Stevens Trail

Do you have a tendency to get into a rut on the routes you run? For me I have a staple run that I call "around the block". If I tell the Mrs I'm running around the block she knows I'll be gone for an hour and a half or so (more if I stop to socialize at the shop on the way home). For me running my standard routes isn't tedious, but comfortable. Be that as it may when I do branch out from my standard runs and do something less familiar I usually find myself thinking, "I should do this more often". That's certainly the case with the Stevens Trail in Colfax. Years ago when I lived within a few miles of it I discovered the trail and enjoyed it. My first couple times I turned around just a short way down the trail when I reached the waterfall area. I was amazed at how steep the trail was and couldn't imagine continuing the full 4 1/2 miles to the river as the sign at the top stated. When I did finally push past the upper section I found the lower 2/3 of the trail to be much more gradual and beautiful.

the lower Stevens trail gradually wends its way down hill

I've found myself driving down the hill from Truckee after working the last few weeks and have been stopping off once a week or so to run the Stevens Trail. It has seen a slide recently and the spring growth is crowding the trail in parts but is still easily passable and as beautiful as ever. Now that the days are growing longer I'm even getting back to the top before it gets dark. The wild flowers are blooming, everything is green and the trail is in great shape.

So, if you haven't run it lately or have never been, head to the Stevens Trail and run. There's a description and map here if you'd like to check it out before you go. Let us know what you think and what your other favorite trails are.

Matt

Cheers!

Twiet and Chops (pacer) toast ice cream at Buzzard's Cove aid station

Congratulations to all who ran the American River 50 last weekend. It was a great day out there with near ideal weather and trail conditions. Full results are here. Geoff Roes took his mountain hundred miler experience and showed that he can lay it out on a fast course with very little elevation gain. Andy Henshaw came back to life to pass Max King and seize second place after dealing with cramps 35 miles into the day.

Andy Henshaw running into Buzzard's Cove

On the women's side Tracy Garneau took first furthering the northern domination followed by Pam Smith in second and Auburn's own Anne Hitchcock in third.

Anne Hitchcock smiles her way along the trail

Shop Run Saturday 4/10

Good luck to June and all those running American River 50 tomorrow. Look for Connor and friends under the ARC pop up at last gasp as well as Matt, Aaron, Aurora, Jim and Carey at Buzzards Cove. We'll have ice cream and we'll see if Twiet is the first customer again this year.

For those not running from Sacramento to Auburn tomorrow join Bob and company at the shop at 8am for a run in the canyon. We'll head down the States trail to No Hands Bridge. This way we won't interfere with AR 50. We plan to head back the same way so be ready for some climbing. Hope to see you there.

Shop Run Saturday 4/3

This Saturday's run will be out to the American River Trail for some miles and returning up the final 3 mile climb to the Overlook and back to the store. There has been a request or two to go longer, so if anyone wants to go for extra miles we can talk about it at the start. Meet at the shop at 8 and we'll head out to hurdle some poison oak.

Also, check out the stacks of people who made the trek and ran the Lake Sonoma 50. Results and splits here. It was amazing how many Auburn Running Company shirts were there.