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Joe King: Start summer with a true cross-country race
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AT 9 A.M. ON June 21 the oldest continuous foot race in the East Bay will be run for the 44th time. If you or a running friend can handle a challenging scamper over a hilly trail, this is an ideal race to enter. It starts and finishes at Joaquin Miller Park meadow area in the Oakland hills.
Similar to its famous counterpart in Marin, the Dipsea Race, this one offers handicaps based on age and gender. The first wave (girls 12 and under, women 45 and over and older guys 65 and up) is given 20 minutes. Following groups take off at four minute intervals. Finally, teenage boys and men 13 to 34 start from scratch hoping to catch the others somewhere on the course's nine miles of hilly trails.
Though not as rugged and physically exhausting as the Dipsea, the Woodminster run hasn't been kiddingly referred to as "The Woodmonster" for nothing. Even a top notch runner should have logged more than a few miles of hill work before entering this one unless occasional stretches of walking are planned.
When training on this course, I used the mile long hill encountered around mile seven as a gauge for Dipsea Race fitness. If I could maintain a steady run up that long, winding mile, then I knew I was ready to tackle the Dipsea's unforgiving challenge.
The Woodminster Race was established in 1966 by a group of runners which included Alameda's Gail Wetzork and an enthusiastic trail runner named Dick Houston. The latter Dick Houston Memorial Cross Country Race. For the past dozen years or more two co-directors, Gareth Fong and Mark Hovermale, have performed a noble job keeping the race going. They make sure the course is well marked and the race itself is handled efficiently from start to finish. Usually 200 to 300 entrants arrive for this one.
If a runner is up to it, this is one of the more scenic and picturesque courses in Northern California. And any entrant who runs well for his or her age has a shot at winning. The racecourse combines woodland, tree-shaded trails with broad fire trails winding along scenic ridges through the Oakland Hills.
One can register on line at www.active.com AllSportCentral.com or contact either Gareth Fong at Two-Sails Realty, 510-655-8228 or reach Mark Hovermale at 510-523-2647. Proceeds support local charities such as Midway Shelter for abused wives and children.
TIPS ON HOT WEATHER running: 1) Wear a light colored hat and pour water on your head as often as possible. 2) Wear a light shirt to help retain sweat for its evaporating, cooling effect. Don't strip to the waist. 3) Drink energy liquid an hour before race time. 4) To prevent blisters, apply a thin coating of Vaseline on feet and under arms. 5) Don't pass up the aid stations.
See you at the races.
Contact Joe King at alamedanews@bayareanewsgroup.com We are pleased to let readers post comments about an article. Please increase the credibility of your post by including your full name and city in the body of your comment.
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