Check out front page news from tamalparunners.org through the years!
All the details of the deal can be found here.
Fellow Runners,
Can you believe it? We're another year older and, this year anyway, deeper in debt. But none of that has any affect on the annual New Year's Day fun run from Deer Park in Fairfax. It's free and the hills have been leveled to accommodate our advancing ages.
As a pre-run warm-up, this year we'll have a little competition. Bring with you a pair of old worn out running shoes. Dave Waco has agreed to stand in for George Bush and we'll take turns throwing shoes at him before the run. If you hit him you get your picture in the January Gazette.
As usual, this run is invitational... everyone is invited. It starts at 10:00 AM, a generally civilized time to go for a run. It can be as short as 3-4 miles or as long as 11-12 for you masochists. No matter which route you take it is guaranteed to get your blood flowing in the first 1.1 miles.
If you have any questions about directions or routes, just send me an email jakburns@earthlink.net Get there early for the annual photograph. If I remember correctly, last year we had about 62 people in the picture with a few more running across the campground to join the group (they didn't make it).
And last but not least... please pass the word. The more the merrier.
Carpooling is encouraged.
Jack Burns
Barry Spitz wrote a very nice article on the Fagans in the December 16th Marin IJ.
Congratulations to the team!
29th Team Overall
Will Baker-Robinson-27:10---6:02/mile
Frederick Huxham-29:04---6:27/mile
Johnny Lawson-28:05----6:14/mile
Clayton Hutchins-29:08---6:28/mile
Total Time-1:53:28----avg 6:18/mile
Full Results
Snow on the ground, temperatures in the low 20s and high winds made for brutal conditions at the 2008 USATF Cross-Country Club Championships in Eastern Washington, but Tamalpa's two women's team and men's team persevered to strong finishes. Karen Steele, Cristina Lachman and Mimi Willard led the women's A team to a fantastic second place, while Mary Wells, Tricia Wallace and Adele Ho ran the B team to a fourth. For the men, Brian Pilcher, Tom O'Reilly, Mark Richtman, Roy Kissin, Brian Purcell and Jim Howard fought through the conditions to a third. Congratulations to all! Full Individual and Team Results and Photos from Adele Ho.
Thanks to Tom O'Reilly we have an updated calendar with a total of 81 events. Some of the dates on this calendar are tentative as solid dates are not available for all events. Please email webmaster@tamalparunners.org if you have an event you would like to add to the calendar.
The two person Valentine's run is right around the corner. Learn more.
On Sunday, December 7th a group of Tamalpans ran CIM, check out their results below.Full Results.
| PLACE | FIRST | LAST | DIV | DIV PL | SEX | SXRNK | AGE | FINAL | PACE | HALF | CHIP |
| 188 | SILVER | LUMSDAINE | F35-39 | 6 | F | 24 | 39 | 02:57:44 | 00:06:47 | 01:28:13 | 02:57:40 |
| 257 | STEIN | ONSRUD | M50-54 | 9 | M | 227 | 50 | 02:59:58 | 00:06:52 | 01:29:14 | 02:59:48 |
| 300 | MARY | CHURCHILL | F30-34 | 8 | F | 37 | 33 | 03:04:24 | 00:07:02 | 01:29:17 | 03:04:21 |
| 377 | STUART | SEARLE | M35-39 | 72 | M | 332 | 35 | 03:08:09 | 00:07:10 | 01:32:05 | 03:08:01 |
| 427 | ROBERT | FLATLAND | M40-44 | 65 | M | 374 | 43 | 03:09:38 | 00:07:14 | 01:28:09 | 03:09:33 |
| 692 | JAMIE | COLLIE | M30-34 | 130 | M | 599 | 30 | 03:18:31 | 00:07:34 | 01:34:50 | 03:18:06 |
| 1089 | KEN | WHITE | M45-49 | 117 | M | 913 | 47 | 03:29:36 | 00:08:00 | 01:43:54 | 03:28:42 |
| 1812 | MARY | COLLIE | F30-34 | 104 | F | 442 | 31 | 03:45:34 | 00:08:36 | 01:50:03 | 03:45:09 |
| Men's Age Group |
5K
|
8k
|
10k
|
12k
|
10Mi.
|
½ Mara.
|
30k
|
Mara.
|
| Under 34 | 16:12 | 26:39 | 33:42 | 40:53 | 55:50 | 1:14:34 | 1:49:04 | 2:38:32 |
| 35-39 | 16:16 | 26:39 | 33:42 | 40:53 | 55:50 | 1:14:34 | 1:49:04 | 2:38:32 |
| 40-44 | 16:51 | 27:05 | 34:50 | 42:10 | 57:26 | 1:16:27 | 1:51:23 | 2:41:12 |
| 45-49 | 17:29 | 28:36 | 36:08 | 43:42 | 59:34 | 1:19:18 | 1:55:30 | 2:46:55 |
| 50-54 | 18:10 | 29:44 | 37:32 | 45:26 | 61:54 | 1:22:24 | 2:01:00 | 2:53:39 |
| 55-59 | 18:55 | 30:59 | 39:07 | 47:21 | 64:30 | 1:25:51 | 2:05:04 | 3:00:55 |
| 60-64 | 19:47 | 32:24 | 40:56 | 49:31 | 67:28 | 1:29:48 | 2:10:49 | 3:09:11 |
| 65-69 | 20:49 | 34:04 | 43:03 | 52:04 | 65:51 | 1:34:23 | 2:17:26 | 3:18:48 |
| 70-74 | 22:01 | 36:03 | 45:32 | 55:05 | 75:03 | 1:39:50 | 2:25:23 | 3:30:14 |
| 75-79 | 23:30 | 38:29 | 48:37 | 58:48 | 80:05 | 1:46:31 | 2:35:06 | 3:44:15 |
| Women's Age Group |
5K
|
8k
|
10k
|
12k
|
10Mi.
|
½ Mara.
|
30k
|
Mara.
