By Dick Sparrer
Traditional? Sure it is. Competitive? You bet. Easy? Not even close.
It's the Los Gatos Dammit Run, and it will return to town for his 23rd running on Aug. 17.
A competitive field is expected again this year for the traditional event. But one thing's for sure-- it's certainly no walk in the park. And anyone who has made the dusty climb to the face of Lexington Dam and back knows it.
Race organizers have indicated that they "are back on the old loop course" this year. And the 5-mile event promises to be just as competitive as it was a year ago when Kenrick Sealy outran Russell Hill of Sunnyvale to the finish line.
Sealy won the event in 27:39.60, finishing 10 seconds ahead Hill (27:49.10). Rick Roman of San Jose was third in 27:55.80.
As races go, this is a tough one. And race organizers caution Dammit entrants about the extreme conditions they may face on the trail with a warning printed right on the race flyer:
"This course is rough, rocky, dusty, with very steep uphill terrain and narrow trails," the race flier warns. "Don't underestimate its difficulty--this is not a race for the faint of heart or the timid."
The race will start tamely enough on the track at Los Gatos High School, and it will finish in the same location. But in between, runners had best be prepared for the rocky, dusty trip into the foothills to Lexington.
Runners will race down the trail next to Los Gatos High School's lower field, past the Old Mill and across Main Street to make the climb up to Lexington Reservoir. Runners will cross the face of the dam and head back down the hill to College Avenue, and race back to the finish line on the Los Gatos track.
Race-day registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., and the starting gun will blast at 8:30 a.m. Runners can pre-register at Athletic Performance, 55 W. Main St., or at the Runners Factory, 51 University Ave., through Aug. 15.
Awards will be given to the top 10 male and female finishers in the following divisions: open, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44 and 45-49. The top five male and female finishers in the 13-and-under, high school (ages 14-17), 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-and-over and heavyweight divisions will receive awards.
All finishers will receive ribbons, and the West Valley Track Club will provide computerized results.
The preregistration entry fee is $8 ($20 with a T-shirt), and the fee is $15 on race day ($30 with a T-shirt). T-shirts alone are priced at $15 and will be sold at the track on race day or in advance at Runners Factory and Athletic Performance. Proceeds from the Dammit go to benefit the Los Gatos High School Track Repair Fund.
For more information, call 354-7365 or 395-4311.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, August 7, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved