Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day 50K

General Information

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is an unofficial, non-organized trail run on March 7, 2026. It offers three distance options:

• 50K (32 miles) with approximately 10,900 feet of elevation gain.
• 18 Miler (30K) with approximately 6,035 feet of gain.
• Puppy Run (10 miles) with over 3,000 feet of gain.

The event is based at the Limekiln trailhead near Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos, California. It centers on repeats of a local, steep climb called Dogmeat (the upper part of the Priestrock trail), which gains about 1,000 feet in 1.5 miles. The 50K requires 10 repeats, the 18 Miler requires 5 repeats, and the Puppy Run requires 2 repeats.

There is no official start time, registration fee, or registration process. Participants may appear and start running at any time on that Saturday, though a small group may gather for a brief talk at 7:30 AM.

Course and Participation Details

Participants are fully responsible for their own safety, navigation, food, water, and decisions. They must carry their own supplies to the saddle at the Priest Rock junction to self-crew. Pacers, poles, and well-behaved dogs are permitted. There is no official support or extraction for those who do not finish; participants must return to their cars on their own.

The only recorded result is based on completing the required Dogmeat repeats, verified via a public Strava segment file for the event day. There are no prizes, awards, medals, shirts, or swag. The event is non-profit, and any financial contributions are suggested as donations to Healing Hounds Dog Rescue or the Bay Area Ridge Trail.

Logistics

Parking at the Limekiln trailhead is limited. Carpooling or using the paid parking lot by Lexington Reservoir is recommended, followed by a 0.6-mile walk to the trailhead. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.