Race: Boney Mountain Trail Half Marathon
Runner: Euphemia Frie
Race Date: 02/13/2022
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Results: 2:10:57
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/6678919741
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- The race shows the best of what coastal SoCal trails have to offer.
- The course was well-marked through many a fork in the trail!
- I loved the people – the participants and the organizers. Overall great vibe.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
That downhill was killer! The very end of the race ends on a horse trail and was a dusty stretch to the end.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I really enjoyed the local feel and the sections of challenging hills followed by speedy downs. I managed by energy by walking sections of the ups and still placed 8th/31st overall women/overall.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Ocean views of Point Mugu, spring SoCal wildflowers, and a variety of vegetation. Definitely a high selling point.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
This was a fun, tough course! 2800 ft of elevation gain that is stacked from miles 3-4 and miles 7-9.6. Very steep down on the last stretch with one last hill before the end that locks up the quads.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very well organized – race started on time, trail course was well marked, and the start/finish and parking were set up well, and gear drop worked just fine. They had one snaffoo with the bus shuttles that canceled last minute, but they got volunteers to pick up participants who needed it. I just walked from the lot to the start.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Small field that topped out at 178 runners for the half, 118 for the 7k based on the permits.
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.
This is a field that filled up maybe 2 weeks prior to race day. Definitely geared more towards local runners.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
The aid stations were pretty sporadic, but if you’re worried about hydration on a half marathon I would recommend a hydration pack for this event.
Weather and typical race conditions
Dry, sunny, warm – unusually hot 88 F February day this year.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
- There are creek crossings and loose gravel at times – trail shoes aren’t necessary but recommended.
- Hydration pack also recommended, but they did have 3 aid stations.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
The spectator would need to be pretty motivated to find a spot to cheer someone on. If they wanted to, the best bet is to bike in to the boy scouts cabin at mile 6.
How’s the Swag?
I got a sweatshirt! It’s cozy 🙂
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
8.5/10
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