|
| Under 34 | 18:00 | 29:34 | 37:24 | 45:19 | 61:44 | 1:22:15 | 1:59:50 | 2:53:34 |
| 35-39 | 18:09 | 29:43 | 37:30 | 45:21 | 61:44 | 1:22:15 | 1:59:50 | 2:53:34 |
| 40-44 | 18:54 | 30:54 | 39:01 | 47:11 | 64:06 | 1:25:10 | 2:03:34 | 2:58:06 |
| 45-49 | 19:42 | 32:14 | 40:41 | 49:12 | 66:50 | 1:28:48 | 2:08:48 | 3:05:36 |
| 50-54 | 20:36 | 33:43 | 42:32 | 51:26 | 69:51 | 1:32:49 | 2:14:36 | 3:13:55 |
| 55-59 | 21:38 | 35:21 | 44:37 | 53:58 | 73:15 | 1:37:20 | 2:21:08 | 3:23:18 |
| 60-64 | 22:48 | 37:15 | 47:01 | 56:51 | 77:10 | 1:42:31 | 2:28:38 | 3:34:01 |
| 65-69 | 24:09 | 39:30 | 49:50 | 60:15 | 81:46 | 1:48:37 | 2:37:24 | 3:46:35 |
| 70-74 | 25:48 | 42:11 | 53:13 | 54:24 | 87:18 | 1:55:59 | 2:47:59 | 4:01:41 |
| 75-79 | 27:51 | 45:33 | 57:25 | 69:24 | 94:09 | 2:05:04 | 3:01:04 | 4:20:25 |
If you think that you qualify for Race Entry Fee reimbursement as a result of running times that meet or beat the times listed in the above table and are interested in pursuing reimbursement, contact your Racing Team Captain or Frank Ruona and let them know. The second category is for Ultra Running. To qualify under this category you must have run at least seven PA Road, Cross Country and/or Ultra Races for your Tamalpa Racing Team and have run at least one PA Ultra Race in a time equal to or faster than the times listed in the following Outstanding Ultra Runner Table:
Ultra
| Men's Age Group | 50K | 50MI. | 100K | 100 MI. |
| 39 & Under | 3:33:28 | 6:04:16 | 8:22:14 | 15:15:24 |
| 40-44 | 3:42:55 | 6:27:46 | 8:17:56 | 15:33:46 |
| 45-49 | 3:57:49 | 6:52:10 | 8:45:15 | 16:56:23 |
| 50-54 | 4:04:34 | 6:58:49 | 9:33:24 | 18:40:24 |
| 55-59 | 4:06:48 | 7:21:25 | 10:43:36 | 20:06:53 |
| 60-64 | 4:42:24 | 8:00:23 | 11:12:35 | 21:59:19 |
| 65-69 | 4:47:43 | 9:07:13 | 11:53:09 | 23:12:00 |
| 70-74 | 5:43:34 | 10:58:04 | 14:18:58 | 27:27:10 |
| 75-79 | 6:19:33 | 14:13:25 | 24:31:26 | 27:27:10 |
| Women's Age Group | 50K | 50MI. | 100K | 100 MI. |
| 39 & Under | 3:55:49 | 7:05:23 | 8:11:28 | 17:14:38 |
| 40-44 | 4:31:33 | 7:53:51 | 9:10:25 | 18:24:36 |
| 45-49 | 4:34:31 | 7:21:46 | 9:43:23 | 19:01:08 |
| 50-54 | 4:43:41 | 8:13:05 | 9:52:40 | 18:48:08 |
| 55-59 | 5:15:53 | 9:41:00 | 10:53:15 | 23:56:45 |
| 60-64 | 5:30:35 | 11:17:03 | 11:40:08 | 25:59:28 |
| 65-69 | 5:47:57 | 11:32:18 | 12:46:41 | 26:18:46 |
| 70-74 | 6:32:25 | 12:23:56 | 14:30:21 | 29:21:58 |
Runners who qualify under this category of the program are eligible to have a portion of their Ultra Race Fees paid for the Ultra Races they run the following year. They are eligible for the average preregistration PA Road Racing Entry Fee (approximately $27.00/race) times the number of PA Ultra races that they run in the following year. Over the past several years this program has been in effect, but very few Tamalpans have been aware of or taken advantage of the program. In December of 2002 we had a meeting of Racing Team Captains and other interested Tamalpa Runners to discuss what we could do to increase the participation of Tamalpans on our racing teams. It was decided that a first step would be to publicize and implement the program that we currently have in place. Any Tamalpans who have ideas as to how to improve our racing teams and our racing program are urged to contact your racing team captain or Frank Ruona and make your opinions known. The Tamalpa Runners have one of the largest running clubs in Northern California. We should do our best to field competitive racing
Despite
a bit of rain, okay a deluge, the John Lawson Tamalpa Challenge cross-country
races, held on Saturday, November 1st, were a great success. Congratulations
to all of the participants, especially Senior division competitor Brian Pilcher,
who won the Men's Masters race outright! Thanks must also go out to all the
volunteers and race director Ken Grebenstein. For unofficial race results,
go 
Tuesday
evening, Oct. 28th - Plenty of ghouls, goblins and Dodgers (Oh my!) were present
at the Tamalpa Halloween Track workout at San Rafael High. 
The
following was reported by Tamalpa Team Coordinator Frank Ruona, on the successful
assaults on the Men's Veterans (70+) and Women's Senior world records for
the 4 X 1600 meter relay, onThursday morning, Oct. 16th:
October
saw yet another TCRS course run in the northern part of the county, again
in Novato, near and around Deer Island. On a beautiful bright fall morning,
74 racers navigated the dirt levees and single track trail looping Deer Island
behind the Vintage Oaks shopping center, for a total of 4.55 miles. Mark Mcmanus
dominated the field once again, to win comforatbly over second-place finisher
George Dombroski. Christina Lachman topped the ladies field, with a 25 second
cushion of victory over Tammy Gonzalez. For complete results, go 
The
4th Annual Steve Lyons Track meet, held on Sep 16th, was yet again a successful
and pouplar affair. Dozens of enthusiastic runners and spectators congregated
at the San Rafael High School track to enjoy some spirited racing, as well
as honor the legacy of one of Tamalpa's greatest runners. Many thanks to the
various organizers of the meet - Billie Post, George Frazier, Jim Myers, Kevin
Mangan, and others who donated their time and efforts in putting on this fine
event. For complete meet results, go 
It's
that time of year again – XC Season! Each fall, the Pacific Association of
USAT&F holds a series of 9 cross country races, to foster club-vs-club as
well as individual competition. Tamalpa tries to field teams in all divisions.
Everyone, fast or slow, can contribute to this team effort simply by participating.
All courses are between 3 and 6 miles, mostly dirt, with some moderate hills.
There are separate races for women, masters men, and open men, so you can
run your race and enjoy cheering your teammates in the others. It's the team
that counts in XC, plus it's a lot of fun to join in and be part of the colorful
scene!
