Resources
Brazen Racing Ultra Half Series
If you have raced any of the Brazen Ultra Half Series races, you may be wondering which are the most difficult, which are the easiest, and what is the best strategy to optimize series times. Below is our (highly subjective, unscientific) ranking of the series races in order of difficulty. As always, your mileage may vary!
The half marathons from most difficult to "easiest"...
1. Rocky Ridge (Sept). Close to 4000 ft of elevation gain, potential for high heat in the tri-valley (Las Trampas near Dublin), a completely exposed second loop with amazing views, and almost zero flat running. This makes for a great end of season measuring stick for how far your fitness has grown through the year.
2. Bear Creek (Aug). Almost completely exposed course in Briones park, mid-August warmth, and calf burning climbs make for a rewarding day.
3. Trailquake (June). Sanborn park (near Saratoga) can get steamy hot with unusually high humidity in June. Long uphill start can turn good legs to mush before you reach the first aid station. Technical descent with 10K traffic adds to the fun. Not ranked higher because of shade and potential for early June fog layer...makes for a cooler bout of suffering than #2.
4. Summit Rock (Dec). Testament to the difficulty of this course (also held in Sanborn park), this December version on a slightly modified course still presents plenty of early-race climbing and technical, potentially congested descending.
5. Diablo (Apr). Lengthy, unending mid-race climb can leave your legs empty for the long downhill finish. Early April on Mt Diablo presents its own set of challenges, but the views are worth it.
6. Diablo (Nov). Same course, but with much less heat (hopefully).
7. Auburn (Oct). Potential for a hot day, and plenty of short steep climbs on a truly historic course.
8. Wildcat (May). Four noteworthy climbs primarily on fire roads. Great views of the Bay from Wildcat/Tilden Parks in the east bay hills, and good odds on not getting a scorcher.
9. Badger Cove (Mar). Slightly less weather vulnerability than others, with short, but verysteep climbs/descents. Begins and ends with fairly flat 1.5 miles on groomed fire road. Bring your trail shoes if it's been raining.
10. Bad Bass (July). Looping around Lake Chabot (near Castro Valley) is always a treat. The July version can be warm, but most often has a fog layer until mid-morning. First and last 1.5 miles are on paved bike path, but there are plenty of hills to slow you down on the far side of the lake. Be sure to save something for Jackson Grade...don't spend it all going up Live Oak at mile 4.
11. New Year's Eve (Dec). December version of Bad Bass. Much cooler weather, and a great way to bring in the new year!
Best of luck in picking your own optimal combination!
Summer reading list
With daylight hours at their peak in summer, there's more time to run and more time to read about running! Below is our own (highly subjective) list of some great summer reading. These are in no particular order from fact to fiction, adventure to strategy. As always, your mileage my vary!
Running through the Wall (Neal Jamison and Don Allison) - Thoughtful, candid stories from a broad spectrum of trail runners. Stan Jensen's chapter hooked me on ultras before I'd ever run one.
Natural Born Heroes (Christopher McDougall) - Adventure story you have to read to believe.
Running with Sherman (Christopher McDougall) - Will make you aspire to be a better human.
Long Run to Glory (Stephen Lane) - Detailed back story of the 1984 Olympic Marathon.
Out of Thin Air (Michael Crawley) - A deep look at living and running in Ethiopia.
Feet in The Clouds (Richard Askwith) - History of fell running races, landscapes, and characters, with the backdrop of a personal mission to achieve new heights.
Big Fat Surprise (Nina Teicholz) - Investigative look behind decades of nutrition research, comparing evidence, assumptions, and personalities.
Your Performing Edge (Jo Ann Dahlkoetter) - How to approach racing and training with a broad set of mental tools...from turning a great day into an epic memory to turning a nightmare into a learning (or laughing) moment.
Amazing Racers (Marc Bloom) - Well crafted, inspiring view inside the origin of a high performance high school cross country team. For those of us who never ran cross country, this highlights what we missed!
Called Again (Jennifer Pharr Davis) - Trail adventure with great insight into why and how you might want to go longer and farther. Includes valuable lessons on the mental gymnastics and physical logistics of crewing and pacing.
The Tevis Cup: To Finish is to Win (Marnye Langer) - There was a horse ride for quite a while before there was an endurance run. The story behind the Tevis Cup and the Western States Trail illuminates why it is such a special place to run.
Iron Will (Mike Plant) - Dangerously motivating tale of the origin and first 10 years of Ironman. Even if you never consider a triathlon, the epic stories of triathlon's pioneers will leave you wondering how much you're capable of....and how to find out.
The Perfect Mile (Neal Bascomb) - Historical perspective built around three runners and the chase for the first sub-4 minute mile. Heartbreaking and triumphant stories of exactly what it takes to reach new milestone performances, and why they are so enduring.
Marathon Woman (Kathrine Switzer) - Inspirational story on many levels. To me, the most compelling thread is of someone who falls in love with running and uses the confidence earned and the lessons gained to enlighten others and encourage them to do the same.
Other authors worth tracking down...
Kenny Moore - The Men of Oregon, Best Efforts
Don Kardong - Thirty Phone Booths to Boston
Roger Robinson - basically anything written by Roger Robinson
