Mount Diablo Trail Run - "When Hell Freezes Over"

Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center
96 Mitchell Canyon Rd
Clayton, CA US 94517

If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.

Questions?

Date: Saturday, January 29, 2022

Courses, Distances, & Elevation Gains
There are two unique loops: Half Marathon Loop & 10K Loop.

30K: 6,170 ft (Half Marathon Loop + 10K Loop)
HALF: 4,180 ft 
10K: 2,090 ft

Entry Fees:
- Add $15 on Race Day if not sold out.

Start Times* SEE NEW START TIMES 
30K: 8:00 AM
HALF: 8:30 AM
10K: 9:00 AM

ABSOLUTELY NO EARLY STARTS.
*Start times subject to change for any reason.

Time Limits
30K: 9 Hours
HALF: 8.5 Hours
10K: 8 Hours

Cutoffs
*** 30K -->  You have 6 hours (2:00pm) to complete the Half Marathon Loop and be on your way for the final 10K loop.  A pace of 22 minutes and 30 Seconds will get you to the completion of the half marathon loop in time.

*** Those not finishing the half marathon loop and leaving the start /finish aid station  area by 2:00pm will be credited with a half marathon finish as long as you finish by the half marathon loop by 5:00pm.

Race Perks:
- The Main Swag Item are custom designed High performance Knee High Socks "Mt Diablo - When Hell Freezes Over".
-  "Go run a trail." Finisher Neck wallet medal.
- Free on course race photos
- Bib/chip with Professionally timed results
- Option to purchase shirt from past events (Sweet Shirts at a great price)
- Age group award if qualified
- Scenic course with high quality volunteers and Team PCTR Support
- Aid station nutrition & hydration
- Chef Yaku post-race meal & beverages (Mt Diablo has a strict NO-ALCOHOL policy)

Food: Chef Yaku will be preparing Chicken Wings with his Diablo Sauce (Hot and mild) to go with a mixed green salad and a cookie. For our vegetarians, Chef will be making Fried Tofu to go with his sauces.

It is of importance that our participants hangout and enjoy post-race relaxation and enjoyment. We will host a specially prepared post-race food with a variety of protein, even vegetarian options. We will announce the menu as we get closer to the event. Unfortunately, Mt Diablo State Park prohibits alcohol at our event. Community is an important reason we do this. Trail Running friends bring out the best in all of us. Please bring a change of clothes to be comfortable as we celebrate the finishers together.

Effective January 2018, Pacific Coast Trail Runs is following the lead of other trail races by taking steps to "green" our events. We recommend that all participants carry hydration devices on them during the race. We will sell HydraPouch portable cup with Universal carry clip – hooks easily to shorts, tights, number belts, hydration belts, etc. These are available at checkout for $10. You will receive it when you check-in for the event. We will also have a few for purchase for $10 the day of the event.

Start/Finish
Mitchell Canyon Visitors Center
96 Mitchell Canyon Rd
Clayton, CA 94517

Parking Info
Parking is now $8 cash only  Please do your best to bring exact change and pen to complete envelope to allow for expedient entry for all. Please note that there is one lane in and one lane out of the parking area. We have staggered the start times to allow for traffic back-up getting into start/finish location.

Runner Check-In:
There is no bib/swag pick-up the day before the event. All runners will receive bib and swag before your event on Race Day.

Your specific distance check-in opens one hour before your event start time. You must be prepared to show ID to pick up your own bib and swag. You may not pick up for any other runners.

Race Briefing:
15 minutes before your event at the Start Line. It's very important for the safety of you and others to be present and alert for the Race Director Pre-Race Briefing. Here you will learn about how to have fun, be safe, and not get lost.

Course Description
2022 Course Description: Due to safety concerns, we have minimized risk for the welfare of our runners, volunteers, park staff, and public safety.The 28K will now be about a 30K or 18.8 miles. You will summit Mt Diablo and Eagle Peak once each for 6,000 feet of gain.
The Half will now be 4,000 plus with one summit of Mt Diablo.
The 10K will be slightly modified by continuing up Back Creek Trail to Eagle Peak Trail for 2,000 plus feet of gain.

The 30K, and Half Marathon will all ascend to the top of Mt Diablo near Summit Road. 

However, if you chose a shorter distance, don't worry as you will also be able to climb a respectable amount of elevation. The course is a blend of the original PCTR course design with a few modifications. Bragging rights for all no matter which distance you choose.

- Half Marathoners will enjoy 3,800 feet of gain up to the summit of Mt Diablo and then enjoy a challenging descent which reminds some elite runners of a highly technical European finish.
- 10K While the 10K does not go to the summit, you will feel all of the 1,800 feet of elevation gain and enjoy Eagle Peak as your conquest.