The August TCRS on Sunday the 10th saw participation numbers slightly
down for the race, probably due to conflicting vacation plans for many
club members. It certainly couldn't have been due to the course, as it's
a pleasurable 5.2 mile mix of flat bike path and slightly challenging
fire trail that rewarded the racers with a gorgeous view from atop the
ridge. Race day weather was nearly perfect, with cool temps in the shade
of the bike path, and slightly warmer conditions on the hill. TCRS newcomers
Jim Sorensen (national-class Masters miler) and Mark Churchill (32 minute
10k guy) battled it out for much of the race, with Jim prevailing over
the last mile or so on the bike path, in a strong time of 31:27. Teen
phenom Jacque Taylor won the women's race handily in a fine time of 37:42,
over second place lady Karen Steele, who edged out Liz Shortino for the
runner-up honors. There were 73 finishers overall. Complete results can
be found 
The
third consecutive running of the July San Geronimo TCRS once again proved
to be a popular affair. Mild weather conditions made for good racing,
and Mark McManus continued his dominating ways by holding off a contingent
of younger runners, who seem to be increasing in numbers at recent club
races. Peter Kissin finished in the runner-up position, nearly two minutes
back. An exciting women's race saw Courtenay Brown triumph over a game
Laura Schmitt. 92 finishers enjoyed the two loop course around the San
Geronimo Golf Course, and many participants and their families partook
in the post-race dinner festivities at the golf club's banquet hall. For
complete results, go 
The
Tamalpa Runners and race director Jason Jacobson report that the inaugural
Novato "Four On The 4th" Fourth of July races went off smoothly,
with over 100 participants in the 4 mile road race, and "Mayor's
Cup" One Mile run/walk. Jason thanks the many Tamalpan volunteers
and racers who participated on race day, and invites everyone to return
next year to this well-organized event. For complete 4 Mile race results,
click 
The
35th running of the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run was unfortunately
cancelled by race organizers a few day before the scheduled start on June
28th, due to the hazardous conditions on, and near the course as a result
of the many wild fires that are plaguing Northern California. Alternate
race scenarios, including several different variations of the race course
were considered, but the unhealthy air conditions prevented any possible
substitute race solutions. Race organizers have announced that all runners
who were on the Official Final Start List will be given an automatic entry
to the 2009 event. For more comprehensive news on the cancellation of
the event, go 
Jamie
Berns and Roy Rivers, Tamalpa's "Dynamic Duo" of Bay Area trail
racing, continued their co-dominance of the "Triple Crown" of
handicapped trail races, with Jamie scoring the win at the Dick Houston
Woodminster Handicap 9 mile trail race on June 15th, and Roy taking the
overall honors at the Double Dipsea on June 21st. This makes it eight
"Triple Crown" handicapped trail race wins in a row for either
Roy or Jamie. (Go 
Perennial
favorite and Heartbreak Kid Roy Rivers finally broke through at the Dipsea
today, winning the 98th running of the storied trail race from Mill Valley
to Stinson Beach. Roy (age 51, 6 hc min., 53:23 scratch time) won by over
a minute and a half in front of second place Russ Kiernan, who had yet
another strong run over the Dipsea course. A surprise third-place finisher
was 68 year-old Hans Schmid, running in his first Dipsea Invitational
race. Look out for Hans next year! Rounding out the top five were Mark
McManus, who took the fastest time trophy for the third year in a row,
and former champion Melody-Anne Schultz. Tamalpa once again took the team
title. Congratulations to all the participants, now we can relax! Complete
preliminary results are now posted on the Dipsea Race website 
As
per tradition, the May TCRS was designed to be a hilly and tough course,
in order to help prepare Dipsea entrants for the challenge that lies ahead
next month. This course lived up to the billing. A slightly modified 7.1
mi. route along Corte Madera Ridge and Warner Canyon put 123 racers to
the test, with all agreeing that this race indeed is a good tuneup for
the Dipsea. Mark McManus proved he is more than ready, powering away to
a decisive victory, in a speedy time of 44:59. Former Tamalpan Adam Hersh,
also a strong Dipsea contender, placed second, 2:43 behind Mark. In that
the race was held on Mother's Day, it was only fitting that Mom Liz Shortino
took first place for the ladies, just edging out Karen Steele after a
great duel on the hilly course. Liz ran 59:03, to Karen's 59:19. Jamie
Berns proved that she is still running strong by placing third in a fine
effort of 59:56. Complete race results can be found 
Sunny
skies and plenty of short steep hills were the order of the day in the
March TCRS club race. 121 racers were challenged by the constantly undulating
terrain, as well as the slightly sadistic climb in the last 1/2 mile of
the race. Local triathlete Adam Zastrow ran strongly on the hills, to
easily outdistance second place finisher Brad O'Brien. Jacque Taylor showed
that she's in good pre-season Dipsea shape by trouncing the women's field
by over 2 1/2 minutes. Home Girl Karen Steele took second place for the
ladies. For complete race results, go 
Perfect
running weather and mostly dry trails at this years edition of The Way
Too Cool 50k contributed to some fast times run by a slew of Tamalpans
and other racers as well. An impressive 29 runners finished under 4 hours,
with Oregonian Todd Braje winning the race in a fine time of 3:32:13.
2007 Quad Dipsea champ Erik Skaggs led for much of the race, before finaly
falling a bit off the pace in the last 5 miles. His second place time
was 3:34:17. First-place woman, in a new course record time of 3:55:22,
was Susannah Beck, also from Eugene, Oregon. Susannah bested Ann Trason's
mark of 3:56:55, which had stood for 13 years. Most impresssive! In case
you haven't heard of Susannah Beck before, she was the 4th place finisher
in the 2000 Women's US Olympic Marathon trials, so she definitely has
some credentials to her name! Top Tamalpan finisher was Mark McManus,
in a sizzling 3:43:48, good for 10th place overall. Mark's time would
have won this race outright at least 4 times in the past. A fast field,
indeed. Also having a stellar performance was Roy Rivers, who broke Mark
Richtman's 50-59 age group record with a great 3:53:50. Other Tamalpans
who had notable performances were Heather Levine-Chesler (8th woman overall),
Gary Wang, Dave Bronstein, and Bernie Hollander. Congratulations to all
Tamalpan finishers at this always-popular event. For complete race results,
click 
Twilight
Relays meet director Jason Jacobson reports that 32 schools from all over
the Bay Area are signed up for this years edition of this great event.
The San Rafael Twilight Relays will take place this Saturday, March 8,
2008 @ 4:30 pm @ San Rafael High School. The Twilight Relays is a fun
and special running experience. Relay teams compete in unique relay distances
at night, under the lights at the beautiful San Rafael High School all-weather
track and field facility. There is a $5.00 entrance fee. Races include:
Girls and Boys Sprint Medley Relay --Girls and Boys Distance Medley Relay
--Coed 4 x 200 Meter Relay --Coed 4 x 800 Meter Relay. This is a chance
to come out and watch some of the best track athletes in the Bay area
in action! Jason is also looking for volunteers to handle some of the
timing of the events. If you would like to help out, contact Jason at
Fifty-seven couples participated in the 2008 edition of the Tamalpa Runners
Couples Relay, on Sunday, February 10th. For the first time in recent
memory, a married couple took the top prize, breaking the streak of non-married,
or "couple for a day" teams that have dominated the event in
recent years. Deb and Jon Rushman won comfortably in a fine combined time
of 22:29, 21 seconds in front of the second place team of Kelsey Ripp
and Rian Nernandez. For complete results, click 
The
23rd running of Roger Gordon's Super Bowl Handicapped 7 Mile trail race
took place on a beautful sunny morning, following nearly a week of dreary
rainy weather. Although there were a few muddy spots, and the occasional
60 second rain "spritz", the course was enjoyed by all. We even
got to see a rainbow while traversing the Blithedale ridge "Roller
Coaster"! Numbers were down for this year's edition, with only 54
entrants, as opposed to the usual 80-100 racers. The previous week's rains
no doubt kept some of the fair-weather weenies away. The champion of this
year's race was long-time Super Bowl race participant Mitch DeShields,
who had arguably his best race in years. It's amazing how a fair handicap
can motivate runners in this race! Mitch had a comfortable 1:33 lead over
second place finisher Max Perry, who also benefitted from a decent handicap
this year. Last year Max finished sixth from last, with a not-so-charitable
handicap. He took full advantage of his added minutes, as well as experience
from last year to improve to the runner-up position. Dave Leipsic also
ran very well to garner the third place spot. The top 24 finishers all
won a bottle of wine, supplied by Roger Gordon. All runners also enjoyed
the traditional post-race breakfast at Roger's, as well as the good-natured
heckling and abuse supplied by emcee George Frazier at the awards ceremony.
