Caitlin Smith finishing
On July 5th, I participated in yet another great Pacific Coast Trial Runs event, this time at San Pedro Valley County Park, just south of San Francisco. The park features pristine coastal mountain habitat, also known as coastal scrub, consisting of low evergreen shrubs and herbs. The event included distances of 9k/21k/30k/50k. All runs at Pacifica are difficult with substantial elevation gains. The 21k/30k/50k all start out with a 12k round trip climb of the North Peak of Montara Mountain (1,898 ft), gaining 1,700 feet and including a very technical section of rocky trail. Montara Mountain has excellent views of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, but on this day dense fog covered the mountain precluding views. After Montara Mountain, the courses then continue onto the 9k loop course which has two smaller hill climbs totaling 1,200 feet of elevation gain. The 30k/50k do the 9k loop twice and the 50k continues up Montara Mountain again. The 21k has 2,900 ft of gain, the 30k has 4,100 ft, and 50k has 6,700 feet of gain.
View of Pacifica from Montara Mountain in clearer conditions
Myself and fellow teammate Caitlin Smith ran the 21k. Caitlin won the women’s and was 4th overall with a time of 1:45:52 and I won overall in 1:33:28. I ran most of the way with Will Hudson, who continued on to run a fantastic 2:16:32 for the 30k. Will Gotthardt was second in the 21k in 1:40:08 and Ryan Commons was second in the 30k in 2:31:31. Kevin Weil won the 50k in 4:29:41 and Meredith Terranova won the women’s 50k in 4:53:21. Thanks PCTR for another great event!
Way to go Leor and Caitlin!!!