Enviro-Sports

I decided right after the Christmas season to do my first marathon. I run all the time – I’ve been an athlete most my life – why haven’t I ever done a Marathon? So, I set up a 10K Training program on my Nike running App and started browsing for Northern California Spring Marathons. The closest one to my location and one of the earliest in the Spring (March 21^st) was the Napa Valley Trail Marathon by Enviro Sports at the Both Napa State Park. I did a complete review on the Napa Trail Marathon click the following link:

I was one of the first people to register for this Marathon, so I was a little surprised when I didn’t get my racing Bib in the mail. I was hoping to get it before hand since I had over an hour drive in the morning. I even emailed Enviro sports about the bib and they said just pick it up on the morning of the race. So, I got their pretty early and was lucky enough to find parking inside of the park ($ 8). I made my way through the crowd to the bib table and let the person know that I never got my Bib in the mail. She then asked me for a photo ID – I said I didn’t have it on me. Who carries an ID in your running gear-​plus I never saw anything on the website about bringing an ID. The associate didn’t say anything in the E-​mail either about bringing an ID to get my bib. The lady looked back at me and said «you will have to wait» and she waited for an associate to talk to about my «situation.» Haha – I loved the long awaited response, the other associate looked back at her and said «so what! give her a bib!» It made me laugh – I did google this later and found out that people do what’s called «Running Bandit» (running a race without paying). I don’t get it – why? just why?
The trail was marked off by orange tape and we were advised to follow the tape and not the runner in front of us as this park has many different Trails! After I reached the top I got my second wind and got back to my normal pace to finish the 10K. This was my first Marathon ever – if this is going to be your first Marathon be aware that you need to run through the «chute» as they were screaming it at me towards the finish line. The «chute» is a tiny little path marked off by tape by a tent on the left. When I was running towards the finish line – it was confusing and having a bunch of people yell at you just when you are about to finish your marathon is less then appealing. Hey enviro Sports – while you are making us all stand there in the beginning of the race listening to the announcer – maybe you should just mention that little minor detail. –Just saying.

I ran the Stinson Beach Half Marathon and I still feel the pain 3 days later. I wanted to run something different, something more challenging. And sure enough this one is just that.
I won’t recommend this for a first time half or full marathon. This is something you would do after the dozens races you’ve run and want a new goal. This is not a PR race!
It’s mostly hills. Sooo many uphill runs with stairs, ladders and narrow trails. The trail was clear and I never once felt I would get lost. Although it was not a fun running with nobody around. They had yellow ribbons and on questionable intersections, volunteers were there to direct runners.
Bring water. You will need it. I only remember 2 aid stations and only one of them had food.
A small race and I felt embarrassed asking where bag check is. Duh! I’m used to big races. But I loved this race and got 3^rd place for my age group. Well, I’m happy just to finish :)