A big thank you goes out to Roger and his band of volunteers for the race
- Jim Myers, Dave Waco, Eve Pell, Cindy Goh, Jamie Berns, Roy Rivers,
Arthur Beckert, Dimitris, and Dave Covey. For race results, go 
The
first race in the 2008 TCRS racing season kicked off in typical fashion,
under sunny skies, and crisp, clear conditions. Batbileg Bor returned
to the winner's circle, out-racing a game Josh Babiak, and managing to
run to a new course record of 19:03, five seconds under Jake Schmitt's
old standard. Jacque Taylor cruised to victory in 22:31, 20 seconds ahead
of second-place Anna Bretan. 170 racers enjoyed the mildly hilly course
down to the ocean and back. For race results, click 
Tamalpa
Youth and Tamalpa Teens are cordially invited to attend the 2008 Olympian
Track and Field clinic to be held on Saturday, February 9th from 9 am
to about 4 pm. Adults are also invited to attend. Where: Logan
High School in Union City (we will car-pool over there) What is it:
This is a learn-by-doing clinic. Olympic stars of the past and present
guide you through various workouts and teach fundamentals of track and
field. Most events of track and field are covered, including distance
running. 
Rougly
70 folks showed up for the first run of the year on the mountain on New
Years Day, no doubt encouraged by the sunny skies and aspirations of a
strong year of training and racing. The Deer Park School in Fairfax was
once again the meeting point, which afforded the runners many enjoyable
trail options to explore. Happy New Year, and good luck to all in 2008!
Big
Congratulations to the Tamalpa Senior Mens Team for taking second place this
morning in Ohio. Brian Pilcher was Tamalpa's top runner and eighth in the
50-59 individual standings. Tamalpa Results below. For full results see 
Just
a reminder that this Saturday, Dec. 8th is the annual Tamalpa Christmas Party,
to be held once again at the Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club. The festivities
start at 5:30 pm, and dinner will be held at approximately 7:00 pm. Tim Amyx
will once again be presenting his always great "Tamalpa Year in Review" video,
the Tamalpa Lifetime Achievement award(s) will be presented, and following
dinner the entertainment continues with live music from "The Kings". For all
those interested in attending, this is a pot-luck affair, with those with
the last names of A-O bringing a side dish, and P-Z bringing a desert. (Or
bring both of your favorites) Cost is $20.00 if you mail in a check to Tamalpa
*now*, or $25.00 at the door. Click here for more info about the event. If
you would like to assist our social committee in putting on this event, volunteers
are needed for kitchen, food serving and clean-up after the party as well.
Contact Dave Pinto at 531-4049 or E-mail at dpinto@sonic.net, if you would
like to help out. We'll see you all on the 8th. Happy Holidays! 
Tamalpans
once again filled the field at the 25th annual Quadruple Dipsea, held on Thanksgiving
weekend. 232 runners managed to finish the double out-and-back course, with
26 Tamalpans crossing the finish line. 25 year old newcomer Eric Skaggs, of
Ashland, OR, destroyed the field in his first Quad, becoming only the second
runner ever to break the fabled 4 hour mark. Eric's time of 3:53:07 was only
38 seconds off of former Tamalpan Carl Anderson's course record. Not to be
outdone, Livermore's Beth Vitalis *did* break Karen Brown's course record
by racing to an outstanding 4:39:39, and finishing 7th overall in the race.
Congratulations to both of these champions! Victor Ballesteros proved that
he is one of the strongest Tamalpa ultrarunners these days by racing to his
second consecutive second place finish in the Quad, with a fine time of 4:13:35.
Jamie Berns was not able to repeat her winning ways of last year, but still
managed to run a gustsy race and finish as first Tamalpan woman, and 7th female
overall, despite battling debilitating leg cramps on the fourth leg of the
race. Jamie's time was a solid 5:08:07. Way to go Jamie and Victor! For complete
race results, go here. 
Over
240 runners participated in the 7th Annual Tamalpa Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving
Day at the Indian Valley campus of the College of Marin. Race director Jason
Jacobson reports that 89 youngsters competed in the Kids 1.05 Mile race, and
155 adults and teens stretched their legs on the 2.82 mile cross-country course.
Many thanks go out to Jason and his group of Tamalpan volunteers who ensured
yet another successful year for this event. If the race continues to grow
at this rate, they'll have to start having a lottery for entries! For race(s)
results, click here. 
A
large turnout of Tamalpans at the recent Pacific Association Cross Country
Championship races in Golden Gate Park helped secure 5 of the 9 PA team titles
for the 2007 XC Gran Prix season. Thanks to all Tamalpans who participated
in any of the cross country races this year, and a special congratulations
to the teams who won their respective age group divisions in the Gran Prix
- Women's Masters and Super Seniors, and Men's Seniors, Super-Seniors, and
Veterans. Final divison standings can be found here. 
The
Tamalpa Runners once again hosted this successful PAUSATF cross-country event,
with nearly 300 runners taking part in three separate races (Women's, Men's
Masters, and Men's Open) on a beautiful morning perfect for trail racing.
