As with any Brazen event this was a great course to run. Beautiful views of the bay, a few hills, mainly trail and with lot's of aid stations along the way. I hadn't ran this course before and seeing other reviewers mention the hills I was quite excited at some hill running but then looking at the course map the hills really are not all that big, at least for someone like myself who is an incline Runner. That said they were enjoyable and should you not be experienced at these sorts of inclines then yes, they will slow you. The Half Marathon course took you around the same loop twice, good in a way because this let's you know exactly what you're in for the second time around so that you're prepared. The start of the trail took you though the marshes on paved track which then gave way to gravel, rocks and sand so my advice is make sure you have the correct shoes. Road shoes will not fare well here! As I said, the course was very scenic and the volunteers at the aid stations were great with having Water and GU gels ready while also guiding runners in the right direction. As with any other Brazen event this also had a 5k and 10k option too which at one point had us all running together in both directions of the trail, please please please adhere to the ''Runners code'' - stick to the right and be courteous to those who wish to pass. There were many photographers all along the course which are not by some expensive company that will then charge you ridiculous amounts per image after the event, Photo's are FREE!! I lost count of how many photographers I saw but there were at least 5 in various stages around the course. Post race also has lot's going on - A huge spread of food with everything from Potato chips and Cookies to Pie, Bagels, Fruit and even It's It! Ice Cream sandwiches. Medals are given to every finisher and additional medals for those who place in their age group (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/coyote-hills-half-marathon-fremont#bhr5Rw041gAb3txd2gvL7g) Engraving of medals can be done in site for a $10 fee. The parking situation was a bit of a bummer. I didn't know until after I signed up that there was no parking at the park itself. Brazen provide shuttles from the local University a couple of miles away. They had 8 shuttles and as my Husband comes with me I didn't know if they would let him on the shuttle too seeing as he wasn't running. With that in mind we decided to take out bicycles along and Cycle into the event and back. This worked out very well for us in the end as after the run the lines to get back were huge! Something to keep in mind for future years. So how did I do? With my Knee injury still a little funky I amazingly PR'd! On a trail! I was running in 2nd place female for a while until the damn downhill got me and I ended up finishing 4th overall female and 2nd in my age group. Yay! The lady that finished before me was just a minute faster and the same age. Broke my 1st place streak but with a new PR under my belt and a few awesome photo bomb pictures (sorry I ruined your pictures fellow runners) I can't be mad, I had a great run and chatted with some cool people along the course. read more

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I brain farted badly for this race. Signing up, I thought the "Coyote Hills" part of the name was just to be cute. I doubted there would be coyotes, so I doubted there would be hills. Couldn't have been more wrong! There were definitely hills. Short ones, long ones, gradual ones, steep ones. Towards the end of the half marathon course, there was a short steep upwards climb. I nearly had to put my hands on the ground to lift myself up this climb, but I resisted in favor of keeping my hands clean. After this, the home stretch was another steep downhill slope that had me and other runners slowing down to finish safely. Since this is a trail run, much of the course was on unpaved dirt roads meandering along the coast. My once-black now-brown shoes can attest to this. The path was often rocky and sometimes uneven. The course was well-marked with bright pink ribbons and signs to follow. There's about a two-mile switchback halfway through the course, and the half marathon is two laps of the same course. Though the landscape was dry and barren this time of year, I could still see the beauty in the bay and hills. I especially appreciated the serenity of the park, even choosing to run my second half without music to enjoy the peace in nature. Race photography is provided by volunteers. Downside is that none of the photos are tagged or organized. Upside is that you get free high res photos. Just need to browse through them to find yours! Parking is at Devry University two miles away. Shuttle buses transport runners between parking and the event. Lines for the shuttle are long, so be sure to arrive early to make it to the start in time! An abundance of rewards await at the finish. The finisher's medal is the biggest and heaviest one I've gotten thus far, and the food spread is the best I've seen at any race. On top of the usual bagels and bananas, there's a variety of fruits, baked goods, cakes, pies, and ice cream bars. Higher effort can often lead to greater pleasure. That was definitely the case here, as this was one of the most grueling yet rewarding races I've done. This is not for people looking to set a PR or run a flat course, but I would recommend it to those looking to deviate from road runs and challenge themselves with a difficult but doable trail run. read more

