VIRTUAL RACE – “Hum Up Um”

Description:

The Trail Portal, Pacific Coast Trail Runs, and The Running Revolution are jazzed to kick off the 2nd annual Hum Up Um. This 7.8 mile journey from Bald Mtn Parking lot on Mt Umunhum Road to “The Cube” and back is one of our favorite courses to run. About the Cube atop Mount Umunhum (Home of the Ohlone Indians of California, means resting place of the hummingbird) is the fourth-highest peak in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains (after Loma Prieta, Crystal Peak, and Mt. Chual). The mountain is situated in Santa Clara County, south of San Jose. It is sometimes referred to as Mount Um by locals. Most of the mountain is within the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve.

The mountain is topped by an 8.5 story (84.5 feet tall) concrete radar tower (5 floors interior), known locally as “the Cube” or “the Box”. The tower was built in 1957 as part of Almaden Air Force Station, a radar surveillance post which operated from 1958 to 1980. The Cube, which housed an 85.5-ton AN/FPS-24 radar, was completed in 1962 and used to watch for hostile aircraft during the Cold War. Its signal put an electronic zip into every radio, TV and sound system within its 250-mile range on every rotation.

For more info, check out this video, bit.ly/VidStoryofUmunhum.

Open Course Trail Racing

WHAT IS OPEN COURSE TRAIL RACING?
Open Course Trail Racing is a new category of racing that was spawned by the creative energy of Pacific Coast Trail Runs. This new technology, developed with our partner PWRLab, enables race directors to produce events which provides runners with an experience that feels as close to “live” or “in-person” racing as possible. “Live/In-person Racing” is what you knew up until the pandemic. “Open Course” allows for you to run the actual course that was designed by the Race Director. You will run the course on your time, at your own pace, during the event time period in compliance with the local park rules.