I hesitated to write this review, but do wish I had READ this review before registering for EnviroSports’ marathon at Stinson Beach (on Mt Tam) this past weekend. Summary — if you are good to go with a beautiful, largely self-​supported race, with great heart and super bare bones, this is the race for you!
Positives: spectacular course, fast email responses to questions pre-​race, and the peppy happy volunteers. I read many reviews saying that the courses are not well marked. Those of us who frequent trail races in the Bay Area count on a far higher standard of everything for our races (complete aid stations, timely race starts, accurate course descriptions, course markings that are frequent and mark wrong turns, etc) – please go into EnviroSports races knowing that although they are more expensive than their competitors, they are also (judging by this race) far more bare bones and lax in their care of runners. The course WAS definitely marked well enough for me to follow.
Information: A few things to know: mileage is off on the website and map (you can see that the aid station locations don’t even match between the website description and the written description on the course map). Ladies: the shirts are men’s cut cotton – great for PJs – with no year, so i expect they are recycled from year to year. Race briefing was scheduled to start at 8:50, and race start at 9:00.
What really happened? We were all warmed up, and crowded together in the parking lot waiting for the pre-​race talk by 8:50, waiting, waiting – nada. Finally, and the race director starts talking at 9 — and keeps talking til around 9:15 — making jokes, telling silly stories, asking if there were questions (one runner asked why we were not running yet, which the RD ignored as he continued to do his comedy routine about not having chip timing, race prize being a rubber chicken, course goes up up up, someone is bound to get lost — all of this would have been fine if done in advance of gun time, but the captive audience of type-​A runners being held back way after go time was super antsy), and said one sentence of use — about the course being steep, and be sure to follow orange ribbons. Finally, we were told we could start, but the start would be held on the sand. So, we all relocate. Are we on the sand to add challenge to the race? Run a long stretch of beach to add difficulty and technicality to the course? Nope. Just to fill our shoes with sand. We just literally ran from ocean to parking lot – the width of the beach. (??) M-​k.
WARNINGS! Now, for the race itself – DO NOT COUNT ON AID STATIONS. The website states that there were two aid stations (one with both gatorade and water and one full aid station with food) that runners would pass several times. The locations (let’s go with the website text versus the map text b/​c remember the distances are inconsistent between the two) for aid were supposed to be: 3.8 (full aid station with food), 7.5 (fluids only — gatorade and water), 10.5 (full aid), 14.2, 17.2 and 22.2. What REALLY happened? Around 10:30 am, reaching mile 3.8, counting on ingesting some fuel — aid station was not open yet (?! i am way back of the pack, so no one got aid), so keep running, focused on the promise of sugar/​salt from gatorade at mile 7.5 — NOPE, no gatorade, just water (?! — we all have water with us — no need for water at that point), so keep running, first aid at all is mile 10.5.
No aid — no fuel — until mile 10.5. That would have been fine if the website and entrant letter had prepared us (those of us who need sugar or salt before that point would have been able to prepare, accordingly), but we were counting on two aid stations before this and were finally bonking with no fuel by the time we got to 10.5. What is there? bananas (gives many the runs and so many loathe bananas), chex mix (has MSG), mixed nuts (saturated oils/​indigestion), lara bars (hmm — I gave those a shot — indigestion). Trail runners really need simple carbs. (Apart from chex mix, no salt and none of the simple carbs that distance runners need and count on) — but they did have Gatorade. Telling runners to count on aid at mile 3.8, 7.5, etc, and providing no aid can be downright dangerous. No simple carbs (apart from bananas) is unknowledgeable.
Anyway, just wanted to warn folks that you will be in for a beautiful course, super kind volunteers, small field, but be ready to self support your run, and be flexible with the start time, and you’ll have a great race. If EnviroSports just tightened up their act a bit, I bet they would have far more people running their races (25 marathon finishers on such a beautiful course?) and a far greater draw in an area rife with people looking for races every weekend. I have read that the race director likes to repeat that he has been «doing this for 25 years” – fine. I have been running marathons for 25 yrs plus, and things have changed, big time, in terms of caring for the runners. Just my two cents.

I love Envirosports! Their events are casual but tough runners turn out for them so you get some good competition. If you are looking for a big glittery event with lots of fanfare then maybe envirosports is not for you. However, if you like to run beautiful, challenging trail races you should check it out.

I watched the 2013 Escape From Alcatraz competition in San Francisco. This is a very well run event. Their website was very detailed and had a lot of really good information for participants and spectators alike. Check in went well and they set aside the concrete bleachers for the participants. An announcer over a public address system did a great job all morning keeping everyone informed. Spectators sit in the next set of bleachers over at Aquatic Park. Port-​a-​potties are at the end of the beach and there’s even a shower facility nearby.
The swimmers march over to the ferries near Pier 39 and take a ferry out to just east of Alcatraz. Everyone jumps off into the water and are guided by kayakers and motor boats. Everyone aims for the east breakwater to let the current bring you to the entrance to Aquatic Park. I believe they even have some swimmers at the entrance by the breakwaters guide the swimmers in.
The swimmers come out of the water and on to the beach to the roar of a cheering crowd in the stands and on the beach itself. They cross the finish line under an inflatable red arch to record their time and can go right up to the bleachers where they left their bag and towels to dry off. Those bleachers are guarded by the staff, so it is secure to leave your stuff there. Anything the swimmers carried to the ferry is gathered in individualized bags and also available for pick up. They even have lots of fitness drinks and snacks for those who are hungry after swimming from Alcatraz.
Some swimmers then go on a 7 mile run. As far as I could tell, everyone made it. The last person out of the water got a well deserved cheer from the crowd.

If I could give ZERO stars to Envirosports, I WOULD. I don’t like be a debbie-​downer here, but I am when it comes to this organization.
On April 21^st I ran the 5k portion of the Napa Valley Silverado Half Marathon & 5K.
What a joke! This was the most poorly organized race I have ever seen and the way they treated the 5k runners was disgraceful. Envirosports made it VERY clear that they only added the 5k to make more money because of the general lack of participants (5k = no photos, no medal, plus one super crappy t-​shirt).
I have run in other local races that include a 5k and they are just as gracious and kind to the 5k runners as they are to the Half Marathoners… I’ve always seen the running community here as inclusive and supportive of everyone out there.
AND — if I WERE running the Half Marathon, I would have been pissed by the lack of sponsors there, no massage tent, a ridiculously crappy shirt and a terrible start. That Dan guy needs to shut up and get back in the game.
Don’t waste your money on their events, I sure learned my lesson.

First trail race ever in Napa a few weekends ago went off without a hitch. :) The limited number of entries made it easier for my three friends and me to all place in the top three of our age divisions. This was my first running award other than a finisher award so that was a happy surprise. Then we went wine tasting to celebrate a birthday. Overall a very pleasant experience. I hope to do another race soon. Thank you!