Coyote Hills Half-Marathon - 2013 Medal - Races & Competitions Near Me - Fremont, California

My first Brazen race and it will definitely not be my last! This was so much fun and really organized. I went to Coyote Hills quite a bit in my younger years and it has surely improved since those 1980s field trips. I prepped for cold weather (possible rain) running but by some weather fluke ended up with the one 70 degree day this winter. This is a visually stunning course with a mild incline so it's manageable for non-trail runners. If you're accustomed to flatter surfaces you can still get through the course without much struggle and actually be able to enjoy the scenery. There are two aid stations, the first one had Gatorade and the second, Gu and water. My previous 10k had no aid stations and I managed just fine so I planned to skip the stations at this one but, with the unexpected heat, I was lured in with refreshments and took my sweet ass time approaching each station as if it were a mid day siesta, so I was 5 minutes behind as a result. The medals for this are the best! Both the medals and tech t-shirts have a wolf's face that resemble both teen wolf and Aiyana Udesen's wolves in the "Worf and Wolf" zine: http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7oav1JkdE1r7uawuo3_1280.jpg If you do this one in the future, remember to come early to park in the DeVry lot, where two shuttles will attempt the never-ending feat of transporting hundreds and hundreds of people to the course. The line moves fast but there is some waiting. Don't attempt to walk it unless you've got lots of time to spare and want a really good warm up pre-race. Lastly, although part of this course is paved, there is enough gravel and unevenness in this trail to make road shoes feel inadequate so you may want to opt for trail shoes instead. read more

Coyote Hills Half-Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Fremont, California

My husband and I had a blast at this race. It was a little further away but so worth it to discover that this park even existed. Now we want to come back for hiking with our kids. Parking is at DeVry University. There were plenty of shuttle buses to bus people in. At the end, the line waiting for shuttle buses was quite long. But they were pretty efficient at loading people in so not too bad overall. As in other Brazen races, the organization was superb. Good aid stations with water and sports drinks. They were even handing out energy gels to the half marathoners on the second loop. They had the usual amazing spread of Costco treats. Because my husband and I ran a half instead of our usual 10K, we allowed ourselves to indulge maybe a bit too much on cake and sugar. A few other vendors were also present including Muscle Milk, Frontier Snacks, and one of the coconut water vendors. All handing out free samples. The only reason why I am giving it a 4 is because for the half marathon you have to run the same course twice. I would much rather not do a repeat. On the positive side, you know exactly what is coming up in the second half. You can prepare yourself for the upcoming hills. Maybe that's not such a positive after all.... But really, this is a pretty easy trail run all in all. There is one short steep hill at the end and a few gradual ones. I was able to run the entire time (except the very last hill second time around) and almost all of the other Brazen races I've run (all 10Ks), I've never been able to run all the hills. The hills are quite pretty and the view of the bay stunning. Not that I noticed it much the second time. read more

Great place to go for a hike in late Spring. I've been here twice now. I first came here with friends looking for an easy hike and beautiful views. This place delivered on both! The flowers were out and they had paved hiking area that wasn't drastic in elevation change. It was very windy so we did not encounter any bugs either! The second time I went with a different group of friends, some wanted more of a challenges. We went up and down the hill where there was footpaths but not paved. Got bitten twice by some insects while going through the hills despite wearing long pants. I'd go again if I was just in the paved section. Windy days are best. There isn't a lot of shade but I think this place would be great for running on the weekends when it's not too hot. Parking is free if you go outside the park, which is another easy walk and jog area. Lots of fun for those who like easy terrain. There are also hills if you want to go off-track! read more

