Race: Big Alta 100k

Runner: Coach Jason Pohl

Race Date: 03/21/2026

Location: Marin County, CA

Results: 12:17

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/17810203845/overview

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

• Coastal views
• Legendary trails
• Well-organized operation that supports a full weekend of trail running.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The finish line fare was a bit lacking — so-so food, minimal beverages. Having to do packet pickup the day before for a 100k was a bit of a hurdle, given Bay Area traffic.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

There’s a section that feels more like Flagstaff than Marin.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Being a Bay Area local, I’ve run most of these trails in training. They’re every bit as spectacular as the pictures make them seem. Stringing so many of them together in this epic, point-to-point route is a dream come true. The course flows well, is naturally broken into multiple segments, and really makes for a stunning day in Marin County.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Marin climbs are almost all smooth, buffed-out trails — except for the rocky descent off of Mt. Tam. That means if you’re not careful, you can grind your legs up by ripping the downhills early on. Smart pacing is key here. And if you can granny gear the climbs in the final 15 miles up Loma Alta and Big Rock, you can make up some great time and set things up to bomb the last, long descents.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

First, harden the downhill legs more in training! The repeated bout effect is real, so training hard downhills is essential for being able to run downhills on race day — my adductors were feeling it by the end. Relatedly, make sure you’ve practices fast, smooth downhill running form.
Conversely, practice lots of long, steady uphill running! While hiking many of the hills, especially after mile 49, got the job done, being able to move smoother would have been hugely beneficial in those late miles.

Lastly, this may be an early-season race, but make sure you have a heat management strategy! One shouldn’t need ice bandanas for a March run in Marin, but the heat wave this year was no joke — nearly 90 on race day, which was also the first day of spring.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Mt. Tam is the biggest climb, but don’t think the climbs are all over after that. The work out of Lagunitas is no joke.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

ABSOLUTELY! Sunrise over the Golden Gate Bridge. Stunning trails overlooking the Pacific. Sweeping views on the north end of the course at sunset that look back at all the terrain you just covered. It’s stunning in every way.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

It’s not technical. It is steep. So depending on how you run it, not really, but also, yes.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Absolutely. Dylan Bowman was instrumental in putting together this race through his backyard trails, and he knocked it out of the park. The folks behind DayBreak racing know their stuff. Even in the inaugural year, things seemed to go incredibly smoothly. (I ran the 50k the year earlier and was similarly impressed with how well they run things.)

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Yes, and I’d imagine it will only get stronger. It’s an early-season race on legendary trails, and one that gets a lot of eyeballs — erm, ears — with D-Bo promoting it on Freetrail.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

The finish line is in a sleepier part of Marin, so hotels are more likely a bit south of the course. Anyone traveling from the East Bay or SF will have bridges to cross. While this is likely not an issue for race morning, it is a challenge to get to packet pickup on Friday — there was an accident and traffic was a nightmare. So plan extra time for that.

Registration opens in September! I imagine it will sell out quickly, so don’t wait too long. Otherwise, nothing fancy required to get in.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Standard fare with AMAZING volunteers. The local community lives and breathes trail running, so they knew what was up. Notably, each aid station was well-stocked with ice — again, it was blazing hot, and for a March race, that’s not always a given. Kudos to the organizers and volunteers for being ready for it.

Weather and typical race conditions

2026 was blazing hot — around 90 for a high. This is not normal for March in Marin! Normally it’s in the 60s and overcast, or maybe sunny by the afternoon. Despite what you may have heard, Bay Area weather can also be a bit volatile this time of year, and the area has been known to get clobbered with big rain and wind events.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Nothing special. Weather permitting, you can travel fast and light for this one.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Areas of it are for sure. Stinson Beach, Lagunitas and Fox Hollow aid stations are easily crewable, and hanging out in the nearby towns in-between is likely a pretty rad time. Parking at the finish line is easy, and there’s plenty of space to spread out a blanket and chill in the community park.

How’s the Swag?

I use the handheld Solomon water bottle on a daily basis.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5/5, I would absolutely recommend it — and already have to several athletes I coach.

Jason is a coach with Team RunRun, to learn more about him or to work with him, check out his coach profile.