The 31st Annual Great Race – Los Gatos Rotary

Very organized… Very safe rolling Run down Highway 9 from Saratoga to Los Gatos… straight with no turns! Covered at every corner so no cars to worry about! Fast 4. Mile race… My ten year old ran it in 2015 @ 24:43 minutes, a 6:10 pace, came in 18^th place overall! Next year he hopes to Run under a 6:00 pace and come in the top 10!

$ 40 to run this race? Have they completely lost their mind?

I can’t believe there’s only one review so far when there are so many racers having fun out there. 2012 was my first year, I heard about the race from a friend who organizes the race.
Pros:
Big, but not crowded (1500 – 2000 runners each year)
nice area (Saratoga-​Los Gatos)
Impossible to get lost (the whole run only has one turn near the end, otherwise 3.7 of the 4 miles is along the same road.
Traffic was controlled and not a problem for runners
there were a couple water stations along the way
Free massage at one of the booths afterward
Mostly for fun– lots of people with strollers and children, you don’t have to be a pro or even close to get a medal in this one. I think it is top 3 per age group that get medals.
Only 4 miles means it good for kids too and a little longer than your average 5K (3 miles) if you’re looking to get from 5K to 5miles or a 10K (6 miles).
You don’t have to go pick up your bib– it’s mailed to you– super convenient.
They had a band playing near the finish that people could hang out and listen to.
Cons:
I didn’t see a first aid station anywhere
bathrooms were close to the start and finish, but a little tricky to find (tucked away on side streets)
They were out of small shirts when I went to get one right after finishing (and I was one of the first finishers) If you want a small shirt you can pick up your shirt at one of several shoe stores before the race by just bringing your bib number. I’ll probably do this next year.
Awards ceremony wasn’t super official, I don’t think many people stay for it. well truthfully I didn’t stay for it, I just asked if I could have my medal because I had to leave before they had the awards ‘ceremony’

Event Date: Sunday, April 20, 2008, 09:00 AM
Thanks to my friend Claire for recommending this event.
I enjoyed this big hometown race! With over 2,000 participants, this is a must do for me. After coming off from the Santa Cruz Half Marathon, I needed to stay competitive with myself and keep the momentum going. Nevermind if its hurting! LOL!
I took the week off to rest and heal. Now I’m ready to hit the roads. This is what a year of running will do to you: keep you competitive and hungry for more until Winter.
The Course
This course is pretty much cut and dry — Run straight down the road to the finish line.
The race starts in Saratoga at the corner of Big Basin Way and 3^rd street inside a small shopping district. Immediately after leaving the starting line, you take on the four mile journey on Los Gatos — Saratoga Road. It’s all straight running or jogging from there. The terrain is all asphalt (road) with shady tree covers along the way and cheering spectators. The road is not entirely flat but very doable with two small inclines at 10 – 15 degrees. If you can walk up stadium stairs without exhausting yourself, you can do this run easily. Finally, the finish line takes you into Santa Cruz Avenue in the city of Los Gatos. The only disappointment I found was that there wasn’t any water at the finish line. Instead there were a bunch people handing out flyers and coupons. WTH?! We need water at the finish line people! Not 10% off crap! Dayam was I freakin thirsty!
Tips for First Timers
— Perfect for First Timers to Running Events: Yes! If someone had Unilocaled about this event last year, I would have totally participated. This is a great warm up to Bay to Breakers.
— Great for 5K runners: Yes! If you’re ready to graduate from a 5K (3.1 miles) to a 4 mile event without the major inclines, this is a must register!
— Wake Up Early: Get there early at park your vehicle at the finish line (free parking is available anywhere on University or Grays Lane). I was lucky to find open parking lots on Grays Lane. Yes, free parking! From there you take the shuttle bus over to the starting line in Saratoga. The shuttle buses are free and ran from 7:00AM until 8:30AM. However, you have to get there early at 7:00AM. The police were already closing off streets. The shuttle lines were hella long. The total bus ride was 20 minutes (due to traffic). When we arrived that the starting line, we had five minutes to get ready (race starts at 9:00AM). I had never felt so rushed before a run. No time to stretch or warm up. Just break out of the bus, hit the registration line, and start running. Next year, I’m planning on parking my vehicle at the finish line and then walking over to the starting line. Waiting in the cold for the shuttle bus took forever (like one hour forever).
— Register early for this event. I took away one star because of the fact that they did not have anymore race bibs at the starting line. WTH? That totally disappointed me. So nevermind. I followed the rest of my friends and we bandit style this event with no race bibs. LOL!
— Take your time. This event had a lot of walkers and joggers. Its very crowded in the beginning until you break away. I recommended taking an easy pace on the first mile, then speeding up on the second and third mile. By the time you reach the 3.5 marker, you can either sprint it to the finish line or cool down. Enjoy this race, it’s a fun one.
Highlights:
— Finish time: 40:34 (10:09M)
— Timing Chips: Yes
— Water stations: There were two stations: One at the two mile marker and at the three mile marker. In this case, I was proud that I didn’t stop. Just keep going to make time.
— T-​Shirts: Yes, free cotton t-​shirts for all the participants.
— Medals: No. Everyone wants medals. You only get those at the marathons. But I thought it was cool getting a finisher blue ribbon. Man, I haven’t received a ribbon since grade school.
— Fun & Fitness Fair: Get your oranges and energy bars on! Sorry, those energy bars were nasty! They also had free complimentary 10 minute massages for all participants. I wish I had more time to try it, although I was already a sweaty mess.
— Race Results (from
):
— Will Do Again: Yes.