Brazen New Year Runs

Holy cow batman! This course is NO JOKE (at least 10k and half)! The 5k fares better, since it misses the nightmare of a hill, but the 10k and half marathon both have a killer hill that is steeper than anything you’ll probably ever train with. Because of that, I’d say DO NOT try to get a PR on this course – you’ll be walking for about a mile and a half, cause there’s no way you can run that whole hill. But, the view from the top is great! Also, a lot of the course is oaved, but a lot is on dirt, also. In the winter, it can get especially chilly, so watch out for black ice!

Course description:
Brazen runs two races around the New Year, one just before or on New Year’s Eve, one on New Year’s Day. Both circle Lake Chabot (near Castro Valley, CA): (Almost) New Year’s Eve circles it counter-​clockwise; New Year’s Day, clockwise. There is a special medal for those who do both races (doing two half marathons with four days rest between is more than I can do … right now anyway). I don’t think I’ve done any of Brazen’s most beautiful race courses yet, but of the various races I’ve done — Brazen’s and other organizers’ — the beauty of this course is, I think, second only to RnR’s 2013 San Francisco Half Marathon, which crossed and re-​crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. While not Brazen’s MOST challenging, this is a challenging hill trail race. I was questioning my sanity miles before finishing; I also realized that finding and expanding my ability limits is part of what I’m doing. With these two races, weather — i.e. rain and cold — and course condition can be factors. It did not rain during 2014 (Almost) New Year’s Eve (nor the New year’s Day 2015 race), but the temperature just before sun-​up was in the upper 30s F, and there was a thin sheet of ice on some sheltered areas near the lake shore. A few parts of the course were muddy from rainstorms a week or two earlier.
Organization & Production:
I’ve said in many reviews of Brazen’s races that I think they are the best small-​medium sized race organizer at their price point in the SF Bay Area. From online registration through the finish line goodies and activities, Brazen does it right! Brazen also has quite a few repeat racers who have become friends, which makes for a generally family picnic like atmosphere. I will add one more word of praise, consistency. Having done 5 Brazen races in 2014 (and several more since), I think that description is well earned and deserved!
Race day packet pick-​up was quick, smooth, and efficient. Whether on race day or at early packet pick-​up, those who registered 3 weeks before race day or earlier receive their race T-​shirt with their bib. I believe late registrants (up to race day unless sold out) receive their T-​shirts before the race on a first-​come-​first-​served basis. This works better for slower runners/​walkers like me than giving out T-​shirts at the finish on a first-​finished-​first-​served basis.
Course markings were clear and course monitors were around. Aid stations were amply stocked, and volunteers helpful and encouraging. «Just» another Brazen race.
Swag & Goodies:
The race T-​shirt, bib, and finishers’ medal (see pix) were up to Brazen’s usual high quality. I would have preferred the T-​shirt had had the Pegasus that was on the race bib instead of the roaring lion with a party hat. But I think that was what was on the New Year’s Day bib and T-​shirt. The medal is designed to interlock with the New Year’s Day medal, for those who do both races, but doesn’t look odd on its own. The medal isn’t my one of my favorites, but it’s far better than my least favorites among the finisher’s medals I have.
Great finish area goodies — chips, fruit, sweet stuff, and It’s Its — and people (racers, Brazen people, and volunteers)! It’s getting challenging for me to find interesting ways to describe consistent excellence!
My Results & Opinion of the Race:
I was very happy to finish at all, and with my time. As with Trail Hog a few months earlier, this was a, «Can I do hilly trail races at all?» test for me. And I showed myself I can. I would consider doing (Almost) New Year’s Eve again, and it is a possibility for 2015.

I ran the Brazen 2014 New Years Day ½ Marathon on 1÷1÷14.
Well organized race.
Awesome race MC… announced race and recognized each runners finish arrival.
Well stocked aide stations.
Beautiful views of Lake Chabot and the surrounding area.
Nice challenging trails… both paved & dirty trails.
Several out houses out on the trail.
Hiker early start division for hikers.
Nice finishers medal.

My first Brazen race and I was highly impressed! Super affordable (½ was 60 for same day registration), small crowd, stunning views aerial views, supportive volunteers, plenty of post-​race food (Its-​It ice-​cream, too!), and cute gender specific tech shirt with medal. Good-​bye congested, expensive schwag-​less road races (unless its my fave like SC or Big Sur)…I’m gonna do me some trail racing!

I’m reviewing the Half-​Marathon…
I ran the event earlier this month with my brother who was visiting. There was actually a pretty large turnout, despite the weather conditions. Being my first half-​marathon, I was not prepared for this trail run! Finished in just over 2 hrs. It was lightly raining the entire time an the course conditions were awful! The hills are brutal and almost every single person I saw walked at one point or another. I was slipping and sliding down most of the downhills b/​c of the weather conditions.
All in all, beautiful views of Lake Chabot. Parking was easy, as was picking up the bib the morning of. Course markers were very visible and water stations were in the right places. And, the race is cheap!
You definitely feel accomplished when you complete it! That being said, I will probably never do it again but it was a great experience!