The Biggest Weekend of Racing in the Whole Year?
Wow, we have so many choices for this coming weekend in terms of running and racing…and training of course.
The John Frank 10 Miler (Redding)
The PA-USATF Grand Prix event draws a solid crowd of dedicated runners to one of the most attractive courses of this distance around. Perhaps not quite a PR course, the Redding route is reasonably fast with a gradual up climb from the start to about the 3 mile point and then challenging rolls from 4 miles to the turnaround at about 5 miles, and then you retrace your path back to the finish line with three river crossings (all on bridges!), and beautiful views along the upper Sacramento River.
This is also a chance to see the world respected walking bridge across the Sacramento River at the Turtle Bay Park area, which is only about two miles downriver from the race staging location.
Enjoy and run strong!
Also…Chico Bidwell Classic Races (Chico)
I am a great fan of the Chico races and the setting there in Bidwell Park, but the Chico event has lost numbers for years as it has been staged against recently the Redding John Frank 10 Miler and for many earlier years and now also…the Napa Marathon.
Chico used to be a full marathon, and it was a great “time trial venue” as the course is 6 mile loops all shaded and wind protected (mostly) in Bidwell Park. It is perhaps the fastest core loop around and wonderful for PR searching. Many of our CHIP WOMEN are past winners of the FULL MARATHON at the Bidwell race. Now the marathon is no more, but the local community supports the event as well or better than ever with wonderful awards and random prizes to entrants and finishers.
Race Chico…if not this year than put it on YOUR CALENDAR!
And last yet certainly not least….the NAPA MARATHON…
Billed the “best little marathon in the West,” Napa is a point to point event with generally neutral or tailwind weather (though there have been stormy headwinds too). On most years, this IS one of the most beautiful racing settings around with hot air balloons rising with the morning sun and the vineyards beginning to leaf out for the start of growing season. This course is probably about 2-3 minutes SLOWER than CIM at the 3 hour racer level, and progressively harder for runners less fit. There is a easily recognized hill (feels like a mountain) at 20 miles, but the last 6 miles are basically flat.
Such a weekend of local racing choices…
And then there is always CLUB TRAINING…..
Running Times notes Barbara Miller and Myra Rhodes as top age group runners for 2005. Congratulations to Barbara and Myra !
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