Malibu Day and Moonlight Madness - March 10, 2012    - Pt. Mugu State Park

You have the option of running the daytime event, distance of your choice, starting at 8AM, the Moonlight distance of your choice, starting at 6PM, OR, you can be a trail champion and run BOTH of them!  We will have something special for those of you who run both events, including a very nice lunch if you choose to hang out with us at the start/finish basecamp for the afternoon.  If you sign up for both you can change to whatever distances you feel like the day of the event.

All participants will receive shirts, medals and some excellent products from all our sponsors at the event raffle!


Read what Cyril Jay-Rayon, one of the sponsors of this event,
posted on his blog about last year's event.  

10k course
The course starts along Big Sycamore Canyon Fire Road. It's a very easy start allowing everyone to warm-up. At 1.1 mile, you turn right onto Serrano Canyon Trail, which is a single track that winds its way up a narrow canyon and crosses the dry river bed numerous times. Many sections are well shaded and you gradually start gaining elevation (about 620 ft ) to the first Aid Station at 3.2 miles. This is the 10k turn around. 


1/2 Marathon course overview
This is one of the most beautiful and varied 13-mile trail courses we've ever done (and we've run many!). At 2,200 ft of elevation gain, it's not an easy course but the top of every climb rewards you with stunning views of sandstone cliffs or broad valleys, and the final section offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. In a mere 13 miles you experience a surprising amount of variety, from a shaded narrow canyon to broad ridge lines with incredible views (Sound of Music type of grassy ridges).
The course starts along Big Sycamore Canyon Fire Road. It's a very easy start allowing everyone to warm-up. At 1.1 mile, you turn right onto Serrano Canyon Trail which is a single track that winds its way up a narrow canyon and crosses the dry river bed numerous times. Many sections are well shaded and you gradually start gaining elevation (about 620 ft) to the first Aid Station (and the 10k turn around) at 3.2 miles. 1.7 miles is along the canyon but at around 500' you emerge onto a wide open ridge with superb views of the board Serrano Valley and the red sandstone cliffs in the distance (home to Sandstone Peak (3,111'), the highest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains). After taking some time to soak in the views you continue along the ridge to the trail intersection of the Serrano Valley Trail (at 650' and the 10k turn around/Aid Station). From here, you continue your climb for another 1.4 miles as more stunning views unfold to the Old Boney Trail intersection at 1020'. All your hard work is not only rewarded with more varied views of distant peaks but also with a fast 1.2 mile downhill all the way back down to Big Sycamore Canyon Fire Road along the broad valley floor. A quick left turn and you're off running down the fire road for 0.8 miles to the trailhead of Wood Canyon Vista Trail (a section of the famous Backbone Trail) on your right. This is your second and last major climb that gains about 720' in 1.8 miles as the trail switch backs up the shoulder of a ridge. The trail eventually reaches the ridge line and continues up to meet a major ridge at the Overlook Fire Road intersection (925'). From this point on, it's all downhill as you run down this wide fire road with yet some more stunning views of Sycamore Canyon, the red cliffs, and La Jolla Valley on your right. Your fast downhill continues for 3.8 miles to the Scenic trail turnoff (450').  As you approach the turnoff, the deep blue Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands come into view. All your hard work is being handsomely rewarded! A quick right turn onto the Scenic trail and a short 0.7 mile downhill takes you back to the start/finish line. Congrats, you've just run a 1/2 marathon, climbed more than 2,200' and have bragging rights. And, if you're so inclined,  you can walk to the beach and go for a refreshing dip in the ocean.