For many people, running a race is a great feat. This is especially the case for those who chose to run the Valencia Tail Race, alongside San Francisquito Canyon Road near Valencia last weekend.
With vast, open space and many hills, local residents and participants from other cities gathered to experience either a 10k, half marathon or ultramarathon race during March’s unseasonable heat wave.
“This is maybe my fourth or fifth time. I’m a local resident, and I love these trails. I don’t usually do these trails from this direction, because it’s really hard and steep, but it feels like a great challenge. I feel accomplished,” said Tamra Savage, who placed third in the 10k race. “The trails are stunning. There’s purple and blue flowers everywhere. It’s so great.”
Savage began training for this particular race nearly two months ago.
“I felt like I was a little stronger this race compared to previous races. I added more strength training, so it makes it a little easier on the legs, and helps me not have to put as many miles in my training process. If I’m a little more fit, I try to balance it out, because sometimes if you run too much you can get injured,” Savage said.
Savage encourages people to try out such a race — even if it can seem challenging.
“This is a great trail, because it doesn’t matter what speed you go, you will feel accomplished because it is a hard race. But, I think people can do it. A lot of people were walking, even the fastest people were walking up the hills,” Savage said. “That was the big thing I did this time. I’m always like, ‘I’m not going to stop,’ but this time I walked up the hills, and I felt better.”
Jacob Nodal, who came to Santa Clarita from Upland, placed third in the half marathon race.
“This is my first time running in this area. I’m from Upland, which is the Inland Empire. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. There were a lot of steep inclines. I had to walk up a lot of trails, but had to stay mentally strong to keep going,” Nodal said. “I think you can easily become defeated because it gets hard in the middle, but as long as you keep going, you’re capable of finishing and doing well, you just have to stay hydrated and fuel with energy gels.”
Nodal didn’t have expectations, but encouraged others to sign up for next year’s race.
“I’ve always been running by myself, and I wanted to do an official race and challenge myself and be a part of something. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I didn’t know who would be out here. I just wanted to show up and see what happens,” Nodal said. “Come out here and do the race next year.”
Hawaii resident Max Zhang, 15, who previously lived in Santa Rosa and San Diego, came back to California to attempt to break a world record:
“It was an intense 50k ultramarathon, and I became the youngest to ever run the Valencia Trail Race in the 50k history. I was also the first in the age group. It was such a surreal experience, and I also got to meet a lot of people who had similar journeys. We all tried hard to get through the tough moments,” Zhang said. “Also, this is a broader part of breaking a world record in becoming the youngest person ever to run an ultramarathon on every continent. I’ve already run in Asia, in China. North America was my second continent.”
Despite having completed an ultramarathon before, Zhang called Saturday’s race the hardest he had done yet.
“I chose the trail in Santa Clarita because it fit my schedule and since California has really been the home for me since I used to live here. I was out on the trails for nine hours since it was all uphill. Initially, when they said ‘killer hills,’ I thought they meant a hilly landscape, not using both hands and feet to climb. This was a major part I didn’t prepare for, but I came to appreciate the ‘hills,’” Zhang said. “It was probably the hardest race I’ve done. It was about 30.4 miles. I feel like I’ve gained a lot of experience as a runner. I get to learn the hardships of the sport.”
The results of Saturday’s race were as follows:
Men’s 10k:
- First: Arabo Hazarian.
- Second: Christian Escobar.
- Third: Daniel Ludwig.
Women’s 10k:
- First: Chelsea Bobo.
- Second: Saray Martinez.
- Third: Tamra Savage.
Men’s half marathon:
- First: Jonathan Metcalfe.
- Second: Juan Martinez.
- Third: Jacob Nodal.
Women’s half marathon:
- First: Rachel Munoz.
- Second: Annette Ramirez.
- Third: Adrienne Solarez.
Men’s 50k ultra:
- First: Brandon Dougherty.
- Second: Efrain Gonzalez.
- Third: Samuel Canner.
Women’s 50k ultra:
- First: Lydia Van Vleet.
- Second: Ashley Ladd.
- Third: Katy Duncan.