On December 8, 2012, I ran the Envirosports Hark the Herald Angels 25K on Angel Island. As on my first race, the organizers were great. They marked the trail well, got people on and off the ferries in time to warm up for the race and through it all had a great sense of humor. Clearly, these races are a labor of love for the organizers and it shows. I especially liked their tradition of singing America the Beautiful before the race. Nice seeing young and old join in and sing. No politics, just love of country by a variety of people.
My time-2:02 good for 1^st in my age group, 13^th overall.

What happened to these guys? I used to love their trail runs – I still love their trail runs, because of our beautiful parks and the other runners, and DESPITE Envirosports’ half-​assed organization. I’ve just had two lousy experiences in a row: the March 31^st Golden Gate Headlands half that was moved to Mount Tam and cancelled, and the May 19 rescheduled race that was very poorly marked and well short of 13.1 miles. Yesterday’s race in the Headlands was saved by other runners who knew the route: there was no sign of a marker at key intersections. The cancelled race was, well, cancelled, but it was still a fabulous time, because lots of people ran anyway, and there was a great sense of camaraderie on a really tough and beautiful course.
But we pay money for these events! We can run on gorgeous trails with fun people any time for free: this is the Bay Area. Dave, who is obviously not a runner, could at least employ a runner to run the course the morning of make sure it’s marked and clear of obvious hazards. And if he doesn’t want to provide port-​a-​potties, he could at least let his aid station people know where the park bathrooms are so they can direct runners. These events just aren’t worth paying for.

Ran in the Angel Island 12k this past weekend… once again, EnviroSports did a fantastic job with the race. They always have different/​fun/​challenging courses and of course the staff/​owners are great. Would rather run one of their races then the big corporate sponsored races any day!

Absolutely unacceptable regarding they way they dealt with cancelling the 2011 Death Valley Trail Run.
Understandable that the winds were a safety issue. However, within 3 hours, the winds died down and ¹⁄₃ of the marathoners did their own run of the canyon. There was no delay or postponement of the race. Simply canceled.
Furthermore, there was a complete lack of communication since the cancellation. Two days have passed without informing the racers of ANY reimbursement plan, or any additional reasons for canceling the event.
I invested nearly 1,000 $ for this weekend to include airfare, lodging, food, and the race itself.
I have raced over 50 triathlons and 10 marathons and ultra-​marathons. NONE have been canceled for wind, rain or snow.
If I wanted to gamble, I would have stayed in Vegas.

Love the courses and locations, especially the philosophy that they don’t allow runners with headphones.
Races could be better organized however. Have done the Stinson beach marathon and 25K, and they did not call ahead to the rangers to clear the hornets nests from the trails. For both times I ran, about half the participants got stung.

I’ve run one race with them, the Angel Island 25K in August, and it was a blast! I love their no-​headphones policy, although they have trouble enforcing it in practice. The runs are affordable, and well-​staffed; however, I think they could have had another aid station on the other side of the island (there IS a fire road), and not just at the 12K/​halfway point for the 25Kers. Otherwise, it was an awesome event, and with great energy. I was even convinced to sign up for their Death Valley trail marathon in December. Also, they are really good at responding to questions via email, and in helping our their runners! :)

The 2011 Big Sur Trail Marathon was a blast. Perhaps if you’re attempting to shave milliseconds off of your time you’ll be frustrated with the relaxed, chipless atmosphere. But if you’re up for a gorgeous run with some of the coolest volunteers at aid stations you’ll ever see (what’s up, ukelele!) this is your race.

This is a great company, and ditto to what everyone has said about Dave Horning who makes every event a far more memorable occasion than any other race you will participate in.
Envirosports truly embodies the spirit of endurance racing. While there are other companies that host trail running events, I prefer to support this organization since the courses are expertly-​planned, the locations are fabulous, and the trails are well-​marked and staffed by enthusiastic volunteers for being smaller, local events. On that note, if you’re not in shape yet to race, I would encourage you reading this to volunteer and I promise an inspiring day with great people (and perhaps it will motivate you to train and participate in the next event!)
Can’t wait for the next race! See you on the trails…

Just completed my first Envirosports event on Saturday! Absolutely amazing half-​marathon through the Marin headlands (and hard as hell — should have known it was going to be hard when you took your first two steps and the next couple miles were all going to be UP-​HILL!)
Dave Horning, the founder of Envirosports, was the announcer, and what a wonderful, charming guy. The race was capped at 300, and the route was pretty clearly marked. Really enjoyed myself, and there’s no better way to forget about the pain searing through your hips as you attempt to climb ANOTHER hill than to look on either side of you and to see these amazing views. Will absolutely do more Envirosports runs in the future!

