Tamalpa Runners - Roger's Superbowl Run

2010 Race Info

by Jack Burns

Every year since 1986, club member Roger Gordon has hosted the Superbowl 7-Miler; a race open to all comers. The race is loosely handicapped based on gender, previous race performance, and one's ability to engender the sympathy of the handicapper. Setting the starting times also involves a lot of outright guesswork, as the results of each race tend to support.

But the questionable handicap system is part of what makes this race special. Without it no one would have anything to bitch about when they sign up and pay their modest entry fee. With runners taking off every minute for a half-hour, there doesn't seem appear to be any rhyme or reason as to why you are starting with the other people lined up with you. Very seldom does a runner believe they have been positioned fairly in the starting lineup. And while there are many people who are shocked that their handicap is so low, there are a number of runners who receive an overly generous handicap, usually in error. They are happy at first and then reality sets in as they are taunted by their fellow runners as being sandbaggers. Now they are afraid they will actually win the race and have to be subjected to even more abuse. This is all part of the fun, however.

The whole thing started while Roger was building his latest spec home on Hillside Avenue in Mill Valley. During breaks or after work he and fellow-Tamalpan Steve Ottoway would head out on the trails for some training runs in preparation for the Dipsea. In time, they had developed a "consensus" course that was seven miles long and included some pretty challenging terrain.

During these runs they talked about holding a handicapped race over their training loop. Then they had the bright idea to hold this competition on Superbowl Sunday, followed by a party at Roger's new house. The Superbowl 7-Miler was born. The start/finish was in the street in front of the house and following the race everyone moved inside for breakfast, swimming, awards, lunch, and the Superbowl on a big screen TV. The race was a success from the very beginning with 50 runners that first day.

As previously mentioned, the handicap system is an integral part of this zany race. There have been many handicappers since the race began including Steve Ottoway, George Frazier, Gordon Abbott, Mike Hoy, Dave Waco, Erland Jensen, Tim Amyx, and Janet Bowman. These folks had two things in common; they did not have the secret handicapping formula for this race, and they couldn't [easily] be bribed. Their resolve in both cases has been seriously tested. But regardless, once the runners line up and "GO!!!!", they abandon the playful abuse of the handicapper and concentrate on making the best of the hand they were dealt.

The Superbowl course is only seven miles long but is has the added difficulty of several MAJOR hills. Starting at Roger's house on Hillside avenue, the course proceeds for approx. a half mile before you take a left onto Elinor ave. and head to the bottom of Via Van Dyke (the steep driveway). Head up Via Van Dyke, and up some more to Blithedale Ridge and the trail system that will be your companion for the next five miles. Racers continue north on Blithedale Ridge negotiating a pretty steep downhill (the Big Ouch) to end up on Flat Crown Road somewhere over around Larkspur (above Baltimore Canyon). Now heading south, runners have a fast and flat 1.6 miles of fire road until they reach Huckleberry Trail. A right turn and you are heading uphill again for a little over half a mile to Corte Madera Ridge. Across the ridge Glen fire road is another welcome relief because it marks the beginning of some good downhill running and you are way past the half-way point of the race. This is the "cruiser" section.

Part way down Glen runners make a hairpin turn to the right onto Warner Canyon fire road and they follow that until it returns to Elinor ave., at the bottom of the Via Van Dyke driveway. From there runners retrace their steps and head for the finish line. By this time the low handicappers are starting to fly past the higher handicappers who have allowed themselves to imagine that they might actually win on this day, or at least place higher than usual. But no… these speedsters dash the hopes of the penguins and fly past to finish ahead.

This race is a blast for just about everyone who enters it. To have fun you want to be in shape, or at least think you are. If you want to win you should do really lousy in some of the races preceding the Superbowl, don't run with your friends, and complain about injury for a couple months before the race. And above all, you shouldn't take it too seriously. If you don't have a sense of humor, you may not have a good time. The Superbowl 7-Miler exemplifies the variety of opportunities and experiences we have for our amusement, especially if there are a couple of people around with devious minds to think them up.

Mark your calendars for Superbowl Sunday next year and come on out for a good time.

Note: This is a privately-run race, and the Tamalpa Runners have no official affiliation or sanction with this race or it's officials.