An unusual (at least for this stage of the Anthropocene) late-May storm made for scary skies leading into the 2019 Tilden Tough Ten. The night before the race, I awoke several times to the sound of raindrops smacking into the roof of my apartment. This race was going to be Tough with a capital T.

Who would have guessed that the rain would have stopped by the time I got to the start line? I felt like a fool in my racing tights and jacket! In the interest of safety and environmental protection, the race organizers decided to replace the 2 miles on dirt trails with a double-back on Nimitz Way. I'm sure they caught plenty of flak for that decision, but it was absolutely the right call. And the race was still plenty tough.

I was happy to walk away with a coveted sub-80 shirt. To keep costs down (pre-registration is a bargain at $40 - $30 for LMJS members!), the race doesn't offer finisher medals or shirts. But I did get a sweet TTT buff with an awesome cow pattern! Aid stations and finish line snacks were basic, but you really don't need much for a 10-mile race.

Tips:
-Parking at Inspiration Point is very limited - you'll probably have to park on the street and walk to the start line unless you get there early. Consider carpooling or using a ride-sharing service.
-The course is unusual and challenging. It's an out-and-back with 80% on a paved (asphalt) trail and the middle 2 miles on a dirt fire road. Trail shoes are probably not necessary and the asphalt will shred your treads. Roughly 1000' of elevation change with most of that coming in the middle of the race. Just hard enough that getting that sub-80 shirt will be a test!