Now officially known by it's longtime moniker - the Woodmonster - this race is best known for the eponymous 700' climb that comes around halfway through. But it has plenty of other noteworthy attributes!

The rest of the course is plenty tough - especially the mile you'll spend on French Trail (my favorite trail in Redwood) and the subsequent plunge down Orchard Trail. You'll also be neck-and-neck with competitors of all ages throughout the race, owing to the Dipsea-style handicapped start times. If you're a man in his 30's like me, you'll have to wait 34 minutes for your start time - plenty of time to warm up!

Woodmonster doesn't have the spectacular bay views of Tilden Tough Ten, but it has plenty of shade thanks to the redwoods, live oaks and bay laurels that fill the canyon. Those new to the area should look for redwood "cathedrals" that grow in circles around the stumps of old-growth trees.

Woodmonster also offers finisher shirts with a cool hex-style tech fabric. It's now my favorite running shirt. Pretty amazing for a race that'll only cost you $35 ($25 for LMJS members). Finish line snacks and aid stations are basic, but who needs to eat during a sub-9 mile race?

Tips:
-There is plenty of parking near the start line, but it's paid. Bring some cash to pay at the gate, or give yourself some extra time to park outside and walk in. Better yet, carpool. You can take a rideshare there, but there is no cell service at the start line so you'll need some help getting back.
-Due to the handicapping system, if you're fast or even fast-ish you'll need to do a lot of passing on narrow trails. Practice good trail etiquette - ask if you can pass and wait for a response before going. This isn't Dipsea; don't cut switchbacks or go off the course. It's not a closed course so be prepared for hikers, bikers, and even horseback riders.

After a somewhat disappointing introduction to the distance in my hometown, I wanted my second marathon to be something iconic - and what's more iconic than "running along the ragged edge of the western world?" I entered the last chance lottery on a whim and got selected!

BSIM absolutely delivered. Every second of the race felt iconic, from the 4am bus ride (I made a friend!) to the handful of celebrities running the race (I'm faster than NPR's Peter Sagal!) to the snarky mile markers, on-course live music, and of course the stunning views of the craggy Big Sur coast (and that bridge that Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern are always driving over). I can see how people, many of whom live nowhere near Big Sur, do this race year after year.

Tips:
-This of course is your prerogative, but if you're a middle-of-the-packer like me I'd recommend taking the race at a somewhat slower pace than marathon effort. You aren't going to set a PR here, so why not slow down and enjoy the views?
-There's no mimicking what running along Highway 1 feels like, so just try to get some rolling hills and a couple of sustained climbs in your training runs. Personally I didn't find the elevation to be too difficult - 2000' would be a lot for a half-marathon but it's actually not much for a marathon.
-I recommend booking a hotel right away if you get a spot, this is a huge race and hotels in the Monterey Peninsula can fill up. I was happy with our B&B in Pacific Grove but it was on the pricey side. Check the website and see where the buses pick up from before you book - you can't drive to the start line.
-The weather in 2019 was great, but April on the Central Coast can bring anything from heat waves to downpours - be prepared. You can always stash whatever you don't need in your drop bag. You might also want to bring some reading material on the bus with you - the ride is about an hour long and you'll be waiting there for another hour or so.

I'm proud to day I've run this race since it first began in 2017! Oakland knows how to host a fun race, and 2018 brought several improvements.

If you live around here, you might be a little surprised this race is only in its second year - Lake Merritt makes for the perfect setting for a 5K loop in downtown Oakland. But the race organizers are total pros, offering tons of social media promotions and four different packet pickups! Even race day packet pickup was a breeze, and the swag was great. Every bib had the runner's first name on the front, and the shirts are nice cotton t-shirts I would totally wear in public - they're designed by Oaklandish! And I have never seen a finisher's medal like #FEASTMODE before.

2018 brought a few improvements over the first running of the OTT, in addition to the swag. In 2017, the race was partially routed over the relatively narrow Lake Merritt footpath, causing congestion issues I have come to expect during turkey trots. This year, the race was entirely on wide surface streets, actually allowing me to PR! And good thing - looks like they had over 2400 run this year.

Days before the race, the Bay Area was covered in thick smoke for over a week after the devastating Camp Fire burned in Butte County. But long-awaited rains on Wednesday brought clear skies on Thursday morning, allowing us to breathe comfortably as we circled the heart of Oakland. I can't help but think this is a good sign for Oakland Turkey Trot, a race that's all about community, family, hope and food.