Dipsea

This month's Runner's World is dedicated to the sport of trail running. It was fun to read about this venue, so different than running on roads. One of the differences is the frequent drastic uphill and downhill terrain that a mountain trail offers. One of the races featured in the magazine was the Dipsea.

First run in 1905, the Dipsea is the oldest trail race in America. It is run every year on the second Sunday in June. The scenic 7.4 mile course from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach is considered to be one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The stairs and steep trails make it a grueling and treacherous race. And its unique handicapping system has made winners of men and women of all ages. And this is what I found so interesting. All ages have an equal chance to win.

Reilly Johnson 2010 win.

The winner of 2010, the 100th Running of Dipsea was Reilly Johnson, an 8-year-old fourth grade student running in her third Dipsea! She held off a 68-year-old grandmother of four Melody-Ann Schultz. Johnson became the youngest runner ever to win the Dipsea, topping Megan McGowan, who won the time-handicapped trail race at the age of 9 in 1991. Handicaps are determined by age and gender.

Melody-Ann 2003 win.

Johnson and Schultz, a three-time Dipsea winner, both started with a 25-minute head start in the first group of runners to leave downtown Mill Valley. Johnson, who finished 199th in the 99th Dipsea in 2009, ran the 7.5 mile route 15 minutes faster than the previous year to cross the finish line first in Stinson Beach, seven seconds ahead of Schultz. Johnson's adjusted clock time was 47:30, minus the 25-minute head start. 53-year-old Roy Rivers of Mill Valley, the 2008 Dipsea champion, finished third followed by 24-year-old scratch runner Alex Varner of San Rafael, who recorded the fastest time (48:54) in the field of 1,500 runners. 

More and more I see that running and the other individual sports I've been trying give me a chance to see what I am capable of. Feel a little freedom. I have never had an appreciation for the work it takes to get in shape as a spectator. Now as a competitor I know the fun you can have once you get the worst part of the "get in shape done." And you don't have to go for the crazy goal, give the 5K a try. Why not give your body a "test drive."

"Old runners never die,

they just reach the 672nd step."

Jack Kirk, "The Dipsea Demon" 96 years young,

68 consecutive races (1930-2003)

Two time winner. Wow!