For those who like their half marathons with plenty of scenery, elevation and some outstanding wine tasting afterwards, be sure to put Saturday, July 6 down on your calendar for the 26th annual Hernia Hill Half Marathon at Twisted Oak Winery. Produced by On Your Mark Events, this race, as well as its popular post-race barbecue, has become a mid-Sierra area Fourth of July holiday weekend tradition — for both the locals and those who travel in from throughout California and Nevada.
Along with the half marathon, the Hernia Hill event also provides a 10K Run and 5K Run.
Brand new this year is the rubber chicken relay.
The relay will start at 8:15 a.m. and follow one 5K lap of the course. Teams of four people will hand off a special rubber chicken, as the baton. Prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
The Hernia Hill Half Marathon will be headquartered at the Twisted Oak Winery, in Vallecito (located between Angels Camp and Murphys, on Highway 4). The three courses feature a combination of hilly paved surfaces and packed gravel roads, which offer the beautiful views of the crest of the Sierra and nearby vineyards. All three distances will also go through the Twisted Oak barrel-aging cave.
Trophies given to half-marathon male and female winners, medals will awarded to the top three male and female half-marathon finishers, in each age group, as well as the Clydesdale division (men over 185 lbs., women over 150 lbs.) Top male and female 5K and 10K finishers, in their age groups, will be given medals as well.
The races will conclude with the awards barbecue lunch on the grounds of Twisted Oak Winery. Entry fee for the Half Marathon is: $40 advance and $45 race day, while the 5K and 10K races are $35 advance and $40 race day. The Rubber Chicken 5K Relay (team of four) is $30 pre-registered, and $35 on race-day.
Entry fee includes refreshments, T-shirt, awards, raffle ticket, wine tasting, and post-race barbecue lunch. The post-race barbecue is available to non-runners at $10 per person, $7 per non-participant child.
Twisted Oak Winery is at 4280 Red Hill Road in Vallecito, just off Highway 4 (between the towns of Angels Camp and Murphys. Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K races will start at 8 a.m., with the Rubber Chicken Relay beginning at 8:15 a.m. Event check-in and registration beginning at 6:30 a.m., with the awards barbecue following, between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
For more Hernia Hill Half Marathon information and/or an application contact On Your Mark Events at 209-795-7832 or visit their website. To register online, visit Active.com.
