Sports Poll
 
Which AP top-five team do you want to win the BCS title?
Alabama
 
(16%)
Ohio State
 
(20%)
Boise State
 
(45%)
Florida
0%
Texas
 
(20%)
Total Votes:51

Thank you for voting in this poll.

This poll is closed.

Past Polls
   Top Sports
 
   Opinion
 

 Letters: Many hours of meetings, hard work finally got the job done
Aug 30, 2010
 
 Principles are key to good candidates
Aug 30, 2010
 
  More Opinion...
   

SPORTS > HEALTH AND FITNESS


'Challenging' race makes its 33rd running
Aug 21, 2008
 By Scott J. Adams - Sports Editor

Photo by: File Photo
When asked why the Mount Madonna challenge has lasted more than three decades, South Valley Running Club president Allan Abrams didn't know where to begin.

"There are a lot of reasons, I guess," Abrams said. "It's a long challenging trail run, it's scenic - Mount Madonna is absolutely beautiful - and funds go to a good cause."

The 12-kilometer challenge drew more than 110 participants last year and is expected to bring in more Saturday, when the event makes its 33rd annual running at the Sprig Lake picnic area of Mount Madonna County Park off Highway 152.

The challenge starts at 9 a.m. - a half hour after the start of the six-kilometer Salamander Run & Walk, also at Sprig Lake. The South Valley Running Club presents both races.

Registration can be done online at www.active.com or before the race, starting at 7:30 a.m. It costs $30, with proceeds going toward the club's annual scholarships for Morgan Hill and Gilroy prep runners.

"We start planning this thing in April and we really look forward to it," said Abrams, who's this year's race director. "I've actually only done the longer race once, and it was just an awesome run with beautiful scenery and vistas. I wish I could run it every year."

With an elevation gain of 1,100 feet, the challenge is done on a 7.2-mile loop course, winding through troves of oak, sycamore, manzanita and redwood trees. It's South County's only trail run, Abrams said.

"It doesn't have much compe"It doesn't have much competition," he joked. "That might be because it's so challenging. Runners love challenges."

Awards will be given to the top finishers of each age group, as broken down into 10-year increments.

Like the challenge, the salamander race is no picnic. The first half of the course is all uphill, rising as high as 700 feet. The rest is downhill - but not as easy as it sounds.

"It still burns up your legs," said South Valley Running Club member Joe Green, who directed the event last year. "It's way too steep to call 'nice.' It's still fun to do, though."

Scott J. Adams
Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.

POST A COMMENT

If you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form.

blog comments powered by Disqus

Add to Google Add to My Yahoo!  Email This Article  Print
 Sports: Health and Fitness
DIRTY LEGS SERIES: Locals riding wins into Series finale
Aug 23, 2010
 
MH MARATHON: Plans for city's biggest distance race proceeding smoothly
Aug 6, 2010
 
TRIATHLON: Wolfpak dominates Event 2 of USA Productions Challenge
Jun 22, 2010
 
DIRTY GEARS SERIES: Thomases, Boulbol win Event 3
Jun 16, 2010
 
 Sports: Golf Tips
DELO: Call-in officials are ruining golf
Aug 27, 2010
 
DELO: Avoid the dreaded 'drop-kick' shot
Aug 20, 2010
 
LEONE: Take the right amount of time before shots
Aug 14, 2010
 
DELO: Do you pull your shots?
Aug 13, 2010
 
 Sports: Outdoors
GETTING OUT: Wait until spring to venture into East Bay
Sep 1, 2010
 
GETTING OUT: Innovation taking load off backpackers' shoulders
Aug 25, 2010
 
GETTING OUT: Old mining camps are at least nice to visit
Aug 18, 2010
 
GETTING OUT: Finding solace in nature
Aug 11, 2010
 
More Health and Fitness... More Golf Tips... More Outdoors...


 Obituaries

 Jasmine Costa
4/24/1982 - 8/27/2010

 Lorraine Mendoza
8/8/1918 - 8/28/2010

 Gloria Armijo Perez
10/11/1928 - 8/26/2010

 Margaret B. Barrett
12/26/1922 - 8/24/2010

 Betty Frances Heinberg
7/28/1921 - 7/11/2010

 Diane Carmel Barbaria
8/22/1938 - 8/10/2010

 Richard L. Goodrich
12/7/1929 - 8/2/2010

 Walter Walley
10/31/1926 - 8/4/2010
 Photos
News
     
Sports
     
Special Events
     
Full Pages
     
 Videos
Gilroy Garlic Festival: City vs. City Challenge
Jul 26, 2010
 
Firefighters battle Paicines helicopter fire
Jun 23, 2010
 
MH man found dead in burnt home
Jun 18, 2010
 
Lessons learned from Cinco de Mayo
Jun 8, 2010
 
Morganhilldining
 Most Wanted
 
More Obituaries... More Photos... More Videos...
Advertise | Contact Us | Subscriber Center | RSS Feed
Copyright © 2010 | MainStreet Media Group | All rights reserved.