Compared to the Lake Chabot 1/2....Coyote Hills 1/2 Marathon...piece a cake! Runners were shuttled in from a near by location due to the limited parking at Coyote Hills Regional Park. Onsite race bib/packet pickup available. 1/2 marathon hikers division starts 1/2 hour early to allow for more time to finish race. Beautiful park within eye shot of the Dumbarton Bridge. Wooden planked foot bridge & paved pathways. Aide stations....awesome! Course support....awesome! Race bibs....awesome! Finisher medal....awesome! Brazing race staff....awesome! Total race experience....double, triple, awesome! read more

Coyote Hills Half-Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Fremont, California

My first half marathon and my first Brazen event-- very organized and enjoyable. Organizers and racers alike are super friendly. I've run Coyote Hills prior as part of my training and think it's a beautiful course with the exception of the sulfur and rot funk you get when hitting miles 2 through 4. The sludge that builds up in this part of the Bay is fairly strong and makes running all the more interesting. Breathe through your nose and it breaks your focus. Breathe through your mouth and you can taste the smell. Hilly but with easy grades, this is an enjoyable half that I plan to repeat next year. read more

This was my first Brazen style half marathon (aka my first trail half marathon)! Brazen races are held rain or shine, so I was fortunate enough to experience off and on rain during the race (I guess we in California can't complain though due to the drought!). As with all of their events, Brazen really takes care of their runners! Here's my run down: Pros: -Two days of early bib pick up at the Sports Basement in Sunnyvale (with 20% off if you show your bib). LOVED that it was at the Sunnyvale location as it's a very central location in the South Bay and parking is very easy. ((Much appreciated contrast to the other races that have held bib pick up at the Sports Basement in Campbell, which is more out of the way AND it has TERRIBLE parking due to being in a commercial complex with several other retail establishments, eateries, and grocery stores)) -free bib pick up on race day morning -Free race photos. Even with the rain, I saw at least 4-5 photographers stations throughout the course. Even though I never look good in race photos, they are still nice to have! Because the photos are provided for free, you will have to look through a folder of all photos and hunt for yourself, kind of like Where's Waldo. Sometimes, I have seen them organize the photos into separate folders (before race, during race, post finish). Try to wear something very flashy and loud so you can find yourself easier afterwards. -Medal and Tech Shirt: Great quality and design medal/ribbon. The moon behind the coyote glows in the dark!! Nice gender specific tech shirts that fit perfectly. When registering, you have the option of paying $5 extra for a tech shirt, or simply opting for the cotton shirt that comes with registration. -Post race grub: if you have done Brazen races before you know that they always have a fantastic post race supply of snacks from its-its ice cream, chips, pretzels, red velvet cake, candies, popcorn, fresh fruit, etc. There's is always something for everyone! -Had coffee, hot chocolate, and hot water for cider/tea for people before the race started! -I honestly didn't mind parking at De Vry University 2 miles away and taking the shuttle. Parking was FREE. Shuttles were FREE. What is there to complain about? They also did a great job of setting expectations about the situation (IE 8 shuttle buses, come a bit earlier to avoid race day stress and lines, etc) -Very scenic course over mostly trail and gravel. It was raining off and on during the race so there were some muddy areas as well. Rolling hills and a couple areas that really made me want to crawl on my hands and knees - great for those of you who like some incline challenges. -Well stocked aid stations. -Personalized bibs!! Cons: -If you're doing the 10k or Half Marathon, the course does have loops so you will be running up and down the same path more than once. Particularly for the Half Marathon runners (who basically run the 10k course twice) and have this one area where they will be crossing FOUR times. This area has rolling hills too, so if you are not used to hills they will definitely slow you down, especially at the 3rd and 4rth passes. -Half Marathon runners hit 4 aid stations total. I personally am used to 7 or so aid stations for a half (road races) so I struggled with this a bit. Would recommend bringing a hand held water bottle. (Note: Brazen DID disclaim this well before the race on their website AND their pre race email) Also there is a almost sewage-like smell due the bay/swamp-like area of the park. It did not affect my pace, but just be prepared for it if you are sensitive to such smells. It is strongest mostly at the park entrance and the first mile or so of the course. Not a pro or con, but just an observation: I noticed that the safety pins at this particular event were way flimsier and thinner than regular safety pins. Not a big deal as they serve their purpose, but I wouldn't save them for future use as I do with other safety pins I have from other races. Would I run this again? Yes Would I make sure to train for inclines? Yes! read more