Course Map all by RunGo We recommend downloading and using the app to enhance your run experience

Mount Diablo 30k w/loop

Mount Diablo half marathon Winter

Mount Diablo 10K Winter

Download RunGo for Iphone

Download RunGo for Android

How to use RunGo race-guide

- 30K: Pink Loop (Harder) +  Blue Loop

- Half Marathon: Pink Loop

- 10K BlueLoop

Printable Diablo Map Winter 2022

 

Juniper Campground A/S: PLEASE PARK IN THE LARGE PARKING LOT at the entrance of the campground. NOT IN THE CAMPGROUND. You will walk a 1/4 mile to the Aid Station. Very easy to get to but may be time consuming and expensive with the park entrance fee of $10-15. The park will charge you another $10 to enter from the North Gate or South Gate. Whichever you choose, they will both get you to Juniper Campground near both the Aid Station and the Beacon atop Mount Diablo. Plug in "South Gate Mount Diablo" or "North Gate Mount Diablo for Directions to each entrance. Use park provided map or race provided map to drive 10 more miles (or 30 minutes) up to the top from the entrances. It will take an hour to drive around the mountain to see them at the aid station you want to drive, so please allow enough time.

Full Aid Station (Juniper Campground)  consists of H20, FLUID Electrolyte Drink, Coke, Ginger Ale, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Bananas, Tangerines, and GU gels. Snack Pack assortments including lays potato chips, trail mix, Rice Krispy Treats, Assortment of cookies and crackers. We will also have a limited supply Gels and chews.

Summit Aid Station will be Water and Gel only. The full aid station is less than 2 miles away 

Crew  Information
- Crews are allowed and welcomed on the course.

Drop & Finish line Bags
All Runners may leave a drop bag at Start Finish Aid Station. Please put name on it. Number not necessary as we have a small field. All runners may leave drop bags at the Finish Area of Mitchell Canyon Start/Finish area with any personal needs. Please note we will provide an area and do our best to safeguard them. We will not be responsible for the loss of personal items due to theft or misplacement.

Woof Alert
- Park Policy: No dogs allowed on course.
- PCTR & Park Policy: Dogs are allowed at the start/finish line area and must be on a 6-foot leash and under control at all times.

Hikers Welcome
- Hikers are welcome! We kindly ask all hikers are trained and select a distance that reflects their ability to complete the course within the cut-offs and/or time limits.

Blind Athletes & Sighted Guides
Since 2018, PCTR has embraced visually impaired and blind athletes. We add a question to registration so that we can fully prepare for your race and sighted guide with proper race bibs. If you need a "Guide Runner", please email us at help@thetrailportal.com

Awards
- All finishers will receive a handmade wooden medal by Elevation Culture.
- Age group awards to be presented to the top 3 male and females in each of the following categories:
- 12 and under
- 13 to 16
- 17 to 19
- 20 to 29
- 30 to 39
- 40 to 49
- 50 to 59
- 60 to 69
- 70 +

If you would like to change distance, please do so by emailing us at help@thetrailportal.com at least 72 hours before the event. We assign event distance specific bibs with timing transponder at this time and it makes the event less complicated for you, volunteers, and Team PCTR.

Shall you want to change distances on race day, then you must notify us prior to the event starting. All entrants who change distance during the event will earn a finisher medal. However, you will not be eligible for "Overall Standings & Age Group" awards. For example, if you entered the Headlands 100 mile event and stopped after two 25 mile loops, then you will be given your finisher medal and credited with an "Unofficial Finish". Similarly, if you enter the Headlands 50 Mile race and decide after two loops that I want to continue on and finish 100 miles, then you will earn a finisher medal or in this case a belt buckle. But, it will be termed an "Unofficial Finish" in your ultrasignup.com rankings. The reason this is done is to prevent other runners from being pushed out of a podium finish, overall standings position, or age group award because someone decided that they wanted to run a different distance during the race. This is the ultrasignup.com terminology commonly used in running and racing events.

WITHDRAWING: No Refunds, Transfers, or Rollovers
Entry fees associated with Pacific Coast Trail Runs Events are non-refundable, non-transferable, and we do not provide rollovers to future events. The amount of time and expense that goes into a PCTR event is high. Contracts, permit fees, awards, shirts, insurance, food/beverage and all things associated with your event happen a long time before your race day. Surely, if many of you wanted a refund because you got injured, become sick, have to attend a family function or your babysitter fell through, then all trail running companies would be out of business. We also do not transfer entries for numerous reasons including liability. You are not allowed to sell or give your bib to someone else. If we find out about this, we will ban you from our events. We do, and will provide race credits for a future PCTR event (less runsignup.com registration fees) shall something come up that prevents you from attending the event you paid for. Please see our Race Credit Policy.

PCTR has a very friendly race credit policy. With some of our races requiring signing up well in advance, we understand that life happens and you may be prevented from attending the event. Here are the days of notice we require you to provide us shall you want to withdraw and earn PCTR race credits for a future event.

