The MUTT 50k/half marathon

The Muddy Ultra Trail Trot = the MUTT 50k is a race that combines multiple parks in the South Bay area to create a fun spring trail running challenge! The 50k race course starts and finishes in Calero County Park and runs through parts of Rancho Canada Del Oro, Rancho San Vicente and Almaden Quicksilver County Park. The half marathon distance (ok maybe it’s a tiny bit longer than 13.1 miles) loops around Calero County Park and takes you to the summit of the Bald Peaks (who doesn’t love pretty views). Both courses start and end at the same spot. You can run alone or with a friend, supported (by a crew of your chosing or in case of the 50K RD Sylvie) or unsupported.
The best thing is 20 dollars of EACH race entry will be donated to two amazing rescue organizations Josh and His Critters and iPittytheBull Foundation. The proof of those donations will be available here on ultrasignup and on the SA Racing website after our race is over. The rest of your entry fee will go towards financing the awards, finishers medals, the aid station supplies (for the 50k participants who choose to be crewed by Sylvie) and the work that we put in.

The Competition

We will have trophies for the fastest 3 men and women in both distances and we will have finishers medals. To claim your finishers medal, please send an email to sylvie.kpck@gmail.com or send a message to Sylvie Abel on Facebook. Not everyone wants a finishers medal, so please know that if you don’t claim it we won’t send it to you.
We will have a photo contest - the best picture taken on course during or after your trail race will win a prize! The muddier the better (did we mention there might be mud?). Please send your photos to sylvie.kpck@gmail.com or Sylvie Abel on facebook, we can’t wait to see them!
We also have a trophy for the runner that runs the course the most times (it can be the half marathon or the 50k, however what counts towards your win is your total mileage on course - for example two 50k’s counts as 64 miles whereas two half marathons count as 28 miles).
Can’t wait to see what you beautiful badass trail beasts do!

The Routes

The routes are available on Strava here:

Half marathon: https://www.strava.com/routes/2780967245578667806

50k: https://www.strava.com/routes/2781386441482270100


In case you prefer other ways of navigating, here is our website where you can find multiple options:

https://sierraazul3peaks.wordpress.com/mutt-50k-half-marathon/

You can for example download gpx files of both race courses or use the All Trails app. You can also follow turn by turn directions (which you can find below). We recommend you familiarize yourself with the route before you head out for your big adventure.

Please know this is an open course type of race. You may start any time, any day in the time between February 1st, 2021 and 30th of April, 2021. Your ELAPSED time is what will count as your official result on Ultrasignup. Please don’t forget to submit your race results with a link to your activity (Strava or another gps file with a clear elapsed time and the route you did). Do not stop your watch on course, we will have Strava segments and your segment would not count.

This is an ideal course for your first or your fastest trail half marathon or 50k with 4000ft of climbing for the 50k and 2000ft of climbing for the half marathon - rolling hills, fire roads and winding single track with a couple tough climbs. The 50k runs mostly on trails, but there is a small about 1 mile long road section when you are leaving Rancho San Vicente to go run a part of your course through Quicksilver. Please be cautious on the road - it is a wide, mostly 25mph road through the heart of the Old Almaden. In Rancho San Vicente please be cautious and respect the grazing cows (close the gates behind you). Calero and Quicksilver are a home to plenty of wildlife, so it wouldn’t be unusual for you to experience some animal encounters. Please always stay on the trail and know what to do in the rare event of encountering a mountain lion.

The Donations

We love MUTTS!
20 dollars of every race fee will be donated to two of our beloved rescue organizations after our race is over:

Josh and his Critters:

Josh and his critters is an all breed non profit rescue organization founded by Tina Marie Lythgoe. They are a sanctuary for many abandoned, injured or sick animals. Tina personally cares for many different kinds of animals (especially special needs animals and those from high-kill shelters) and appreciates all the help she can get.

https://www.joshandhiscritters.org/about



iPittyTheBull Foundation:

“iPittytheBull is an organization that is dedicated to providing education about responsible pet ownership, the benefits of spay and neuter and improving communication between dog and human. Founded in 2014, the inspiration behind “IPittytheBull” was inspired by a “pit bull” named, Penny Lane, as an effort to reverse negative stereotypes on this “breed” of dog. Just as we believe that a human is a human first before their race; we also believe that a dog is a dog first before their breed. Our mission to “educate, advocate and never discriminate” goes beyond dogs which is why you will not only find us working with rescues and animal shelters but in schools, helping the homeless and other people in need. We believe that helping people is helping dogs.”

http://www.ipittythebull.com/

Turn by turn directions

IMPORTANT: The turn by turn directions serve as an additional tool to help with your navigation of the course. We recommend you use a routing app on your watch/phone if you can.
FOLLOW THE COURSE ROUTE. NO SHORTCUTS, NO CUTTING THE COURSE - Your race result might not count. Fair game for all. Thank you all for understanding!

Turn by turn directions for the MUTT half marathon:
Start at the entrance to Calero county park
-> left to Figueroa trail
-> left to Canada del Oro trail
-> left to Canada del Oro Cut-Off trail
-> right to Bald Peaks trail
-> continue on the Bald Peaks trail until you hit the Bald Peaks SUMMIT - there is a tiny short trail going up to the top - MAKE SURE TO HIT THE TOP and TURN AROUND - take Bald Peaks trail the way you came from until you hit Chisnantuk Peak trail on your left
-> keep taking the Chisnantuk Peak trail until you reach the Cottle rest site
-> take right on Cottle trail
-> take right on Cottle trail (not straight)
-> left on Oak Cove trail
-> stay on Oak Cove trail
-> start/finish line

Turn by turn directions for the MUTT 50k:
Start at the entrance to Calero county park
-> left to Figueroa trail
-> left to Canada del Oro trail
-> right to Canada del Oro trail
-> right to Bald Peaks trail
-> continue on the Bald Peaks trail until you hit the Bald Peaks SUMMIT - there is a tiny short trail going up to the top - MAKE SURE TO HIT THE TOP AND TURN AROUND - take Bald Peaks trail the way you came from until you hit Chisnantuk Peak trail on your left
-> keep taking the Chisnantuk Peak trail until you reach the Cottle rest site
-> right on Cottle trail
-> left on Lisa Killough trail
-> left on Lisa Killough trail
-> right on Lisa Killough trail
-> left on N Ridge trail
-> left on Almaden trail
-> left on Almaden Rd
-> arrive at the Hacienda entrance to the Almaden Quicksilver County park
-> take Mine Hill trail
-> left on Mine Hill trail -> Stay on Mine Hill trail
-> left on Castillero trail -> stay on Castillero trail
-> right on English Camp trail
-> right on Deep Gulch trail all the way back to the Hacienda entrance
-> left on Almaden road back to the gate to Rancho San Vicente where you came from
-> right onto Almaden trail
-> left on N Ridge trail
-> right on Lisa Killough trail
-> left on Lisa Killough trail
-> left on Cottle trail
-> left on Cottle trail
-> left on Oak Cove trail
-> stay on Oak Cove trail
-> start/finish line

Event's current local time: 5:33 AM PT