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This race is pretty cool and getting better. I ran the 5k in 2011. This year I ran the half-marathon. It's got well spaced aid stations, a nice view of the bay, awesome medals, and awesome goodies at the end. The goodies at the end included lots of regular goodies like bananas and juice, but lots of great sweets as well. There were "It's It" ice cream sandwiches and they even had whipped cream! Totally amazing! There were buses to and from the parking lots that were about a mile and a half away. I thought they worked pretty well, even though they sent an email apologizing the next day. The only complaint I have is that the half-marathon is two laps, so you see the same thing twice. Pretty minor complaint in my book. read more

I have run seven half-marathons since 2006 and have logged hundreds of miles in training. NOTHING could have prepared me for this challenge. Beautiful scenery, cool staff, an awesome medal, and an intense feeling of gratitude when I finally crossed the finish in third to last place. Glad I pushed myself! read more

I've always liked the races put on my Brazen. They do a great job not overcrowding the trails & I love their buffet style post-race snacks. I always take an It's It for the road! This race in particular is cool, the only thing is that the half is two loops of the 10k route.. which usually I am not a fan of. However, the loops are pretty nice and scenic, with a great view of the bay. It's not too hilly, but that's just in accordance to my standards. I mean after doing the Big Sur Full.. nothing on earth is too hilly. I like that they offer a "no t shirt" option for a cheaper price. After a while you accumulate too many shirts to even wear. Packet pick up was at Sports Basement. Day of they shuttle runners from DeVry. Run is very scenic, cool medal when you finish. I would recommend this race! read more

this was my 5th brazen event and i continue to be a happy runner in their events! this event was also my first official trail run, as i typically run flat road races or non-hilly trail runs (cuz i like to run fast!) for this particular event, there was a choice of 3 distances: 1. half marathon (13.1 miles) 2. 10k (6.2 miles) 3. 5k (3.1 miles) i chose to participate in the 10k since it was my very first time on a hilly, more challenging course. the pros: -surprisingly fast course, with rolling hills (none of which was that steep) -beautiful, scenic course in coyote hills regional park with views of the bay, the rolling hills, and greenery! yes, much of the grass was actually green following the rains we had in december! -staggered start times (every 15 minutes) for each of the 3 events to avoid congestion at the start -flags to mark each mile for each race distance, distinct flag colours for each race to avoid confusion -friendly volunteers directing runners in the parking area, manning aid stations along the course, handing out medals at the finish line, and keeping the refreshments' tables well stocked after the race -dedicated FREE parking at devry university with complimentary shuttles to the start line (both to and from the race) -lots of porta-potties at the start/finish area as well as access to restrooms at devry university, right by the parking lot. there was no wait for the restrooms at devry, since it was still very early, but there was a 5-10 min for the porta-potties by the start line, still not too bad considering how long i've waited at other races! -complimentary bag check/bag drop at the start line, with volunteers to guard your bags until after the race what you get: *choice of packet pick-up @ sports basement in sunnyvale the two days prior to the race or on site pick up the morning of *dri-fit, women's cut, v-neck finisher's shirt (shirt is optional, so if you don't want the shirt, you can save $5) *FULLY STOCKED aid stations with water, electrolytes, gu gel packets, etc (i didn't see everything but each table looked very well stocked!) *BIG medal with a coyote face logo, displaying event name and date (option to engrave name and finisher time on back) *TONS of post-race food & drinks, including it's it ice cream sandwiches, chocolate cake, red velvet cake, elephant ears, mini bagels, peanut butter, rugelach, peanut butter filled pretzels, regular pretzels, potato chips, trail mix, gummy bears, chocolate milk, cookies, gu gel packets, jamba juice samples, water, and electrolyte drink. best part is that the food never ran out! *complimentary table massage at the finish line, with senior interns from life chiropractic in hayward (the wait was 15-20 min, but totally worth the 5 minutes they spent on my back and legs) the cons: -LONG wait to board the shuttle pre-race, almost 20 minutes even though i arrived at 8am (75 minutes before my race began) -even LONGER wait to board the shuttle after the race, heading back to devry university. i actually timed the wait at 50 minutes! -bag check actually took at least 10 minutes despite the fact that it was meant to be a quick bag drop. will have to keep this in mind for future events. although they had 8 dedicated shuttles, i didn't feel that they were adequate for the number of runners (and spectators) who needed transporting. i would recommend having more shuttles to bus runners to and from the event next year, but other than that, this was another fantastic event and i look forward to participating in more brazen events this year! read more

