Golden Hills Trail Marathon 
General Information
October 9th, 2010 
9 a.m.

To Enter
Course Description
Take The Shuttle
Directions to Shuttle/Finish
Directions To The Start
Runner Check-In
Parking Information:  Shuttle/Finish   Start
Course Map
Aid Stations: Mileages & Elevations
Altitude Profile
Medical
Littering
Awards:  Finisher Awards   Overall & Age Group Awards
Course & Age Group Records
Post Race BBQ
Accommodations Ideas
Airports
Volunteer
FAQ
Still have Questions

Register online and pay with a credit card by using ultrasignup.com

 

Course Description

The point-to-point marathon course starts at the Lone Oak picnic area in Berkeley’s Tilden Park and finishes 26.2 miles to the south at the Cove Picnic area at Lake Chabot.  The course is mostly along the legendary East Bay Skyline National Trail, which includes fireroads and single track trails that provides gorgeous views of San Francisco, Mt. Diablo and the golden hills of the East Bay from the ridge tops.  The course also allows you to cross streams, run through a lush redwood forest and view the many different species of trees in the east bay, including oak, pine, bay and eucalyptus.  Over 4,800 feet of climb.  Be prepared for any condition.  Can be hot, perfect or cold and raining.  In previous years, race week has included the following: fire, earthquake, flood, and stock market crash.

A shuttle will be provided to take runners from the finish area to the start of the marathon.  The shuttle will leave the finish area  at 7:15 am sharp and arrive at the start around 8:15 am.    The shuttle bus will be parked in the upper parking lot at the Lake Chabot Marina. The shuttle will arrive at 6:45 am and be ready for passengers.  Shuttle cost is $10.  We encourage all runners to take the shuttle for their own convenience (i.e., so your vehicle will greet you at the finish) and because  parking near the start area is very limited.  Shuttle rider’s clothing will be transported to the finish line.

From Dublin/Livermore take I-580 westbound towards Oakland, take the Strobridge Avenue exit.  Turn right on Strobridge, right on Castro Valley Boulevard, and left on Lake Chabot Road.  The Lake Chabot Marina is about two miles ahead on the right.  From San Jose/b> take I-880 northbound towards Oakland.  Take I-238/Castro Valley(I-580) exit towards Stockton.  Merge onto I-238 south.  Take the Castro Valley Blvd/CA-238 exit towards Castro Valley Boulevard. Turn left on Castro Valley Blvd. Turn left on Lake Chabot Road.  The Lake Chabot Marina is about two miles ahead on the right.  [Alternate way from San Jose: take I-880 northbound towards Oakland.  Take I-238/Castro Valley(I-580) exit towards Stockton.  Merge onto I-238 south. Take I-580 west towards Oakland.  Take 150th Avenue/Fairmont Drive exit.  Turn right on Fairmont.  Fairmont Drive becomes Lake Chabot Road.]  From  Oakland/Berkeley take I-580 eastbound towards Hayward, take the 150th Avenue/Fairmont Drive exit.  Turn left onto 150th Ave, right onto Foothill Blvd, left onto Fairmont Drive. Fairmont Drive becomes Lake Chabot Road. The marina entrance will be to the left at the bottom of the hill ($5.00 parking fee). You can park for free on either side of Lake Chabot Road. Please be careful crossing Lake Chabot Road. 

The shuttle will be parked in the upper parking lot at the Lake Chabot Marina. 

Map to Shuttle/Finish

From Oakland take I-80 eastbound. Take the Buchanan Street exit towards Albany.  Turn right onto Buchanan Street.  Bear right onto Marin Avenue.  Continue on Marin Avenue for about 2.5 miles.  Pass through one roundabout, stay on Marin Avenue, be prepared for a very steep climb.  At top of climb (0.5 miles) turn left on Grizzly Peak Blvd.  At second stop sign make a right onto Wildcat Canyon Road and an immediate left onto Canon Drive.  At bottom of Canon Drive , turn right onto Central Park Drive and left onto Lone Oak Road.  Follow Lone Oak Road until it dead ends and park in the dirt parking area.  
From Sacramento/Vallejo take I-80 westbound. Take the Albany Exit. Turn left at stop sign onto frontage road. Stay on frontage road veering left and then right.  At stop sign turn left (you can only turn left here) onto Buchanan Street and follow the directions above.
From Marin take I-580 eastbound across the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge.  Take the Buchanan Street Exit on the left.  Turn left onto Buchanan Street and follow the directions above. 
Map (opens a new browser window) to to the central portion of Tilden, at Central Park Drive, with access to start area of marathon.