The race of the day belonged to San Francisco's Jim Sorensen, who destroyed
the rest of the field in the men's masters race, with a nearly 2 minute margin
on the 4.25 mile course. Brian Pilcher was Tamalpa's fastest finisher of the
day, finishing 9th overall in the master's race. Other notable Tamalpan efforts
were turned in by Tammy Gonzalez, Linda Sharp, Jon Rushman, Tom O'Reilly,
and Don Porteous. Many thanks to race director Ken Grebenstein and the dozens
of Tamalpa volunteers who helped make this event the special experience that
it is. For complete race results, go 
The
annual Steve Lyons Track meet proved to be another fun-filled and exciting
affair, with dozens of athletes participating in individual races and relays
of varying distances. The highlight of the evening was definitely the new
pending world record set in the men's age 50 and over 4 x 1600 meter relay,
by the Tamalpa quartet of Brian Pilcher, Roy Kissin, Tom O'Reilly and Mark
Richtman in a sizzling time of 19:31.2, 12 seconds under the existing record,
previously held by Tamalpans Frank Ruona, Don Porteus, Jim Williams, and Steve
Lyons. For complete meet results, go 
One
of the largest fields in recent memory turned out for the annual Labor Day
Mt. Tam Hill Climb. 114 runners completed the approx. 2.6 mile nearly vertical
course from downtown Mill Valley to the East Peak of Mt. Tam. Newcomer Galen
Burrell ran the third fastest time in race history, with a phenomenal 31:52,
easily outdistancing second place finisher and *still* current course record
holder Tom Borschel, who finished in 34:00. It was great to see Tom travel
from Colorado, to the scene of one of his greatest race triumphs. Judy Rabinowitz
trounced the ladies field, in a PR time of 39:53. Jamie Berns continued her
strong 2007 racing season by finishing second overall for the women. 32 athletes
also competed in the first-ever Mt. Tam Hill Climb "Triple Crown",
which consisted of a Mt. Bike race to the top of Mt. Tam on Saturday, a road
bike race also to the top of the mountain on Sunday, and Monday's running
event. Overall champion was Tim Knudsen, in a tight competition with Sam Lueck
and Greg Allen. Greg's wife Christy Allen won the women's competiton for the
Triple. Congratulations to all atheletes who competed in one, two, or all
three of the events. Race results for the running race and Triple Crown races
can be found 
The
Tamalpa Runners once again hosted the USATF National 50k Trail Championship
race at the Headlands 50k, on August 26th. 130+ racers enjoyed near-perfect
running conditions on a cool, overcast day. Repeating as mens overall winner,
and retaining his National Men's overall champion title was Bryan Dayton,
who finished in a fine time of 3:55:25. Running in his first ultramarathon,
Tamalpan Mark McManus scorched the course with a fantastic 4:02:19, to finish
second overall. Great race, Mark! Beverly Anderson-Abbs took first place honors
in the women's division, finishing in a solid 4:42:31. Congratulations to
Tamalpans Sunny Blende, Bob Knox, and Dave Covey for winning their age divisions,
thereby becoming National Age Group Champions! Nineteen Tamalpans completed
the race this year, and several dozen Tamalpan volunteers helped to conduct
the event on race day. Many thanks to these volunteers, as well as the race
directors Guy Palmer, Greg Nacco, and Jerry Leith for putting on yet another
first-class event! For complete race results, go 
Flat
and fast was the name of the game at the August 12 TCRS in Corte Madera. The
3.2 mile course held on the paved bike path and levees surrounding Corte Madera
marsh saw 84 runners complete the circuit, with Tom Lyons and Kelsey Ripp
taking the men's and ladies race, respectively. Tom finished in 17:44, while
Kelsey won a tight women's race in 20:27. Complete results, and Jim Myer's
race write up can be found 
The
famous Sweetwater Saloon in Mill Valley is reportedly closing its doors for
good on September 1st. Tamalpa's own Geoff Vaughan, and his great band VINYL
will be playing there this Saturday evening, 8/18, at 9:30pm. Come join Geoff,
the band, and other Tamalpans for a rousing send off to this venerable establishment.
For more info on what promises to be a very fun evening, go 
The
second annual July Golf `n Run TCRS took place at the San Geronimo Golf Course
on Friday night, July 13th. This year the racers enjoyed temperaturess more
moderate than the 2006 inferno/survival run. Roughly 20 runners participated
in both the round of golf and club race, and Peter O'Reilly defended his "Golden
Shoes" trophy (combined low golf score and race time) he won at last
years inaugural event. 100 runners completed the gently rolling 4.5 mile race,
with teen runners taking both the male and female first place honors. Terrence
Bennett outpaced Jason Jacobson for the men's honors in a fine 26:35, while
Kelsey Ripp led the ladies in 31:53. Complete race results can be found 
Tamalpa
will once again supporting this fund raising event to be held on September
8, in an effort to raise funds for breast cancer research here in Marin County.
This will be our fifth year in attempting to raise $100,000, raise awareness,
and help find a cure for breast cancer. The 5+ mile course will start in Old
Mill Park in Mill Valley and be an out and back route. Part of the Dipsea
trail is involved, with the course proceeding along the Sun trail to the German
Tourist club, to the Redwood trail over to Mountain Home Inn. The course then
winds along Edgewood avenue and back to the Dipsea stairs to Old Mill Park.This
event is open to all hikers and runners, with an entry fee of $50.00 for adults
and $25.00 for students. We encourage all to support this cause either as
a participant or volunteer. Please call Jerry Leith at 415-924-5037 or e-mail
him at 
Five
Tamalpans finished this years Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, with
all five runners breaking the 24 hour mark, and receiving the coveted Silver
Buckle. Paul Brunner was the first Tamalpan across the finish line in Auburn,
running a fine 21:58:04, in his first 100 miler. Florencia Gascon-Amyx completed
her second WS100, and was the only Tamalpan woman to complete the trek from
Squaw Valley to Auburn this year. Race conditions were among the best ever
in the history of the race, with no snow in the high country, and temperatures
that never exceeded 90 degrees in the canyons. For complete race results,
go 
Jamie
Berns and Roy Rivers continued their domination of the Bay Area Triple Crown
of handicapped trail races by deliberately finishing together in a tie at
the recent Double Dipsea. Berns has now become the first athlete to ever win
the Dipsea "Triple Crown" - victories in the Single, Double, and
Quadruple Dipseas. Awesome, Jamie! Roy also completes a fine "Triple",
by finishing third, first, and first in the Dipsea, Woodminster, and Double
Dipsea races this year. Congrats to Roy for this impressive achievement. Numerous
other Tamalpans competed in the race, including 8 of the top ten finishers!
For complete race results, go 
The
97th annual Dipsea saw above average temperatures, finish line drama and a
sizzling performance from new champion Jamie Berns. Passing Sam Hirabayashi
on Dynamite, Jamie took the lead for good, and never looked back, finishing
in front of Russ Kiernan by a comfortable 1:40. Cagey veteran Russ ran his
usual solid race, and overtook a wobbly Roy Rivers mere yards from the finish
line. Roy was picked by many pre-race prognosticators to take the Bear this
year, but fell victim once again to the extreme demands he puts on his body
during his all-out assault on the Dipsea course. Roy received an IV immediately
after the race, but was up and feeling fine within an hour. Mark McManus once
again finished with the fastest time trophy for the men, and Liz Fagan-Gottlieb
had the fastest women's split of the day. Mike and Christine Lopez took home
the trophy in a very tightly contested Family division. Congratulations to
all these special athletes, as well as everyone who particiapted in this years
race! The Tamalpa Runners once again won the team trophy, placing 5 of the
top 7 finishers in the race. Thanks must also go out to the Dipsea Committee,
volunteers, and the many specatators who make this such a great event to be
a part of. Of course, there are a thousand different Dipsea stories, we're
sure we'll be re-hashing them for weeks to come. But for now, time to relax!
