Tamalpa Runners

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The Tamalpa Runners, a Marin County, California based running club, comprises over 700 members of all ages and running abilities. Tamalpa was founded in 1976 by Kees Tuinzing and Don Pickett (1968 Dipsea Race winner, aka Mr. Dipsea).

Tamalpa Runners is dedicated to the proposition that not all runners are created equal, but everyone in the club can have a great time running. The club sponsors competitive racing teams, as well as offering group fun runs primarily on and around Mount Tamalpais. The club publishes a monthly newsletter, the Tamalpa Gazette, which chronicles club events, coaching tips, and race results.

Another Tamalpa institution is the Tamalpa Club Racing Series (TCRS), founded in 1983 as a series of low-key cross country running events. TCRS races are held every month except June (in honor of the Dipsea) and December (in deference to Tamalpa Christmas Party hangovers). The TCRS courses are a combination of various traditional courses in Marin County selected each year by the club's race directors.

[edit] The Dipsea

The Dipsea Race, first run in 1905 over the 7.1 mile Dipsea Trail from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach, is the oldest cross country race in the United States. The race takes place on the second Sunday in June every year. The venue is considered by many to be the most beautiful cross-country course in the world, with stairs and steep trails that also make it both grueling and treacherous. Its unique handicapping system has produced both men and women winners of all ages. It is a very popular event, attracting runners from around the globe, but because of safety and environmental concerns, the field is limited to 1,500. Tamalpa club members routinely dominate the event, often taking home a majority of the coveted black t-shirts awarded to the top 35 finishers.

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