This is a great organization that runs small, local athletic events. Dave Horning is an inspirational, charismatic, and entertaining person. He captivated the 300 runners in today’s Woodside run. Admittedly, I was first nettled about the no headphones rule. But it made complete sense given the dangerous nature. You need to be aware of your surroundings, both because you don’t want to run into others on the small trail, and also because you really should appreciate the wonderful surroundings you’re in in the hills of Woodside.
Envirosports has events that vary in length and difficulty, from the Death Valley Marathon and the Escape from the Rock Tri to the Mt. Tam Wild Boar Run. I enjoy the large events like Bay 2 Breakers, Livestrong Challenge, and Tour de Cure, but the spirit, organization, and charm of these small events was addicting. I’m definitely signing up for more.

Easing race participants before the start with a few laughts, Dave Horning is quite a character. Though you’d never guess from his couch potato looks, he founded EnviroSports over 20 years ago, and continues to be an active organizer of multisport and trail run events taking place across the state throughout the year.
While events like the Death Valley Marathon and the Escape from the Rock Tri are only for the toughest of the lot, there are others for the less hardcore, such as the Mt. Tam Wild Boar Run, which I thought to be a great beginner trail race.
There are no big name sponsors; trail route markings are minimal, as is the staffing. The limit in the amount of participants ensures a cheap entry fee and a small field – so small in fact, that Dave can easily bake enough loaves of his famous delicious and moist banana bread to accommodate everyone post-​race. These are obvious advantages, but the bare bones organization also has its downfalls, as I later realized when a slight distraction caused them to forget to record my finish time. Nevertheless, after explaining the situation by email, one of the coordinators graciously apologized and quickly resolved the issue, eventually getting my time on the books based on my own estimation from my watch and recollection of the finisher ahead of me.
Even with the timing mishap, I was already looking forward to entering one of their future events. The scenery on these runs and the overall race experience just can’t be beat.

Now this is what an event organization should be. Fun, friendly runs/​races in beautiful places. They have grown from a grass roots running focused organization to multi-​sport and swimming events. I have done several trail running races over the years and always had a fantastic time. The courses are well marked and staffed. The races are a wonderful way to explore areas you would probably never see on your own.
I would highly recommend for the novice or advanced runner. Every runner on the course is friendly and the volunteers and staff couldn’t be more helpful and encouraging. They don’t have the «swag» that other big races have, but they do provide an amazing well marked course that will take you to amazing places.
The race entry price is appropriate and race communication is adequate. However, events do tend to sell out quickly. So if you want to do a race, make sure you sign up early.
Some of my favorites:
Woodside King’s Mountain (the March race can be muddy)
Romancing the Island
Napa Valley Trail
Skyline Ridge

Athletes of all shapes and sizes and speeds participate in their fun events. You’ll appreciate the less than mainstream venues, and all together nice folk who compete in these races. With a hefty price tag for most entry fees, you’ll probably view these as season goals rather than «just» exercise. My only beef is that these races can feel understaffed. I mean where’s all the money going?
Check their website for a complete and up-​to-​date listing.
Popular events that I may have reviewed more completely:
NAPA VALLEY TRAIL MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 10K
Beautiful, just so pretty if your heaving lungs are ready for all the pollen
NAPA VALLEY SPRINT TRIATHLON
Fun, fun multi-​sport sweat and then you get to drink wine
ALCATRAZ SHARKFEST SWIM
1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz Island to Aquatic Park
Not for the faint of heart, but fantastic for smack talking.
Awed Friend: «Aren’t you scared of sharks?»
ME (Chest puffed out): «Nah, although there was a sea lion attacking swimmers at Aquatic Park and they had to close the beach for a while. It’s OK now»
ESCAPE FROM THE ROCK Triathlon
1.5-mile SW, 2.5-mile RN, 13-​mile BK, 10K RN
If you can’t get into the #1 Triathlon race (in the USA) because you can’t hack the course, you don’t rate it or you’re just plain unlucky– this is a good consolation. It’s not as cool for smack talking among those in the know, but for uninformed friends this is smack worthy too.
Awed Friend: «So do you think those inmates escaped?»
ME (Chest puffed out): «Oh Yeah. I’ve done the Escape (leaving out ‘from the Rock’) and it wasn’t that bad. Plus if you escaped from jail it’s not like you want people to know you survived. But I want you to know I’m a masochistic jock.
BIG SUR TRAIL MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 5 MILE
Grueling but beautiful and you get to camp out in one of the best areas in California during prime weather.
TRI, GIRL, TRI!
Late in the season– for girls only. This can be fun if the weather is good. But some who start their season in early February have complained that participating in this makes for a long grind to the finish. Good for those who start training in June. Consider yourself warned.
Disclaimer: I exercised many years ago in a former life. My memories may have been altered due to endorphins.