Photographs from the Photography on the Run post: Bandit 50K 2014
It's 6:00 am and Bandit 50K, 30K, 15K and 6K runners are arriving at Corriganville Park in Simi Valley, California.
Moon setting over the Bandit Trail Runs base camp.
Negative Split Running is all set for the start of the races.
Your friendly and helpful Bandit registration volunteers -- at 5:30 in the morning!
Dawn!
Drop bags. The 50K, 30K, and 15K courses all climb to the ridge in the distance and then follow it north (left).
With less than 15 minutes to the start, 50K runners gather at the start line. 150 runners started the 50K.
Bandit Trail Runs race director Randy Shoemaker presents a check to Alison Chavez to help in her battle against cancer. A dedicated runner, Alison ran and completed the Bandit 30K.
Runners begin the steep climb from Corriganville Park to Rocky Peak fire road.
The climb from Corriganville Park to Rocky Peak fire road gains about 850' over a distance of a mile. If you push the pace too much here, you'll pay for it over the next 29 miles.
Continuing up the Corridor Trail.
Amazing Bandit volunteers at the top of the Corridor Trail.
The top of the Corridor Trail is at about mile 2.6 on the way out and mile 29.1 on the way back. From here the climbing continues another 1.75 miles to the Rocky Peak overlook of the Simi Valley. The total elevation gain from Corriganville to the overlook is about 1100'.
Rocky Peak fire road below Rocky Peak. This is about mile 3-4 on the way out, and mile 28-29 on the way back. The west San Fernando Valley and Santa Monica Mountains are in the distance.
You didn't see the snow on Rocky Peak Road? This is from a run in December 2008 and is at about mile 5 of the 50K. Today we didn't have snow, but the ice at the aid stations helped with the 80+ degree temps.
The Chumash Trail near mile 6 of the 50K and 30K. This is from last year -- notice the green? The 2.6 mile Chumash Trail downhill is one of the gems of the Bandit 50K and 30K courses.
The Las Llajas Canyon aid station at about mile 9 of the 50K and 30K. 30K runners continue (left) up Las Llajas Canyon and 50K runners do the 11 mile out and back to Tapo Canyon, starting with Hot Dog Hill, then run up Las Llajas Canyon.
The steepest section of the climb up Hot Dog Hill is about a mile from the Las Llajas aid station and about 10 miles into the 50K. This segment climbs about 675' in 1.6 miles.
Smile!
It has not been this dry in February in over a century. We're headed over to the saddle on the right of the photo, then over the saddle and down to the Tapo Open Space aid station. On the way back we follow the road on the other side of the canyon.
A runner returning from the Open Space aid station at Tapo Canyon waves hi at the saddle where the outbound and returning routes merge. I'm at about mile 13.4 and he's at about mile 16.1.
This oak-shaded downhill section is on the return from the Open Space aid station at Tapo Canyon. About mile 16.5 of the 50K.
These runners are nearing the top of the 1.4 mile climb out of Chivo Canyon on the return from the Open Space aid station. They are at about mile 18.5 of the 50K.
A positive, upbeat attitude goes a long way in a 50K! Descending to the Las Llajas aid station.
I did not see "Coach Las Llajas" on the run up Las Llajas Canyon this year!
It looked and felt like Summer on the climb out of Las Llajas Canyon. The temperature in the sun was probably in the mid-80's. This is at about mile 24.
This is what mile 24 normally looks like in January and February.
The top of the Las Llajas climb. Only about six miles to go!
A Google Earth overview of the Las Llajas section of the Bandit 50K course and Rocky Peak Road as it winds it way back to the Chumash Trail junction and Rocky Peak.
Elevation profile of Bandit 50K. Generated by SportTracks from my GPS trace of the course using NED 1/3 arc second DEMs. The elevation gain (and loss) is about 5700' or so.
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