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

 

Schwag and Awards

Each finisher receives a shirt and a medal. 50-mile runners receive a custom hoodie or jacket which marathon and 30k 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 races, pacers will be allowed from Skyline Gate on the return route only. Pacers are not allowed for the marathon.

 

Sponsors

 

 

  • Firetrails 50

    The Firetrails 50 leaves Lake Chabot Marina proceeds to Chabot Staging Area via Redwood Road. The course then moves over Dinosaur Ridge on the Garin to Chabot Trail before returning to an out-and-back to Sibley Staging Area. The altitude profile for the 50-mile race is 8,200 ft.

    Select Course Map for the Athlete Guide with maps and turn-by-turn instructions. You will also find links to Strava download GPX files here.

    Select Aid Stations for the stations, cutoffs, and driving directions (for Stations that allow you to have spectators or crew.)

  • Golden Hills Marathon

    Golden Hills Marathon is a looped course that starts at Lake Chabot and runs out the famous Dinosaur Ridge before returning to Anthony Chabot Park for a loop around Red Tail Trail, Cotton Tail Trail and Brandon.

    Elevation is 4,244 feet.

    Select Course Map for the Athlete Guide with maps and turn-by-turn instructions. You will also find links to Strava download GPX files here.

    Select Aid Stations for the stations, cutoffs, and driving directions (for Stations that allow you to have spectators or crew.)

  • Dinosaur Ridge 30k

    The Dinosaur Ridge 30k is new to the 2023 race! This event will start at 8:30 and will follow the Dinosaur Trail up Dinosaur Ridge. This is a trail that folks don't often experience. It's tough and beautiful, with panoramic views of the entire East Bay.

    You'll race to the turn around at Bellhurst Lane and return home.

    Elevation is 2,700 ft.

    Select Course Map for the Athlete Guide with maps and turn-by-turn instructions. You will also find links to Strava download GPX files here.

    Select Aid Stations for the stations, cutoffs, and driving directions (for Stations that allow you to have spectators or crew.)

Updated 8/30/2023

Times, Getting Here, Where to stay

RACE BRIEFING

The digital race briefing will take place on Sunday, September 24 at 6pm on Zoom and Facebook. You'll receive links when you signup. You can watch the recording on the blog starting the next day.

BIB PICKUP

Pre-Race (recommended):

There will be packet/shirt/bib pickup on Friday, September 29. from 2-5pm.

Location: Sports Basement Berkeley (2424 Milvia St, Berkeley).

Yes, you can have someone pick up your bib and you can pick up for others.

Race Day:

We have bib pickup starting at 5am for the 50 mile race and between 6 and 7 for the marathon and 30k on race day.

In 2023, there will be race day registration.

PACERS: You can pickup your bib at bib pickup at Sports Basement between 2pm and 5pm Friday, or on race day at Lake Chabot at any time.

START TIMES - SATURDAY, September 30

6:00 AM: Firetrails 50 mile

8:00 AM: Golden Hills Marathon - please note in 2023 we will be running from Lake Chabot Regional Park, so no bus will be necessary.

8:30 AM: Dinosaur Ridge 30k

Getting Here

The race will be held at 17936 Lake Chabot Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94546

This location is a short 20-minute drive from downtown Oakland and approximately 40 minutes from downtown San Francisco. Click here for driving directions

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 $5 at Lake Chabot. You can also park on the street and walk into the park. The gate opens at 5:00AM.

Drop Bags, Pacers, Time Limit

DROP BAGS

We support drop bags at Skyline Gate. Bring your bags to the start on the morning of the race and we'll transport them 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 bib number on your bag.

PACERS

For Firetrails 50, pacers are allowed at Skyline Gate 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 LIMITS, CUTOFFS, EARLY STARTS

The time limits are:

50 mile = 15.5 hours

Marathon = 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. To see the cutoff times and locations, go to the Course section of this site and look under Aid Stations for each of the races.

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. 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

What sport drink will there be?

We will be serving Skratch sports drink and Gu gels.

>>Will the course be marked?

Yes, all our courses are marked. Always. Don't participate in an event that doesn't have a marked course. Scena uses ribbons on clothes pins and occasionally flour on the ground. We also selectively use directional arrows and wrong way signs.

>>Can I carry and use hiking poles?

Poles are permitted. All runners using poles are asked to use common sense. Any athlete misusing their poles or delaying other runners will be disqualified.

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.

Do you need volunteers?

Our races depend on the generous spirit of the running community to ensure every participant is well supported. Volunteers who give more than 6 hours of service will receive free entry to a future Scena Performance event if they pre-arrange their service with us. Free entries are not offered for volunteers who use the race to meet a service requirement for another event.

Please fill out the volunteer form to indicate your interest and we'll get back to you with more information.

Dick Collins Firetrails