Los Gatos Jungle Run Half Marathon Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Linda D. M.
Sunnyvale, CA

  (09-19-2009)

"this was my first half marathon . I had a great time, I was prepared bringing my own hydration. I loved that the local businesses supplied fresh fruit to help with recovery . I had a great time,"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

Jason W.
Campbell, CA

  (08-08-2009)

"The Jungle Run was a great event. The course was very challenging and well marked. Hooked up with @sugigrl and we made great time pulling each other along. The village was awesome. Great food and goodies after the race."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

Kelly e.
campbell, CA

  (08-07-2009)

"This is one of my favorite local races and I've done the 10k three times now. I would love to do the half but it comes at the wrong time -- always right in the middle of triathlon season and usually the week before a big race. This year it was the week before the USAT Sprint National championships so I would be too beat up after a half marathon to compete well at nationals. So, one again, I did the 10k. While the race claimed the 10k was sold out, it never seemed crowded during the run. The course starts with a short but steep up hill that that tends to spread out the runners right away. After the short uphill it's flat and downhill for two miles until you hit the second short uphill at 2.5 miles. After than, it's gentle flat and rolling through Vasona park and this is my favorite part of the race. You run on the park paved path and have to stay alert for the occasional goose hazard :-) but the park is beautiful with some shade. There is a small stretch of cross-country style dirt and grass (about 1/4 mile) before the last 1.5 mile back to the high school on the bike trail. This is the mentally hard part of the 10k as it's late in the race and an ever so gradual but humbling uphill. The finish is a fast 300 meters on the track. I felt strong on the race even though I held it to tempo pace (since it was a week before nationals) but I did get humbled when at mile 5, I was passed by a very strong and heavy breathing 8 year old boy. He was working really hard and making me feel like I was wimping out, so I have to admit, I really pushed the last mile. He did finish about 15 second ahead of me, you go kid!

The best part of this race is the friendly atmosphere, lots of post-race food and cute T-shirts, medals and awards that pick up the jungle theme. Also, although the age groups are 10 year intervals instead of 5, making for stiffer competition, the race directors do the very nice thing of pulling out the top three finishers from the age grou. This benefited me as the first woman overall (a phenom from Colorado) was my age and since she won the overall, I ended up with the age group win (a nice surprise). I really like it when race directors do that rather than allowing "double-dipping" -- meaning a person can take home both an overall winner prize and an age group prize.

I'll definitely do this one again next year... too much fun and I have to keep collecting the animal Tshirts."

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2009

Lisa G.
San Jose, CA

  (07-26-2009)

"Challenging course with a few hills. Even though it started at 7 am, that section through the park in Campbell was HOT! Regardless, there were plenty of well-staffed, well-placed water, cyto, and clif shots (last 2 I think had this). No crowds really for this one, but that isn't why I run this one. I love the Los Gatos Creek Trail so this was like running in my own backyard. I would highly recommend this run. Parking was fairly easy in downtown Los Gatos - parked about 40 minutes before race time. It was easy for my family to get in and out to root for me. Well organized, even though they cashed my check and lost my reg. Why do I mention that? Because when I brought it to their attention and they gave me a number and had me reregister - no questions asked. I appreciated that customer service."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

del .
,

  (07-20-2009)

"I know it goes without saying but July 19th is a hot time of year. The course had alot of pretty trail parts, I ran thru a gaggle of geese, ran around some huge body of water, but then you finish on 2 miles of gravel both up and down, tough stuff. Huge fruit spread at the finish but the tshirt doesn't even say "FINISHER" on it, what?! "

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

Prasun P.
San Jose, CA

  (07-19-2009)

"This was the first time running this race for me. The course is mostly flat with maybe a few high grade hills - The first being 40 feet away from the start. If you run the Los Gatos Creek Trail regularly then you will be familiar with the course. Post race food is great with tons of fruit and bagels :) Every year the medal has a jungle theme and this year was a Gorilla Medal "

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

Merrill F.
San Francisco, CA

  (04-29-2009)

"This is a fun, low key half marathon in Silicon Valley suburbs. They recently started tapping the race out due to its popularity. Last time I did it there were about 250 people in it - enough to challenge the local organizers. The course is relatively flat and easy and finishes on the track where it started. I recommend it for locals but not as a destination race. "

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2006