(All except for you, Russ. Training starts tomorrow!) For complete unofficial
race results, click 
Get
even more fired up, read the 
This
Sunday, June 3rd, will be Tamalpa Day at the Mountain Play. This year's production
will be Hair!, and social chairman Dave Pinto is arranging to have an area
of seating set aside for Tamalpans who wish to attend the show. This time-honored
Marin event is always enjoyable, and should not be missed! If you are interested
in attending, please contact Dave at: 
The
Marin Memorial Day 10K's 30th edition featured exciting duels on both the
male and female sides. Defending champion Magdalena Lewy-Boulet bettered her
2006 mark with a fine 33:54, the fourth fastest time in the race's long history.
Sergio Reyes nipped fellow Aggie J.T. Service by a mere second, running 30:56.
Two boys set age group course records in the 10K: Alexi Taylor, 12, ran 39:18
for the best-ever 12-and-under time; and 18-year-old Steve Sadaro's 31:31
topped all previous marks in the 13-18 group. The accompanying 2.5 Miler was
won by Maria Gioroano, 37, in a fast 14:11, placing her second overall to
the first male, Mark Bretan, 16, timed in 13:30.
A
fine turnout of 127 racers tackled the challenging Marinwood/Terra Linda Ridge
course for the April club race. Mark McManus held off all comers once again
to notch his third win of the season. Laila Rezai proved that her intense
Dipsea training is paying off by besting TCRS stalwarts Karen Steele and Liz
Shortino. Even though the course had been fairly well saturated by the previous
days rains, the muddy sections proved to be not much of a bother to the runners.
For complete race results, click 
The
first of a series of five track meets organized annually by Kevin Mangan and
the Tamalpa Runners took place on April 17th, at San Rafael High School. As
usual, the road and track warriors enjoyed the chance to lace up the `ol spikes
and go for a few fast laps around the track. There will be four more meets
throughout the summer, occurring once a month, on May 15, June 19, July 17,
August 21, and September 18. For more information, 
The
first "long" ultra of the PAUSATF Ultra Gran Prix season took place
on April 14th, with seven Tamalpans completing the American River 50 Miler.
The course, which winds along the American River, and stretches from Sacramento
to Auburn, is a favorite stop along the ultra gran prix circuit. New Tamalpan
Paul Brunner led the way for the club, finishing in a fine 7:18:15, good for
13th place overall. Paul is training for his first 100 miler, to be run at
Western States in June. First Tamalpan female was Carrie Sisk, who navigated
the course through the occasional rain squalls in a strong 8:14:59, and 9th
woman overall. Other long-time Tamalpa ultra stars Greg Nacco, Gary Wang,
Frank Bozanich, Jim Schollard and Cindy Goh also completed the cousre in fine
fashion as well. Congratulations to all these athletes! For Tamalpa-specific
results, click 
Nearly
50 Tamalpans participated in the always popular Way Too Cool 50k, held on
March 10th, in Cool, Ca. Roy Rivers once again led the way for the Tamalpans,
running a fine 3:52:10, good for 6th place overall, out of 433 finishers.
Jamie Berns was the top Tamalpa women's finisher, completing her second ultra
in 4:44:54. Tamalpa claimed the Men's, Women's, and Mixed team titles for
this PAUSATF Ultra Gran Prix race, as well. Other notable Tamalpa performances
came from Greg Nacco, Jed Tukman, Don Lindsey, Laila Rezai, Moriah Underhill-Buckley,
Nancy Williams, and 79 year-old Sam Hirabayashi, who cracked the 7 hour mark,
with a few minutes to spare. Congratulations to all of the days participants!
For Tamalpa-specific results click 
The
7th Annual San Rafael Twilight Relays were held at San Rafael HS on Saturday,
March 10, 2007. The relays featured some of the finest running talent in the
Bay area representing over 30 high schools, and as usual, was an exciting
night of racing. Meet director Jason Jacobson thanks all of the Tamalpa volunteers
who helped make the meet a rousing sucess once again. For more meet results,
go 
The
annual Tamalpa Runners Couples Relay was blessed with a beautiful dry morning
and a dramatic rainbow backdrop as 53 couples of all ages and genders navigated
the one mile loop (two miles per runner) around the Vintage Oaks shopping
center in Novato, on Sunday Feb. 11th. There were many fine performances on
the day, but of course the focus was on fun and camaraderie. Race director
Bill Joost, as well as the dozen or so Tamalpan volunteers helped ensure another
successful event. Complete race results are posted 
Roger's
Super Bowl Run
The
22nd running of Roger Gordon's Super Bowl 7 mile handicapped trail race took
place this past Sunday, with 73 competitors crossing the finish line. Numbers
were down a bit for this years race, which was a shame, as the run experienced
perhaps the best weather ever in the history of the run. Beautiful! Dave Waco
did a great job handicapping the race, with the bulk of the field being tightly
bunched together at the finish. As usual, however, there are always one or
two people who benefit greatly from a mistakenly generous assigned handicap.
This years recipient of the "Too much time" award was Guy Palmer,
who was given a whopping 40 minutes handicap, based upon his disappearance
from the Tamalpa racing scene over the past few years, as well as his clever
disguise as a chubby jogger. Guy's thoroughbred genes and competitive instincts
took over however, (he is a former 51 minute Dipsea runner!) and he bested
the field by a huge 6 minute winning margin. Indi Young ran the race of her
life to finish in second, nearly 2 minutes ahead of third place. Roy Rivers
and Jamie Berns had the fastest mens and womens scratch times (no surprise
there), with a 44:57 and 52:37, respectively. Brad Bryon won the prediction
competition, finishing 18 seconds off his predicted time. As is tradition,
the top 25 finishers went home with a bottle of wine. Thanks again to Roger
and his volunteers for another stellar racing experience on Super Bowl Sunday!