Free parking is available on either side of Lake Chabot Road.  You can also park at the Lake Chabot Marina for a $5.00 fee.  

Start

There is limited parking  at the start area.  Tilden Park has requested that we use the dirt parking area beyond the start  at the Lone Oak Picnic area.  The dirt parking area is located at the end of Lone Oak Road.   Please, do not park in the Meadow Playfield  parking area on Lone Oak Road.  

Map of Starting Area

Course Map

Click map sections to enlarge

Aid stations will have water, GU 2 0 Hydration drink, Gu, ice, fruit, cookies, candy, potatoes, P.B. & J sandwiches, pretzels, salt, wonderful volunteers, etc.   It is recommended that runners carry a water container during the race.

If you have special medical conditions (asthma, allergic to bee stings, etc.) please take appropriate precautions.  Parts of the course are relatively inaccessible.  Neither the Race Management nor the East Bay Regional Park District can be liable for injuries.

Littering along the course will result in immediate disqualification.  Please dispose of cups and all  paper, wrappers, etc. at the aid stations. 

All finishers receive a T-shirt & a commemorative wine glass.  We are proud to have our 2010 T-shirt & wine glass logo's designed by Karen Hanke of PinkLime Design. Finisher awards can not be guaranteed to late and race day entrants.

Overall and Master award winners are generously provided by 

Age group awards will be given to the first three males & females in the following divisions: Open (under 30), Senior Open (30-39), Masters (40-49), Seniors (50-59), Super Seniors (60-69) and Veterans (70+).   

Bring the family & friends-they are all invited.  The "Firetrails Cafe" will be open at noon on race day.  Past menu's have included hamburgers,  cheese burgers, vegi burgers, salmon burgers, turkey sausages, black bean and vegetable pasta soup and homemade desert items.  Sneak preview of this year's menu can be seen at: Firetrails Cafe.

Hotel & Motels (all within 3 miles of finish & shuttle)

Comfort Suites~2419 Castro Valley Blvd ~ Castro Valley, CA 94546 
(510) 889-9300~$85.00 .  Ask for group rate
Castro Valley Inn~33954 E. Castro Valley Blvd.~ Castro Valley, CA 94552
(510) 538-5757~Starting at $60 if you mention Firetrails Run.
Quality Inn of Castro Valley ~ 2532 Castro Valley Boulevard ~ Castro Valley, CA 94546
(510) 538-9501~$85 if you mention Firetrails Run. 

Hotel & Motels (all within 5 miles of start)

Golden Bear Inn ~ 1620 San Pablo Ave ~ Berkeley, CA  94703 ~ (800) 525-6770
Holiday Inn Express ~1175 University Ave~ Berkeley, CA  94702 ~ (510) 548-1700
Rodeway Inn ~ 1461 University Ave ~ Berkeley, CA 94702 ~ (510) 848-3840

Camping  

Camping is available at the  Chabot Family Campground  (around six miles from the finish). The camp has 75 trailer, tent, or walk-in campsites, hot showers, naturalist-led campfire programs, an amphitheater, and hiking/fishing access to Lake Chabot. Telephone (510) 562-2267 for camping information or reservations.

The Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco Airports serve the area. The Oakland Airport is the closest and is approximately 20 minutes from the start of the race.

We would love to have you run the race, but if that does not fit into your schedule, we REALLY need volunteers. Volunteering is a wonderful way to remember Dick, have fun hanging out with your friends or getting those WS volunteer hours. Volunteers receive T-shirts and are invited to post race BBQ.

Still have questions?  Please, do not hesitate to contact us at: firetrails50@gmail.com