September 21, 2013 6:30 AM

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 Here is the latest... 2013 early registration is now open for five-time finishers. New course for 2013. Note the new start time of 6:30AM.
See you on the trails!

Race Overview

   Welcome to the Noble Canyon 50k website. The Noble Canyon 50k is run each year in the beautiful mountains in east San Diego county. The race is run on National Forest land. Like last year, the 2013 course will start and finish at the Al Bahr Shrine Camp. The course connects with the Laguna trail system, goes down & then back up Noble Canyon, loops around the PCT, reconnects with the Lagunas, and finish back at the Al Bahr Shrine Camp. Some have described it as a lollipop shaped course. See the Race Details page for course change details.

   The Noble Canyon 50k was established by the San Diego Bad Rats, these experienced ultrarunners man each aid station. The Nobel Canyon 50k is managed and operated by Cliffs and Meadows LLC and is a USATF sanctioned event.

Latest News

  • We are excited to announce a new course for 2013! See the Race Details page and Maps page for details!
  • 2013 early registration is now open for five-time finishers. Contact the race director for details.
  • Online registration will begin June 1, 2013 at ultrasignup.com
  • Introducing the San Diego Ultra Slam: Since the creation of the Cuyamaca 100k last year, the RD's of San Diego's mountain ultra races have put together a special award for those runners who complete four races of each iconic ultra distance; 50k, 50 miles, 100k, and 100 miles. For more information click here:
  • Links to photo albums and race report now online
  • Congratulations to all the 2012 finishers. Complete results are now posted.
  • Al Bahr has again been secured for the 2013 race, scheduled for Sep 21, 2013. Registration will open June 1, 2013 8:00PM (note this is one month earlier). We will maintain a wait list and give partial refunds through Septmber 1, 2013 after which no refunds will be given.
  • Also note the 2013 race start time will be 6:30AM.

 


View from the Al Bahr start/finish venue (photo by Jeff Hooker)

Noble Canyon 50k - Sep 22, 2012
Race report by Brian Gonzales

 THE RAT RACE

            Summer 2012 in Southern California has been persistently hot. Just the weekend before this year's Noble Canyon 50k we saw temperatures between 100 and 108 throughout San Diego County. On race day, while the rest of the county scorched, we enjoyed an oasis of cloud cover and moderate temps up in the Laguna Mountains - a perfect day for running.

            After checking in and hanging out in the lodge at Al Bahr Camp, this year's field lined up behind the banner and waited for the countdown. The gun fired and 180 individual goals were put to task. After running through both campgrounds the runners quickly connected with the Laguna trail network. They ran mostly flat, smooth, single track trail until they connect with the Penny Pine checkpoint.

            Fabrice Hardel was not only going to clinch his five-year-finisher jacket but he also looked focused and looked like he was running to win. Entering Big Tree 1 Aid Station Dean Dobberteen stayed right on Fabrice's heels with Igor Campos only a minute behind.  The runners hammered fast and hard down the technical rocky downhill of Noble Canyon, leapfrogging for the lead.  At the Nobel Canyon Trailhead turnaround Fabrice traded bottles with his crew and headed back up the mountain. Dean and Igor quickly refilled, refueled, and ran the uphill as they again jockeyed for the win. Michael Alfred and David Lipke were right on the lead pack's heels.  Christophe Sigel who would eventually clinch 3rd place was 13 minutes behind the lead pack at the turn.

            Eventually Dean decided it was time to turn loose and break away from the pack. Dean fired up the furnace and clinched an exciting win in 4:15:06 with Igor Campos and Christophe Sigel rounding out the podium. Both 2010 champs repeated in 2012 as Margaret "Maggie" Nelsen won it for the woman and set a new course record for the woman in 4:54:57 with last year's champ Tracy Dimino taking second and Christy Baker taking third for the woman.

            The weather continued to cooperate as the rest of the field battled up the trail and into the finish. Shortly after leaving the Penny Pine 2 Aid Station you can see the finish line and hear the cheers across the highway to your right, but you still have about an 8 mile loop and a long climb ahead of you. At the same time you're treated to great vistas to your left. The only way to gain an official finish at the Noble Canyon 50k is to pucker up and kiss the rat.  This year's rat was kissed 160 times (88.8% finish rate).  

            The reason this has become such a popular race is because the of the San Diego Bad Rats and other volunteers that run all the aid stations. The participants enjoy the support of veteran and elite ultrarunners who do all they can to help the runners conquer the course and accomplish their individual goals.

            CongRATulations to all of this year’s participants.

 Brian Gonzales

 

 

 

 

2012 Champ's Dean & Maggie with RD Brian
(photo by Mary Gonzales)