2nd Sunday Meadows Edge Picnic Area, Big Bear Lake. 33 Mile 7:00 AM and 15 mile 7:30 AM start.
Limited to the first 200 Runners, no race day entries.
All runners must carry at least one water bottle.
Club party after race at Nancy and Richard Gilmores mountain palace.

App and info click on above or: call Gary & Pam Kalina, 909-584-7925, email: pgkalina@gte.net

See Christine Eng's photos of the 2008 15 mile event.
She sez: "I'm beginning to realize why you crazy ultras do this. #1 every race is like a family reunion; #2 it's beautiful out here; and #3 it's much more fun doing your training mileage when someone is waiting for you at an aid station with M&Ms, pretzels, homemade cookies and champagne."

Loop course on the Pacific Crest Trail and US Forest roads in the San Bernardino Forest. 7 well stocked aid stations (3 for 15 mile) with water, gatorade, fruit, homemade cookies and more - Great margs at #1 and champagne brunch at #2. Spaghetti, chicken noodle soup and sodas supplied at the finish. Drop bags for 33 mile only. Finishers medals. Overall, Age group and Masters awards.

Biggest climb is about 1000 ft rise to the Pacific Crest Trail for 2 miles. Rocky is some parts. Once on top, the course follows wide jeep roads with mild ups and downs exept for one 600 ft climb from the meadow turn on to trail 3N12 to Aid Station #2. PCT is spactacular with wild flowers, woods, and views of Big Bear Lake. Challenging, but walkers can make the 15 mile in 4 hrs. Only experienced ultra trail runners should attempt the 33 due to the altitude and noon heat.

A Couch Potato's View of Holcomb Valley
by Tom O'Hara

This run in the Big Bear area has everything: high altitude, forest, lakes, meadows, wild flowers, rocks, abandoned mines, champagne and margaritas. For club members, you can even stay the night at the fabulous Gilmore Compound in Arrow Bear where you can kick back on the porch and feed the squirrels and blue jays as you relax waiting for the burgers to burn. Sure, Larry Gothardt was one of the last ones to take a shower and the stopped up drain pipe filled up which left him standing in 3 inches of water, but hey, for the price, whaddaya want? Oh, and you do have to listen to Nancy's school stories, but after a few glasses of wine, it is all a buzz. Since the trail is not very wide (jeep road and single track) they have a stagger start with groups spaced every 2 minutes and the 33 milers go out at 7a and the 15ers at 7:30a. No problem for me since I stagger from start to finish these days. Both the 15 mile and 33 mile do the same first 12 miles. By the time I got to the top of the Cougar Crest Trail and on to a short segment of the Pacific Crest Trail toward the first aid station, the first 33 miler passed me. Hozer left early and was just going to be waiting for me and Nancy at aid station #1 to cheer us and Flyers Bill Dickey, Mark Ryne, Larry Gothardt, Manuel Garcia, Dina and then return. He told me on the walkie talkie that there was a Mexican theme at #1 and one guy had margs. I got there just in time to get one but it sacrificed some time such that fast walker Nancy caught up with me.

The area around jeep trail 3N09 and 3N16 is a wide valley with a beautiful meadow fed by a spring at one end. I could see horses and a ranch house about a half mile away - wish I had a camera.

Looking back, no Nancy. I was making good time jogging on the flats. But then rounding the turn onto 3N12 is a 700 ft climb above 7000' to aid station #2. My heart rate monitor was beeping at me at times even at a slow walk.everything: high altitude, forest, about a half mile away - wish I had a camera. Looking back, no Nancy. I was making good time jogging on the flats. But then rounding the turn onto 3N12 is a 700 ft climb above 7000' to aid station #2. My heart rate monitor was beeping at me at times even at a slow walk.

Then appears an aid station with a big sign saying "Champagne Brunch." It was all I could do to sip a cup of the bubblie without inhaling some up my nose. I asked the aid station people to tell Nancy that I passed through a half hour ago and that to call her SID as that was her nickname. I explained that she loved champagne and had been known to Suck It Dry - the champagne bottle that is. But then I hear the click of her ski poles and there she is! How can this be? I jogged most of the meadow flats; she can't have walked that fast.

After reaching the high point on the PCT, I figure this is where I pull ahead of Nancy cuz I love a good down hill single track. OK, so I slowed at a few points to take in the wild flowers and fantastic views of Big Bear Lake down below, but no way this walker can catch me now. Pulling into aid station #3 I find all the margs are gone, but that's OK we got good down hill the rest of the way so why not nibble on some of the goodies. With my mouth full of cookie I hear that "click, click, click" of ski poles and almost choke. No way Jose, she musta found a short cut.

Off down the last 3.5 miles to the 15 mile finish. All I gotta do on one 2 mile segment that drops about 800 feet is to lift my knees a little and let gravity do the rest. Unless Nancy has a hang glider hidden some where, I got her beat. Nearing the trail parking lot I chance a few glances back and listen for tell tail clicks - nada. An easy jog in the last half mile to see Hozer, Mary Ann, Larry, Emmy and Manuel relaxing in the shade at the finish line. 40 seconds later I hear "click, click, click."

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