For complete race results click 
Fabled
Dipsea runner Jack Kirk passed away on January 29th, at the age of 100. Anyone
even remotely familiar with the Dipsea knows of Jack, and his incredible accomplishments
in our favorite race. Dipsea historian and fellow Tamalpan Barry Spitz has
put the word out that friends and fans of Jack, and the Dipsea race will gather
on the 672nd step (four below the top at Sequoia Valley Road and Edgewood
Avenue) at 6 p.m. this Friday, February 2. The group will meet and walk up
together from old Mill Park at 5:45, and others can drive to the top. It was
Kirk who first said "Old Dipsea Runners Never Die, They Just Reach the 672nd
Step," when there were only 671 steps. Folks can share reminscences at the
top of the stairs, then walk down together. All are welcome. For more stories
about Jack and his storied Dipsea career, click 
The
2007 Tamalpa Club Racing Series began on Sunday, the 21st at the traditional
January Tennessee Valley location, for the 25th consecutive year.. Youth was
once again served on the men's side, as six of the top ten finishers were
either open, or teen-aged runners. This definitely bucks the usual trend of
"more mature" racers finishing in the top positions at TCRS. Steve
Sodaro, who runs for Cal, outlasted a game Josh Babiak to finish in a fine
19:10, only 2 seconds off of Jake Schmitt's course record. The woman's race
was a different matter, as Jake's mom, Laura Schmitt, pulled away from teen
phenom Alessandra Roger to score a decisive victory.There were an incredible
210 finishers in the first club race of the year, probably attributible to
the beautiful crystal clear morning. Race results can be found 
New
Years Day Run in Fairfax
Approximately
55 runners and hikers enjoyed a beautiful crisp and clear New Years Day morning
at Deer Park school in Fairfax, getting an early start to their 2007 training
season. Various routes were run by the enthusiastic participants, with some
folks enjoying the trails for over three hours! To see some photos of the
happy harriers at play, go 
Tamalpans
once again dominated the Quadruple Dipsea, with nearly 40 club members completing
the always challenging 28.4 mi. course on our favorite trail. The story of
the day was definitely all about the irrepressible 55 year-old Jamie Berns,
who won the women's race in her very first ultra. Jamie's time of 4:48:56
was only 6 minutes behind the women's course record, held by former Tamalpa
great Karen Brown. Impressive, indeed! Top Tamalpa male in the race was defending
champ Roy Rivers, who led the race for over three laps, before being passed
by eventual race winner Michael Buchanan of San Carlos. Buchanan's time was
4:15:25. San Rafael resident Victor Ballesteros managed to pass Roy on the
final lap as well, to finish in 2nd. Sign that guy up for Tamalpa! Complete
race results and splits of all participants, as well as some photos, can be
found 
Over
175 men, women and kids enjoyed a spirited run on a beautiful Thanksgiving
Day morning on the Indian Valley campus of the College of Marin. It was the
6th annual Tamalpa Turkey Trot, and all participants built up their turkey
day appetites by racing though the hills behind the college. Event director
Jason Jacobson would like to thank all racers and volunteers who participated
in the event. Full results can be found 
The
final TCRS of the 2006 campaign took place at the traditional November spot,
at Redwood High School in Greenbrae. 72 racers enjoyed the sunny morning and
flat course to close out the year on a fast note. Tom Lyons led the way for
the men, with his third win in the last 4 TCRS's, with a comfortable victory
over runner-up Roy Kissin. Lisa Monroe-Watts also dominated the women's field,
finishing ahead of a game Tamara Gonzalez. Karen Steele and Brad Bryon won
the overall points titles for the season. Congratulations to Karen and Brad,
as well as all TCRS racers who participated throughout the year! As is tradition,
we'll take a break in December, and resume next years TCRS series in January,
most likely at Tennessee Valley, date TBD. November race results can be seen
Long-time
Tamalpan Darrell Schlee lost his fight with prostate cancer recently, passing
away at the age of 66. Darell was a well-liked and accomplished ultramarathoner,
finishing his favorite race, the Quadruple Dipsea, an incredible 17 consecutive
times. His license plate reads 4XDPSEA. This year's Quad, to be held Nov.
25, will honor Schlee. All runners will get a pin with his picture, and the
race shirt will carry the words "Schlee 18." Among Schlee's many triumphs
in scores of ultras were two coveted belt buckles in the Western States 100
Mile Endurance Run, and, in 2000, first place in the 60-plus age division
at the Golden Gate Headlands 50K. There will be a Celebration of Life at Unity
of Marin, 600 Palm Drive, Novato (Hamilton AFB) on Saturday, December 16th,
1pm-5pm. We will miss you, Darrell. Run long, and run free!
Due
to construction on the Cross-Marin Bike trail in Samuel P Taylor State Park,
the regular October TCRS 10k course was rerouted to include 2.5 miles of the
paved trail, and 3 miles of the scenic Jewell Trail, which climbed an estimated
600 feet up to spectacular vistas on Olema Ridge. 67 participants enjoyed
the crisp temperatures and gorgeous views, with Tom Lyons dominating the mens
field for an easy victory. Christina Lachman emerged victorious on the women's
side, pulling away from a game Florencia Gascon-Amyx, and rapidly improving
Diane Prater. Thanks to the regular crew of TCRS volunteers (Heidi, Jen, etc.),
as well as Bill Bushnell for making the trek up to the top of the ridge, to
man the turnaound point of the race. For race results, click 
The
2006 edition of this Marin County quasi-legal trail racing classic went off
without a hitch once again, thanks to Roger Gordon and his band of merry volunteers.
93 runner/climbers made it to the top of our beloved mont under sunny skies
and moderate temperatures. Roy Rivers reclaimed his King of the Mountain title,
by easily outdistancing former multiple Hill Climb champ Jeff Teeters. Former
pro mountain bike racer Rachel Lloyd finished as first woman, and an impressive
7th place overall. Racers were forced to detour on part of the course, thanks
to some curious trail closures enforced by the State Park rangers on race
day. Times were not affected greatly, and no one seemed to have any complaints.
