Calico Trail Runs (Race) Review

Calico, California is a restored silver mining ghost town sitting just outside of Barstow, California in the deserts of Southern California.  Here’s a quick history courtesy of Wikipedia:

“Calico is a ghost town and former mining town in San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Calico Mountains of the Mojave Desert region of Southern California, it was founded in 1881 as a silver mining town, and was later converted into a county park named Calico Ghost Town. Located off Interstate 15, it lies 3 miles (4.8 km) equidistant from Barstow and Yermo. Giant letters spelling CALICO are visible, from the highway, on the Calico Peaks behind it. Walter Knott purchased Calico in the 1950s, and rebuilt all but the five remaining original buildings to look as they did in the 1880s. Calico received California Historical Landmark #782,^[2] and in 2005 was proclaimed by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be California’s Silver Rush Ghost Town.^[3]“

So at the end of January, it was time for the annual Calico Trail Runs.  The featured runs are 30K and 50K distances, so the longer distance an Ultramarathon.  I’ve wanted to do these runs for several years, this year the 30k distance fell perfectly into my training plan in preparation for the Black Canyon Ultramarathon two weeks later….so I signed up for the 30k distance to get a good long run in and be able to experience the Calico backcountry.  I had been warned about the super-technical nature of the course, but how hard could it be? I was about to find out.

To start…it was cold and I started with a flannel on under my race vest.  Mistake.  I ended up taking it off and stuffing it in my race vest….it’s ok to start cold.  This race gives you a nicety in the first 6.5 miles, as the first three miles are downhill and along a road, then off road but nice and flat and fluffy.  That’s to the first aid station.  I made it fine although I was worried about cut-offs….but none of the aid station folks were worried at all.  At the first aid station, they took my flannel, gloves and hat and wrapped it in a big ball with duct tape around it, I found it after the race with no problem…..my name all over the tape.

On to the second aid station….wasn’t too bad in terms of nice sandy jeep trails and very gentle inclines….nothing too much to worry about.  I ran on/off with several people, one mentioned the canyons….but you can’t see those at all on the race course map so I just didn’t think too much about that.  2nd Aid station finally came along and I took water and a few pretzels, felt ok and kept going.  By this time, the heat was starting to come up but still not too technical.

Wow, just about 200 yards after the second aid station…..bring on the technical and things started to get interesting.

And then somewhere about two miles further up this canyon came the course split between the 30K and the 50K.  But, for this one they had several great people in a jeep that actually sat there and told you to which direction to go….cause there’s alot of jeep roads and tracks out there that seem to go in several directions at once.  Past this course split…not sure what it was, but the course just seemed to get more technical and stayed technical.

The third aid station for the 30k is the 5th aid station for the 50k, I really needed water by the time I got there….and it was the last aid station before the finish.  From there, I thought it would all be downhill to the finish, but Calico has surprises for you.  First, the canyons were not well marked but there’s only one way to go…..down.  They were not well marked because….there were numerous 4×4’s coming up the canyons that probably ran over the flour course markings.  You’ll see….take a look at my photos:

Yeah, after the arches I thought I was on the way to almost done through the campgrounds and on to thunderous applause.  NOPE….be prepared for a monster uphill with several miles of out/back on top of the ridgeline (after the arches)….then running down and through the campgrounds.  Then I thought I was nearly done, but the run goes on….past 18 miles and through the lower parking lots.  And it goes on……up the backbone of the lower parking lots and up…up and then up the nastiest last hill/maintenance access road you’ll find, at the back of Calico.  That thing goes up until finally you come out at the top of the town and run down into the finish line.  YEAH….finally done at 19.6 miles.

Overall, I did this race at a good time to capitalize on the distance before my upcoming 50k and although I was really, really slow…it was a learning experience and I finished.  During the run, I was able to practice my nutrition, monitor my energy levels, overcome slowly developing cramps in my left quad with regular electrolytes and practice a food plan by eating at aid stations and getting in my calories hourly.  This all worked for me pretty well.  I was able to get the trailer hooked back up and drive the 3-hours home that afternoon without too much soreness.  I did have soreness (DOMS) for the next few days but I was able to stretch and start walking/running within those few days.  

Overall, the Calico Trail Run/30K was challenging and very technical, a great learning experience and fun too.  I’ll do it again. 

Calico Ghost Town is a California State Park that includes camp sites with hookups as well as dry camping.  There’s sites for all size rigs and the surrounding area is a mecca for off-road enthusiasts.  

We decided to camp for a couple days before the race and enjoyed the ghost town, train ride and mine tour the day before the race.  It was a fun couple days of camping and then a good race and I would do it again.  

For anyone who wants super technical, challenging trail running with great support, I strongly suggest this race. 

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