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Fall isn’t only for football. It’s also quite possibly the best time of the year for running and cycling, especially once enough rain has fallen to moisten the trails and to wash the grime and goatheads off the roads.
We have loads of good events in the fall, too. Have at ’em:
• October 2, Rancho Tehama Run, near Corning. This inaugural event features a 10K run, 5K run and walk, 1-mile walk and a kids run in the private Rancho Tehama Reserve subdivision between Corning and Red Bluff. Enter by today (September 28) and you’ll still get in for $10. Details: www.sweatrc.com.
• October 2-3, 24 Hours of Whiskeytown mountain bike race, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Solo participants and teams ride twice around the clock on a very hilly 8.25-mile loop that starts and finishes at the NEED Camp. There’s also an eight-hour version, the Whiskeytown 9 to 5 on the same course. Details: www.teambigfoot.net.
• October 2, North Forebay Triathlon, Oroville. This isn’t you’re typical tri. This one starts with a 3-mile run, which is followed by a 1-mile kayak paddle and then a 10-mile mountain bike ride. There’s also a much shorter course for kids. Bring you own kayak or rent one. Details: http://northforebaytriathlon.com.
• October 9, Calico Fun Run, Red Bluff. Another first-year event, this one also offers a 10K run, 5K run/walk and 1-mile walk, all starting and finishing at the Tehama District Fairgrounds. Friday, October 1, is the pre-registration deadline. Details: www.sweatrc.com.
• October 9-10, Whiskeytown Adventure Races, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. The Shasta Orienteering and Adventure Racing club is organizing a 24-hour race for experts starting on October 9, and a 6- to 8-hour race on October 10. Expect everything from mountain biking to paddling to some surprise sections. Details: www.teamsoar.net.
• October 10, Lions Club Turtle Bay Run, Redding. Organized by the Redding Breakfast Lions Club, this enjoyable event had reached its 11th year. The half-marathon, 10K and 2-mile courses utilize the Sacramento River bike path and the arboretum, with the half-marathon crossing three bridges – the Sundial, Ribbon and Diestelhorst. Details: www.reddingbreakfastlions.org.
• October 10, Hooker Oak Trail half-marathon, Chico. This challenging trail run uses both smooth, flat trails and rugged, hilly tracks in the eastern half of Bidwell Park. There’s also a quarter marathon. Details: www.chicorunningclub.org.
• October 10, Fallflower Century, Chico. Take your pick of a 100-mile, 50-mile or 10-mile bike ride on the roads of Butte County. The short ride is fairly flat, but the longer routes have some significant climbs. Details: www.chicovelo.org.
• October 10, Bizz Johnson Marathon, Susanville. Not many marathons have a more scenic course than this point-to-point route on the Bizz Johnson Trail from Westwood to Susanville. There’s also a point-to-point half-marathon on October 9, and out-and-back half-marathon and 10K runs on October 10. Details: www.coastaltrailruns.com.
• October 16, Dairyville Orchard Festival Fun Run, Dairyville. Organized by Red Bluff long-distance running stars Bev and Alan Abbs, the 10K run, 5K run and 1-mile youth run are only a small part of this classic farm town event. Run through the orchards, then help yourself to the local nuts and homemade baked goods. Details: www.sweatrc.com.
• October 17, Humboldt Redwoods Marathon, Weott. This one requires a road trip, but it often attracts runners from our area. The fairly flat, traffic-free course travels through the Avenue of the Giants. A half-marathon and 10K are also available. Details: www.redwoodsmarathon.org.
• October 23, Whiskeytown Trail Runs, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. This one will test you, whether you tackle the 50K ultramarathon, 30K or 8.3-mile race. The 50K course offers more than 10,000 feet of elevation change on some of Whiskeytown’s steepest dirt roads and trails, and roughly 30 creek crossings. The shorter races are only relatively gentler. There’s also a 1.35-mile grade school challenge. Details: www.sweatrc.com.
• October 30, Boggs Mountain Trail Race, Cobb. This is another out-of-the-area foot race, and a first-year one at that. But the Boggs Mountain race is generating a great deal of word-of-mouth buzz. The event includes 50K and 25K runs through the Boggs Mountain State Demonstration Forest near Clear Lake on single track that is better known as mountain bike habitat. Details: http://boggs50.wordpress.com.
• November 7, the Almond Bowl, Chico. No, it’s not a college football game. This classic event is a 10K run and a 5K run/walk on the flat roads of Bidwell Park. Register by September 30 to get the early bird discount. Details: www.chicorunningclub.org.
• November 13 and 14, 24 Hours of Gold mountain bike race, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. A challenging 7.5-mile, nearly all single-track course will greet the solo and team riders in this endurance event. Details: www.lakeorovillebicyclists.org.
• November 25, Turkey Trot, Redding. The region’s biggest annual foot race typically draws more than 2,000 participants to the Sacramento River bike path for the 6-mile run and 2-mile run/walk on Thanksgiving morning. Entry forms are not available yet, but I’ll keep you posted.
Paul Shigley is senior editor of California Planning & Development Report, a frequent contributor to Planning magazine and is busy filling out entry forms. Paul Shigley may be reached at pauls.anewscafe@gmail.com.
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