Events

Overview

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Join us on September 30, 2023 as we continue the tradition of Dick Collins Firetrails. This race has been run in one form or another for decades, going way back to when Dick Collins himself was the race director. Firetrails for many years was directed by the great Ann Trason, who had a special connection to Dick and considered him a mentor. Dick Collins is remembered on a bench near the turnaround for the 50-mile race, in the camp below Skyline Gate.

Dick Collins Firetrails 2023 has 2 events: Firetrails 50 and The Golden Hills Marathon. We will not be running the Bay Ridge 100k this year.

UTMB Index. We are proud to say that both Dick Collins Firetrails races are UTMB Index events. Firetrails 50 counts as a 100k event and the Golden Hills Marathon counts as a 50k event.

P-USATF Grand Prix The Firetrails 50-mile race is part of the Pacific USATF Grand Prix.

NOTE to Runners: If you plan to check out the course on your own from Cull Canyon, beware that you’ll pass through EBMUD land which requires you to have a day-use permit. They’re cheap and worth having! You can find them here.  You do NOT need a permit to run the race or to take part in our training camps.

 

The Courses

Again in 2023. we will start and finish at Cull Canyon Regional Park, just minutes from Lake Chabot. Select ‘Course’ at the top of the page for information on Aid Stations, Elevation Profile, and Maps. Information and instruction for crew and drop bags will be found under Aid Stations.

Firetrails 50 is an out-and-back course along the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Firetrails turns around at Skyline Gate and has a total elevation of 8,700ft. 

The Golden Hills Marathon is a point-to-point race. Runners meet at Cull Canyon Regional Park and check in there. You’ll board a bus to the Chabot Space and Science Center on Skyline Blvd in Oakland at 7 AM for the race, which starts at 8 AM. Runners may also be dropped off at Chabot Space and Science but there is limited check-in. You are strongly encouraged to pick up your bib on Friday afternoon at Golden Squirrel. The total vertical for the marathon is 4,000 ft.


Starting Time, Time Limits, Changing Distances

The Firetrails 50 mile starts at 6 am at Cull Canyon, where you’ll park. You will be able to enter to park at 5 am. You will see areas for your drop bags as you enter the main event area in the parking lot. There will also be space for your post-race bags.

The Marathon starts at 8 am. Runners park at Cull Canyon and are bussed to the start. Busses leave at 7:15 sharp.

Time limits are:

>> 50 mile (6am start) = 15.5 hours
>> Marathon = 13.5 hours (you really shouldn’t need it!)

Contact us for more info. Cutoffs are firm because of our permits and the general curfew in the East Bay Regional Parks. All cutoffs are firm and you will be removed from the course if you miss them.

Changing distances will not be allowed during the race. If you wish to change distances, you must do so before the start.

Because of the generous time limit, there are no early starts in this event.

 

Schwag and Awards

Each finisher receives a shirt, cupless cup, and a medal. 50-mile runners receive a custom hoodie or jacket which marathon runners can purchase separately. Age Group awards are for winners in each 10-year age group. As of 2022, we have discontinued wine glasses as a finishers award.

 

Aid Stations, Crew Access, Pacers…and Bathrooms

Click on the Course link at the top of the page for maps, narrative, aid stations, and driving directions. Crew has access to many of these stations unless we have specified otherwise. For the 50-mile races, pacers will be allowed from Lake Chabot Marina on the return route only. No pacers are allowed for the marathon.

 

Sponsors

 

  • Firetrails 50

    The Firetrails 50 leaves Cull Canyon Recreation Area and proceeds through Chabot Staging Area. The course then moves over to Chabot Marina, where you'll find aid at the Cove Picnic Area, the start/finish location of the race in past years.

    The altitude profile for the 50-mile race is 8,500 ft. Select Course Map for maps and turn-by-turn instructions.

    Select Aid Stations for the stations, cutoffs, and driving directions (for Stations that allow you to have spectators or crew.)

    You can download the gpx file here or email us at info@scenaperformance.com for a copy.

  • Golden Hills Marathon

    Golden Hills Marathon is a point-to-point run from Chabot Space and Science Center in the Oakland hills to Cull Canyon Recreational Area. Elevation is 4,250. After the first 1.4 miles, Golden Hills runs the same course as the 50-mile and 100k. Runners will encounter the lead runners in those races somewhere on the Stream Trail. Select Course Map for maps and turn-by-turn instructions.

