Jail Break Run

I ran the Jailbreak 10k race in Dublin for the second year in a row. It takes place in Dublin near and around the Santa Rita jail and offers a 5k and kids run as well. The event benefits a great cause, the Special Olympics of Northern California. The race fee was $30 pre-registration and $35 for race day registration and included a t-shirt and limited post race snacks. Parking was easily accessible in the large parking lot for the jail. From the parking lot it was a short uphill walk to the running track where bib and t-shirt pick-up was set up. There were waivers that had to be signed and turned in to pick up race bibs, even if you pre-registered. I hope that next year they can incorporate the waiver into the registration form so you don't have to do the waiver on race day. The lines for pre-registered runners were fairly short but the line for same day registration was longer. T-shirt pick up was next to bib pick-up and went smoothly. It wasn't until I had walked back down the hill to the race start area that I noticed my bib and those of the other participants were old leftover bibs from other races that had already taken place. I have to admit that I was thoroughly disappointed with this. I can't and still don't understand why there weren't bibs made for the current race, especially since there was no mention of this at the race. I was expecting there to be an announcement that there had been a problem with getting the bibs but nothing was ever said. Maybe this is trivial but combined with the fact that the company organizing the race does not offer timing chips I need to seriously reconsider whether or not to participate in their future races. Back to the race. The start was a mass start with both 5k and 10k participants starting at 8am. The SWAT team lead the start, running in formation but were quickly passed by several runners. The route started by making a loop around the jail and just as we got back near the start area the route split the 5k and 10k runners. When I ran this race last year the split was not well delineated with no signs and just a person shouting out to the runners. Some people did not hear this person and followed the wrong route. This year there was again a person shouting out to runners but there was also signs making it clear that 10k runners were to go left and 5k runners to the right. After this split the route for the 10k went north before going up a hill.

This is the same hill that the SWAT team has to run in their training. It wasn't too steep but it was an impressive hill that climbed over a mile to the water tower. The trail on the hill was completely exposed so the overcast weather was much welcomed. Once at the top I made my way around the water tower before heading back down the hill. Passing through the start again the route went near the training center before joining Tassajara Creek Trail. I followed this trail for about a mile or so before returning on the street through a residential area. The course in this area had some slight uphills and downhills with few flat sections. Heading back toward the start was the finish line, with the 10k chute to the left and the 5k chute to the right. There were several water stations along the course and mile markers at every mile. There were chalked arrows along most of the route to help guide the runners on the correct path. Plenty of bananas, orange slices and water were on the running track postrace. The kids races followed, then race awards.  It was a good race course with good support but the race bibs and lack of timing chips was disappointing.

5k Results
10k Results