Cool Moon Race Week

Weekly Newsletter

Monday, June 9, 2025

Dear Ascend Runners,

It’s race week—and we’re nearly there. Whether you’re lining up for the Half Marathon, 25-Miler, 50-Miler, or 100-Miler, or simply planning to support your teammates, this week is a celebration of your commitment, consistency, and the strength of our community.

Cool Moon is not your typical race. It’s welcoming, low-key, and intentionally built to support runners of all backgrounds and paces. With generous cutoffs for all distances (except the 100-mile), a well-marked course, and experienced, friendly aid stations, this is one of the most inclusive trail events in the region. Make no mistake, though—this course will challenge you. And we can’t wait to take it on together.

The Ascend Trail Running Team

This Week’s Group Runs

Wednesday, June 11 – Community Shakeout
Location: Skyhawk Park Community Trail, Santa Rosa
Time: 5:45 PM
Distance: ~2.5 miles
Parking: Free street parking available near Skyhawk Park

We’ll keep things short and relaxed with a 2.5-mile shakeout. This is designed to keep your legs moving and your body feeling ready—without introducing any fatigue. Expect an easy pace, some light dynamic warm-up work, and time for Q&A at Ausiello’s Homeslice if you have final prep or race-day questions.

Race Weekend: Cool Moon Trail Races

Location: Cool Staging Area, 7200 Saint Florian Ct, Cool, CA
Dates: Saturday & Sunday, June 14–15
Start Times:

100 Miler, 100K: Saturday, 5:00 AM
50-Miler, 25-Miler: Saturday, 7:00 AM
Half Marathon (13.5-Mile): Sunday, 7:00 AM
11.5-Mile: Sunday, 7:15 AM
5K: Sunday, 7:30 AM

Packet Pickup Options:

Friday, June 13: 2:00–6:00 PM at Cool Staging Area
Race Morning: 3:45–7:00 AM (Saturday), 5:30–7:15 AM (Sunday)

Crew & Community Tent
Ascend will host a team tent at the start/finish area, offering a centralized spot to gather before and after races. We’ll have chairs, coolers, and supplies to help support runners and crew throughout the weekend. Our friends at Healdsburg Running Company (HRC) have generously provided a care package including nutrition products, Squirrel’s Nut Butter, and cowbells for those planning to crew or cheer on fellow runners.

Even if you’re not racing, consider coming out to support. Two Ascend athletes are attempting the 100-mile distance, and your presence can make a meaningful difference, especially in the later miles.

Course Notes

Cool Moon follows a two-loop course through the Auburn State Recreation Area:

North Loop (~13.5 miles): The more technical and exposed of the two, featuring longer climbs and varied terrain.
South Loop (~11.5 miles): Slightly shorter and more runnable, though still with sections of singletrack and mixed footing.

Runners completing the 50-mile distance will alternate: North → South → North → South. 100-milers do that same sequence twice.

Aid stations are located approximately every 2–5 miles and are well stocked with water, Hammer Nutrition, ice, soda, snacks, and other trail staples. The course is clearly marked—follow the flags and signage, not your watch.

Final Tip: Focus on Execution

By race week, your training is complete. Now the emphasis shifts to execution—doing the small things well and staying grounded. A few reminders:

Prepare your gear and race kit early in the week
Prioritize consistent sleep leading into the weekend
Stick with familiar foods and hydration strategies
Review the course maps and aid station locations
Check in with your crew (if applicable) to align on logistics
Be conservative early—give yourself time to find your rhythm

No matter the distance, racing on trails is dynamic. Stay calm, stay steady, and adapt as needed. Support your fellow runners and enjoy the unique atmosphere this event offers.

Plan Your Race with UltraPacer

If you haven’t already, consider using UltraPacer to build your personalized race-day pacing plan. It’s a free tool designed specifically for trail and ultrarunners, and it can help you map out expected arrival times at each aid station based on your finish time goal.

You can adjust for:

Aid station time
Heat-related slowdowns
Personal pacing tendencies (e.g., positive or negative splits)
Notes for crew or yourself at specific points

It’s especially helpful for those running longer distances—or for crew who want to estimate when and where to meet you. Below, you’ll find links to UltraPacer plans for each Cool Moon distance:

UltraPacer Link	Distance	Elevation Gain
Cool Moon 25	25 Miles	3597 ft
Cool Moon 50	50 Miles	7194 ft
Cool Moon 100	100 Miles	14,388 ft

Looking Ahead

After the race, we’ll take some time off to rest, recover, and celebrate. You’ve earned it. We’ll return in July with the start of our next full-length Ascend training program. Details will be shared soon.

Until then, best of luck this weekend. We’ll see many of you out there—on the course, at the tent, or at the finish line.

The Ascend Trail Running Team

Have Questions?

We’re here to help! Reply to this email, or reach out to us via ascendtrailrunning@gmail.com.