    Select Aid Stations for the stations, cutoffs, and driving directions (for Stations that allow you to have spectators or crew.)

    You can download the gpx file here or email us at info@scenaperformance.com for a copy.

Updated 6/7/2022

Times, Getting Here, Where to stay

BIB PICKUP

BIB PICKUP

Pre-Race (recommended):There will be packet/shirt/bib pickup on Friday, September 29 from 2-5pm at The Golden Squirrel in Oakland. 5940 College Avenue. Click here for directions. Yes, you can have someone pick up your bib and you can pick up for others..

Race Day: We have bib pickup starting at 5am for the 50 mile race and between 6 and 7 for the marathon on race day. In 2023, there will be race day registration.

START TIMES - SATURDAY, September 24

6:00 AM: Firetrails 50 mile

8:00 AM: Golden Hills Marathon - please note busses to start leave Cull Canyon Regional Park school at 7:00 am sharp.

Getting Here

The race will be held at Cull Canyon Recreation Area, starting at 18627 Cull Canyon Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94552 This location is a short 20-minute drive from downtown Oakland and approximately 40 minutes from downtown San Francisco. Click here for driving directions

Where To Stay

If you're coming from outside of the Bay Area, there are a number of places to stay nearbyt. Please use this link to see the closest hotels to the starting point.

Parking

Parking is FREE, first of all. Firetrails 50 and Golden Hills Marathon runners will park in the parking lot, which opens at 5:00AM.

For spectators, there may or may not be room in the parking lot. Parking is first come, first serve. Should they lot be full, they should park on the street, making sure to observe the parking laws, signs, and notices.

Drop Bags, Pacers, Time Limit

DROP BAGS

We support drop bags at Skyline Gate and Lake Chabot Marina (return only). Bring your bags to the start on the morning of the race and we'll transport them to the aid station in time for your arrival. Bags will be returned to the finish after the aid station closes. Please be sure to clearly identify your name and number on your bag.

PACERS

For Firetrails 50, pacers are allowed at Lake Chabot Marina only. No pacers are allowed for the Golden Hills Marathon. Pacers must provide their own transport to these locations. There are no shuttles provided by the race.

TIME LIMITS, CUTOFFS, EARLY STARTS

The time limits are:

50 mile = 15.5 hours

Marthon = 13.5 hours

All time limits and cutoffs are firm. You will be removed from the course if you miss them. Additionally, runners are not allowed to change distance during the race and receive an official finish. If you wish to run a different distance, you must do so when signing in for the race. To see the cutoff times and locations, go to the Course section of this site and look under Aid Stations for each of the races.

Awards

Everyone receives an award for finishing. All runners receive a finisher medal, a shirt, and a custom wine glass that's specific to their event. 50-mile finishers also receive a custom jacket or hoodie (marathoners can purchase one separately.) Competitive Awards will be given to the top overall male and female, as well as the top male and female finishers in each 10-year age group.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sport drink will there be?

We will be serving Gu sports drink and Gu gels.

>>Will the course be marked?

Yes, all our courses are marked. Always. Don't participate in an event that doesn't have a marked course. Scena uses ribbons on clothes pins and occasionally flour on the ground. We also selectively use directional arrows and wrong way signs.

>>Can I carry and use hiking poles?

Poles are permitted. All runners using poles are asked to use common sense. Any athlete misusing their poles or delaying other runners will be disqualified.

Are there places where my friends and family can crew or watch?

Most of the aid stations are vehicle accessible. Look under Aid Stations under the Course link for each race and many of them have a link to driving directions. Any aid station that does NOT have 'No Crew" next to it is open for spectators. Many of these locations are tight on parking. Make sure you're crew knows to leave plenty of time to park and get to you.

Do you need volunteers?

Our races depend on the generous spirit of the running community to ensure every participant is well supported. Volunteers who give more than 6 hours of service will receive free entry to a future Scena Performance event if they pre-arrange their service with us. Free entries are not offered for volunteers who use the race to meet a service requirement for another event.

Please fill out the volunteer form to indicate your interest and we'll get back to you with more information.

Dick Collins Firetrails