Paramount Ranch Trail Half Marathon & 10K

The Paramount Ranch Trail runs (3 distances to choose from — 10k, half-​marathon, and 30k) are put on by Keira Henninger. She is the race director for a number of so-​cal trail runs and you can always count on her team to put on a great event. Paramount Ranch is a great course for trail newbies — course isn’t very technical /​elevation gain is only around 1,300 feet. The course is very well marked, great aid stations, both pre and post race spreads are great. Really nice race goodies as well (got mug, tech t-​shirt, and medal).
Please check out her other races — they are all very well run /​great experience. As someone who is transitioning from road to trail races, you can’t find better races than hers in So Cal.

Play me while you read
On a frigid Saturday morning, fog has settled all around us. It is so cold, you could see every word spoken. The barn in the middle of the town has been designated as the place where all the runners will congregate.
Everyone is called up to the start line to begin the race. The gloomy sky above starts to crack and from behind a ray of sunshine pierces through the gray clouds. Those race day jitters are replaced with an uncontrollable anticipation. You can’t wait till that gun to pop and take off into the wilderness…
BOOM!
Shooting out of a Western town onto single tracts that seem to zipper up and over rolling hills as far as the eye can see. You zoom through archways of trees towards the open aired cliffside, where you are greeted by majestic mountains jutting out in the distant horizon across the valley’s green floor below.
You push yourself, not only for a personal time but to finish and see how far you have pushed your body to it’s very limits. You feel tired but mentally you remind yourself that if you put one foot in front of the other, you’re that much closer to the finish line. Covered in mud, sweat, and tears you can’t wait for this all to end but the scenery is too gorgeous to leave all behind. Greeted at the finish line is another shiny medal and accomplishment to add to your collection!
Keira Henninger is one of the country’s premier Race Directors and if you haven’t ran one of her races, sign up fast because they tend to sell out rather quickly.
Would I be back?
I could see myself back next year concluding a packed 2013 race schedule and sporting a new medal around my neck.

First of all, I love a good trail. I like being outside with nature. Why? Bc I grew up in Tennessee and spent most of my childhood outdoors getting down and dirty.
I’ve been training for LA Marathon for a while now and been road running a lot. So This trail race was such a refresher! It’s also my first trail race.
This race had mostly rolling hills, some steeper than others but nothing crazy. I personally love the Rosebowl trail and this mimics that but with more hills, more rocky terrain, longer, and WAY prettier. Race started at 7 and the fog was brilliant. The sun came out towards the last leg and the combination of that, nature and fog was gorgeous. Because of the rain prior to the race, the trail was pretty muddy. I felt like Big Foot shortly after the race started. Btw this half marathon course was two loops.
There were several water/​electrolyte stops throughout the race handed out by volunteers. One station had a yummy raspberry like flavor which was my fave.
Now lets go backwards, check in was easy and Keira provided yummy Trader Joes yummies like bagels, bananas, pumpkin butter, cream cheeses, pastries, and Starbucks coffee. The swag bag included some Naked Chapstick, cool tech shirt, and some snacks. When you finish the race, you get a badass medal and Keira knighted me personally. Naked was there to gimme some yummy coconut water. I also got a Subway egg and cheese sandwich.
Overall, I LOVED this trail and race. It’s more of an experience than a run with me trying To get a good time. I couldn’t resist the beauty Around me and stopped several times just to take a picture. I even talked to some nice people throughout the race that actually called me the «picture girl,» when they saw me at the finish. How did they know that people have been calling me that since HS?!! Haha. Also word on the streets or trails is that this is a light or moderate trail race of Keira’s. I’m definitely down to try one of her other ones!