Dipsea Race

After living out here for almost 30 years, I just discovered a 100 year old Bay Area tradition: the Dipsea race. I know we have a few runners in the family, so thought it might be of interest.

The trail spans about 7 1/2 miles from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach, crossing the south flank of Mount Tamalpais, up and down from Old Mill Park through Muir Woods and Mount Tamalpais State Park and Steep Ravine en route to the Pacific coast. On Monday, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, official confirmation that it is worthy of preservation.

After reading the interesting article in the SFChronicle, I looked up the web site for the race and discovered who won this time around.

Reilly Johnson, an 8-year-old fourth grade student from Mill Valley running in her third Dipsea, held off 68-year-old grandmother of four Melody-Ann Schultz of Ross to win the 100th Running of the Dipsea Race from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach on Sunday Johnson became the youngest runner ever to win the Dipsea, topping Megan McGowan, who won the time-handcapped trail race at the age of 9 in 1991.

She looks awfully proud of winning.