Scena Performance presents classic endurance trail races and more. Our aim is to present you with a unique challenge and celebrate you with fun, food, and friends.
In 2023, Scena continues to focus on trailrunning and ultramarathons with a few new twists.
In February, we will have the third running of the Beer City Half in Santa Rosa, along the paths of the Creek Trail network. In the coming year, Beer City will become a full fledged series, with races and beer festivals in San Jose, Alameda, and Sacramento as well as Santa Rosa.
On the trail/ultra side of things, in April, we’ll be back in Calistoga for the Napa Valley Endurance Run. This race is one of a kind. It’s very technical and challenging.
Then we’ll bring you home in August to the East Bay for Skyline Endurance Run which has really been coming along nicely with the addition of a half marathon. Then in September, we will have the 40th running of Dick Collins Firetrails, home of the Golden Hills Marathon, Firetrails 50mile and Bay Ridge 100k.
The year wraps up with the Santa Rosa Turkey Trot, which we launched at the drop of a hat in 2021. Looking forward to a few thousand people this year. It’s a real change of gears, and a total blast.
The Christine Chapon Award
Each year in December, we present The Christine Chapon Award, otherwise known as The Frenchie. This award is meant to acknowledge athletes from our community who have distinguished themselves both through great running and through service to the broader community.
The award is named after Christine Chapon — and she hates it. But we think Christine represents the generosity of spirit we should all strive for. The Frenchie is meant to be for the rising stars.
In 2021, we recognized George Manning for his work as a volunteer, particularly with Running for a Better Oakland.
Past recipients of The Frenchie are Christine (of course), Penny McPhail, William Dai, Kelly Haston, Nancy Philippine, Jeanine Holmlund.
The Stan Jensen Award
In 2017, we introduced the Stan Jensen Award, also known as the Legend. As with the Frenchie, the Legend is meant to recognize a long record of service to the ultrarunning community. Before there was Google, there was Stan with his Run100’s website, providing a concise record of an, at that time, obscure sport. Add to that Stan’s experience as a runner and relentless support of races as a volunteer, aid captain, lottery organizer, and you have an amazing record to stand on that others might not notice.
Past recipients of The Legend are Stan, Bob Agassi, Mike Palmer, and Lisa Felder.
In 2021, we awarded the Legend Award to Tia Boddington for her work as race director for Miwok 100k and specifically for her work on sustainability and on equity and inclusion in ultrarunning. These are two huge issues in the sport. Tia is also a great runner with a long list of finishes at all distances.