Golden Hills Trail Marathon Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Derrick W.
Oakland, CA

  (03-30-2010)

"The GHTM is a challenging course in the East Bay hills, with over a mile of elevation change on varied terrain. It IS, however, a do-able course for casual marathoners and long-distance hikers...I'm living proof! I adjusted my training to include more trail and hill runs and my final time (5:00) was just 1 hour slower than my previous marathon finish.

The route is a point-to-point through several East Bay Regional Parks. The event is held in the fall, when the hills are parched and 'golden,' so you can expect to find firm trails but less greenery than the spring time. The course is still very scenic, particularly up and down the French Trail in Redwood Park.

The aid stations are top notch, with plenty of liquid and food. The volunteers are super-friendly and do their best to accommodate your needs. The post-race BBQ also lives up to the hype, with an abundant supply of beer, burgers, sausages, salad, etc. for both participants and fans.

I loved this event! I'd wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone looking for a serious trail challenge and the opportunity to run with hardcore ultra-marathoners.
"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009