Scena Performance presents classic endurance races, ultramarathons, triathlons, community runs, and more. Our aim is to take you someplace new, present you with a unique challenge and celebrate you with fun, food, and friends.
Even though our ability to gather and run has been limited by Covid 19, Scena believes that doing things in the natural world with friends is the most important thing you can do.
In 2022, Scena will continue to focus on trailrunning and ultramarathons with a few new twists.
In March, we will have the first running of the Beer City Half. This was meant to be the second day of partying after our first beer festival — Beer City. Alas the Festival has been postponed until 2023 because of Covid, but we’re doing our best to have the run, which is a lovely half marathon, 10k, 5k along Santa Rosa Creek.
In April, we’ll be back in Calistoga for the Napa Valley Endurance Run. This seems like a quick turn since we just ran the 2021 edition on Thanksgiving weekend but here we are. Everyone has really embraced this race and the Palisades Trail. In 2022, we’re going to start trail work way on high with our runners.
Seems like with the changes in the world that change is the name of the game. So it is for Sonoma Women’s Tri which will now run in May at Lake Berryessa in Napa. The water in Healdsburg is no longer reliable because of drought.
Then we’ll bring you home in August to the East Bay for Skyline Endurance Run which has really been coming along nicely with the addition of a half marathon. Then Dick Collins Firetrails, home of the Golden Hills Marathon, Firetrails 50mile and Bay Ridge 100k. In between, we’ll have the Mendocino Running Festival (September 10) which is a huge party for those who know to sign up for it.
The year wraps up with the Santa Rosa Turkey Trot, which we launched at the drop of a hat in 2021. Looking forward to a few thousand people this year. It’s a real change of gears, and a total blast.
The Christine Chapon Award
Each year in December, we present The Christine Chapon Award, otherwise known as The Frenchie. This award is meant to acknowledge athletes from our community who have distinguished themselves both through great running and through service to the broader community.
The award is named after Christine Chapon — and she hates it. But we think Christine represents the generosity of spirit we should all strive for. The Frenchie is meant to be for the rising stars.
In 2021, we recognized George Manning for his work as a volunteer, particularly with Running for a Better Oakland.
Past recipients of The Frenchie are Christine (of course), Penny McPhail, William Dai, Kelly Haston, Nancy Philippine, Jeanine Holmlund.
The Stan Jensen Award
In 2017, we introduced the Stan Jensen Award, also known as the Legend. As with the Frenchie, the Legend is meant to recognize a long record of service to the ultrarunning community. Before there was Google, there was Stan with his Run100’s website, providing a concise record of an, at that time, obscure sport. Add to that Stan’s experience as a runner and relentless support of races as a volunteer, aid captain, lottery organizer, and you have an amazing record to stand on that others might not notice.
Past recipients of The Legend are Stan, Bob Agassi, Mike Palmer, and Lisa Felder.
In 2021, we awarded the Legend Award to Tia Boddington for her work as race director for Miwok 100k and specifically for her work on sustainability and on equity and inclusion in ultrarunning. These are two huge issues in the sport. Tia is also a great runner with a long list of finishes at all distances.