- 45 plus days from the event date = 100% PCTR Race Credits
- 15 to 44 days from the event date = 50% PCTR Race Credits
- 14 days to 72 hours from the event start time = 25% PCTR Race Credits

Consider Volunteering to earn race credits. By volunteering, you can earn up to 100% of your entry and more depending on how many hours you volunteer.

Race credits are required to be used within one year from the time you earned them. This means you need to have signed up for an event by the one year date, not necessarily have completed the event. You also, also cannot extend the credits shall you sign up for a race and need to withdraw again. Race credits are not transferable to anyone but yourself.

Race Fees associated with Runsignup, our registration provider, at the time of your registration are not included in your Race Credits.

Runners, their families, crews, volunteers and Team PCTR safety is our first priority. Pacific Coast Trail Runs events will run come rain or shine, with the exception of park closures, threatening or extreme weather conditions. When conditions present a danger to our runners, their families and our volunteers. PCTR maintains the right to cancel or postpone the start of each of the events. Parks may also shut down the event if the trail or weather conditions are so bad that first responders will also be challenged.

If any event is cancelled less than 24 hours prior to the official start time, all participants will be notified via email that you provided in your registration, and the information will be posted on our Facebook page.

PCTR reserves the right to move the event to another venue, change the course & start time, cancel, and/or reschedule the event. PCTR will always try to reschedule before cancelling an event. Shall the event be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, and not rescheduled, then we will offer race credits to a future PCTR event to be used in one year.

Threatening weather conditions at PCTR events may be cancelled or delayed if any of the following weather conditions exist: Fire Danger, Poor Air Quality (Air Quality Index (AQI) >150 = Unhealthy), Flash Flood Watch, Extreme Thunderstorms, Tsunami Warnings, and lightning in the vicinity of the race.

The Race Director, in accordance with the Land Managers, City, County, the State of California, and the National Park Service, has the authority to cancel the event. If threatening weather conditions force cancellation of the events, no refunds will be provided, since funds were already spent in preparation for race day. However, if the race is cancelled outright and not rescheduled than 100% of race credit value (less ultrasingup.com registration fees) will be provided to use at a future event in one year from the time earned.

Notification of cancellation will be done as early as possible. You will be notified via the email address you used when registering for this event. We will also post updates on our Facebook page regularly: https://www.facebook.com/pacificcoasttrailruns/

Volunteer Policy
- Earn $10 in PCTR Race Credits for every hour worked. (For example: 4 hrs = $40; 3.5 hrs = $35, etc.)
- Volunteer 8+ hour shift and earn $40 bonus credits for event.
- Earn 2X Credits for bad weather volunteering in rain.
- Earn 2X Credits from 8pm to 6am. (Headlands & Night Sweats Only)
- Receive the coveted PCTR "Go Run a Trail!" shirt. *Must volunteer a minimum of 5 hours to get the shirt. If you already have too many of these shirts and want a race shirt instead, then come by the finish line tent to see if we have any more in your size.
- Enjoy a meal from our Post Race Food Chef Team.
- You will not earn credits for volunteering unless you sign up to volunteer.
- If you sign up to volunteer and bring one or more friends with you to volunteer (who have not signed up), then they will not earn credits.
- If you are entered in an event and bring a friend or family to help volunteer a few hours or more, then you can earn their credits for another race... that is if they don't run. ??
- All credits must be used in one year from the time earned or they will expire.

If you are unable to participate in the event you paid for and miss the 45-day or 15-day withdraw notification window because you are unable to run due to whatever reason, then consider volunteering to earn race credits. By volunteering at the intended event or another event within 30 days before your event, you can earn up to 100% of your entry and more depending on how many hours you volunteer. Email PCTR at Volunteer Here

 

1. Trail running is a very special sport that shares trails with the public including hikers, bikers, horses, and even dogs. Please be kind to all. Because we have a permit and you paid for the event, does not give you more right of way than others. Please be courteous of others and share the trails as you would a store aisle at your neighborhood store.
2. Absolutely no littering. "Leave No Trace."
3. When passing a runner announce yourself politely by saying ""May I please pass? or "On your left please."
4. All runners must wear bib on front of person. (Not on your back, pack, hat, butt, or calves).
5. Downhill Runners have the right of way. Uphill runners and hikers, please keep your head up
6. If you quit before or during the event, then you must turn in your bib and/or notify a race official at the start line or aid station when applicable.
7. Volunteers give up their time to make your day special, so please thank them many times over.

We pledge to support clean sport by inviting to athletes to compete at our events who are committed to training, racing and living clean and not inviting athletes to compete who have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. We are in favor of random drug testing, especially when there is prize money offered at the event. Our organization also chooses to not work with coaches and agents that have athletes that are currently working with athletes that have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. We understand we have a responsibility to protect a level playing field and we will be role models in the community as ambassadors and advocates for clean sport. We pledge to honor clean sport by inviting and supporting clean athletes at our races.

photographer and Participant photo uploads