Thanks again go out to Roger for hosting the post-race festivities and T-shirt
handout. For results, click 
The
Tamalpa Runners once again hosted the USATF National 50k Trail Championship
at The 
Run
on a blistering hot July evening, the first TCRS of the summer is destined
to go down in the annals of Tamalpa history as a classic. Despite temperatures
in the nineties, 96 hardy souls completed the two loop, 4.6 mile race on the
cart paths surrounding San Geronimo Golf Course. About a dozen Tamalpans also
squeezed in 9 holes of golf prior to the race, including race winner Roy Rivers,
who enjoyed a shockingly easy victory over speedsters Bill Bushnell and Jason
Jacobson. Karen Steele and Tamara Gonzalez put forth a spirited duel, with
Karen taking the honors in the ladies race. In the first ever "Golden
Shoe" Biathlon, (lowest combined golf score and TCRS time) Peter O'Reilly
took home the coveted Golden shoes. (Ok, so they were bronzed) Following the
race, Tamalpans were treated to a banquet-style meal on the front lawn of
the Golf Course, complete with covered dining tent, banquet tables and plenty
of fine food and drink. The temperatures had cooled nicely, so that everyone
could enjoy the beautful balmy evening. TCRS organizers Steve Shapiro, Brad
O'Brien, Jen Erickson, as well as the staff at San Geronimo GC really outdid
themselves with this fantastic event! For race results, go 
Near-record
high temperatures wreaked havoc on the field at the 2006 Western States 100
Mile Endurance Run, with only 210 finishers (in a field of 400) completing
the course within the 30 hour cut-off time. A controversial decision handed
down by the race officials gave the race victory to 36 year old Graham Cooper,
of Oakland, CA, in a finishing time of 18:17:27. Apparent race victor Brian
Morrison, 27, of Seattle, WA, was disqualified after race personnel decided
that Morrison received "physical assistance" multiple times in the
last 1/4 mile of the race on the Placer High track. Morrison staggered and
fell numerous times on the track, and was picked up and assisted forward by
well-meaning crew and spectators. Unfortunately, this assistance also meant
that Morrison was disqualified from the official results. An appeal by Morrison
may be pending. Nikki Kimball, of Bozeman, MT, repeated as women's champion,
and finished third overall in the race, in a time of 19:26:50. Seven Tamalpans
also completed the trek across the Sierras, with Mark Richtman leading the
way. Mark finished in 21:55:07, good for 20th place overall, and was first
senior. Other Tamalpan finishers included Diana Fitzpatrick, Greg Nacco, Tim
Fitzpatrick, Gary Wang, Nick Wilton, and Phil Ramsey. Congratulations to all
these fine athletes for completing this extremely challenging event! Complete
race results can be found 
A
large field of over three hundred runners competed in this years Double Dipsea,
the third race in the "Triple Crown" of handicapped Bay Area trail
races. (Dipsea, Woodminster, Double Dipsea) Weather conditions were generally
favorable, with most of the course protected by a cool marine layer. Tamalpa's
own King of the Mountain, Roy Rivers, bested the field, and continued his
impressive streak of Dipsea finishes. In the last five races held on the Dipsea
trail - The single Dipsea, Double Dipsea, and Quad Dipsea, Roy has finished
no lower than 3rd place overall in any of the runs. Awesome racing, Roy! Tamalpans
also swept the next 3 places in the Double, with Judy Rabinowitz, Russ Kiernan,
and Jamie Berns following Roy across the line. Perennial Dipsea stud Cliff
Lentz rounded out the top five. As soon as results are posted by the DSE,
they will be found 
The
96th running of America's second oldest footrace went off under cool conditions
and overcast skies, with Tamalpan Melody Ann Schultz claiming her third overall
title. Tamalpans finished first through sixth, and easily won the team title
for the umpteenth year in a row. Finishing in second place for the second
consecutive year, was Roy Rivers, who placed 1:28 behind Melody, and only
4 seconds ahead of a rapidly closing Mark McManus. Rounding out the top five
were last years champion Russ Kiernan and Jamie Berns. McManus easily had
the fastest time of the day, with a great 49:33 clocking over the slightly
longer course. Seventh place finisher Chris Lundy ran the fastest woman's
split, at 57:31. Diana and Tim Fitzpatrick took the Family trophy. There were
many great stories from this years Dipsea, some of which can be read at the
Marin IJ's Dipsea page 
The
29th Annual Marin Memorial Day Races, held on May 29, 2006, were another satisfying
success for Tamalpa, and all involved. Beautiful weather helped aid fast times
on this always speedy road course that snakes through Kentfield, Ross, San
Anselmo, and Greenbrae. The 10K race was designated as the 2006 PA/USATF 10K
Road Championship for all divisions with a $2600 prize purse. James Nielsen,
26, of Novato, took top honors overall with a fine 30:37 clocking. Magdalena
Lewy, 32, was top female in a time of 35:09. Top Tamalpa finisher was Bill
Bushnell, who covered the course in a quick 33:27. Over 700 runners participated
in both the 10k and 2.5 mile races. The Races benefited school running programs
in Marin County. Kudos and many thanks go out to Race Director Janet Bowman,
as well as the dozens of Tamalpa volunteers who helped make this race a success
once again. For complete race results, click 
Under
beautiful sunny skies, 130 runners tackled the very hilly Terra Linda Ridge
course in San Anselmo/Terra Linda. After a rolling circuit around the San
Domenico School campus, racers ascended the BIG hill up to Terra Linda Ridge,
navigated up and down several quad-busting hills, and finished with a screaming
downhill back to the school campus. Natalie Simi emerged victorious after
a great three-way battle all race long with Karen Steele and Laila Razai.
Roy Rivers continued to show why he is Tamalpa's King of the Mountains, with
a convincing win over Jason Jacobson, who held close to Roy until the final
up and downhill. Another great performance on the day was that of 10 year-old
Rita Purcell, who finished in 5th position out of the women. Great job Rita!
The annual Tamalpa Runner of the Year and TCRS awards breakfast followed the
race, held at the Sleepy Hollow Community Center. The pancakes and socializing
were enjoyed by all, and the running caps given out to 2005 TCRS participants
(6 races min.) were a big hit. Many thanks to all the volunteers who organized
the breakfast and awards ceremony. For race results, go 
Nearly
40 Tamalpans made the annual early March trek to the Sierra foothills to participate
in one the nations most popular trail ultras. Despite concerns of dire weather
predictions, race day actually dawned clear and chilly, gradually warming
as the day progressed. While the skies were clear of moisture, the trails
were not - as evidenced by the mud-splattered legs of all the finishers. Tamalpans
once again fared very well, with Roy Rivers finishing as top Tamalpa finisher,
in fourth place overall out of 381 finishers. Mark Richtman also cracked the
top ten, with a great 8th place finish. Special note must also be made of
the finish of 78 year young Ultra phenom Sam Hirabayashi, who completed the
course in under 7.5 hours. For Tamalpa-specific race results, go 
There
was hot competition on a cool and damp night, as the San Rafael Twilight Relays
once again showcased great high school athletes from around the Bay area on
March 11th. The rain made only a brief appearance near the end of the meet,
so attendance for this wonderful event was not greatly affected. The meet
went off without a hitch, thanks to the stellar efforts of meet director Jason
Jacobson and his crew of Tamalpan volunteers. For meet results, go 
51
couples took part in the annual Tamalpa Runners Couples Relay on February
12th. The one mile loop course around the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center in
Novato was once again the scene for many spirited battles between couples
of young and old alike, with Liz Gottlieb and Jason Jacobson taking the overall
honors. There were many different age and gender divisions to contend, and
and plenty of awards were handed out to the racers. Many thanks go out to
race directors Jen Erickson and Bill Joost for staging this years race, as
well as the many volunteers who assisted on race day. Complete results can
be seen 
After
a one year experiment running on a slightly different loop, 71 racers enjoyed
the return to the traditional Roger's Super Bowl Race course, starting and
finishing from his home on Hillside Ave in Mill Valley. As usual, Roger ordered
up spectacular weather for race day. Impromptu musical entertainment appeared
on Corte Madera Ridge to distract the racers from one of the many wicked uphills
on the 7 mile course, and the post-race festivities were once again enjoyed
by all. Chris Lyons took the overall honors, with Judi Blecka a close second.
Mark McManus was fastest on the day, clocking a speedy 43 minutes and change.
Special mention must also go out to Sarah Slaymaker, who had the fastest womens
split, in 51:24, as well as 48 year-old Roy Rivers, who had the second fastest
time of the day, (45:17) after pre-marking the entire course an hour earlier!
This bodes well for Roy's Dipsea this year! Thanks must once again go out
to Roger for hosting this great event, as well as handicapper Janet Bowman,
and all the volunteers. For complete race results, including the prediction
contest, click