Wonderful scenery and a perfect way to unwind during the middle of the week. But beware venomous Rollie polis lurk!

I don't know if there's a proper protocol/etiquette for a second review of a second time I've run a particular race (I did run a little this time ... when gravity did some of the work), but I'm going to do this as a second review. Having run it yesterday rather than almost a year ago, it's a bit more fresh in my mind. Course description: The course is a loop with an out-and-back tail. It starts by crossing a marsh, going through some hills, following the bay shore for a while, up and down a hill, and then through some hills to the start area. This is done once for the 10K, and twice for the half marathon. The 5K doesn't do the out-and-back tail up and down the hill. Unlike in 2014, there was water in the marsh in the first mile or so of the course. A wooden causeway or boardwalk is used to cross the marsh (Coyote Hills is not a mud run). Having water in the marsh made it visually much more interesting than in 2014. One of the details I forgot in writing my review for the 2014 race is that there is not a lot of shade on the course. For the first time around of the half (and for the 10K and 5K) there is some shade from the hills themselves. But it's a pretty open course. On clear, warmer, days sunscreen, water, and appropriate clothing (it can get warm late in the half) are a must! And pace yourself. Organization & Production: This year I chose to do the Hiker's start, starting and finishing about an hour earlier than last year. There is very little parking in the park near the start/finish area, and Brazen set up offsite parking, with shuttles (8, if I recall correctly, each making multiple trips) to the start/finish area. I arrived fairly early at the off-site parking, before the shuttles started running. I got onto the first shuttle, and it started a bit before the scheduled time. Very smooth. Finishing time was a a bit different. I finished soon after and around the time many 10K and regular-start half runners did. After cooling down some I headed for the shuttle line, and it was quite a line. I probably waited 45 minutes to get on a shuttle. I'm not really complaining. Offsite parking and shuttles are necessary. My 2015 finish time resulted in my joining the shuttle line at a peak demand time. I don't think I waited at all last year. To me this is not a problem with race organization. It's dictated by the venue and the nature of a race. Either Brazen does the best race it can in this venue, or Brazen doesn't do it at all. I think Brazen did the best it could, and I feel this course, scenery, and general race experience are well worth a bit of inconvenience. That said, runners and walkers considering this race should be aware of this potential wait after finishing. The aid stations were well-stocked with liquids and snacks, are the volunteers were helpful and encouraging as usual. Brazen is very consistent, and I have a hard time writing the same thing for every Brazen race I review. Brazen's people - employees and volunteers - work hard to make runners' race experience excellent. Swag & Goodies: I think the 2015 T-shirt is nicer than that of 2014, mainly the T-shirt color (back in January of 2014, the Coyote Hills T-shirt was probably one of my favorites among what I had). Brazen's T-shirts are good enough that "good", "better", and "best" depend on one's personal preferences and, sometimes, sense of humor. 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. The finisher's medal is the face of a coyote, in relief, with the race info in an arc below the coyote. The ribbon has length-wise two-tone blue stripes, with the race name and distances in the center strip. Personal taste applies to finishers' medals, but for me the 2015 Coyote Hills medal is the nicest of all the medals I have (not just Brazen's)! Finish area goodies ...fruit and chips and pretzels and cookies and pastries and cakes and (pant, pant) It's Its, oh my! My Results & Opinion of the Race: My time was about the same as last year, except this time the tail-kicker was much farther behind my behind. This was my second time doing Coyote Hills, I don't think it will be my last. Coyote Hills is a good intro to trail racing generally, with a good taste of hills. read more