For 2024, we’re putting on 2 classic Old Goat races: Billy Goat in April & Saddleback Marathon in November. I am super pleased we have dates approved with enough time to get the word out (Billy Goat time is a bit short though). See below about the races, and please help get the word out. I also have a fundraiser, hoping to help a Kenyan runner travel here for one or both of these races (see more below).
April 6, 2024 Billy Goat Half Marathon Climb:
Billy Goat (with various adoptions of the name like: Billy Goat Hill Climb, Billy Goat 1/2 Marathon Mountain Climb, etc) is Steve Harvey’s (Old Goat) original race. Traditionally, it ran in June to commemorate Steve’s birthday. Traditionally, it was hot as hell. In 2024, we are still commemorating Old Goat’s birthday but just a bit earlier (I will certainly invite him out). The gnats will be fewer and the weather a tad cooler. We’ll probably see some spring flowers too!
Billy Goat 1/2 Marathon Climb is run on Indian Truck Trail in the Cleveland National Forest outside of Corona, California. It is an out-and-back on truck trail to the Main Divide. We’ll have aid about half way up and at the top (The Main Divide). “It Ain’t But One Hill,” as Old Goat originally dubbed. With Fires and Covid, its been more than a few years since this race was run.
November 9, 2024 The Saddleback Marathon:
This race is my all time favorite, even more so than Calico Trail run, and that’s saying something – I ran Calico 10 times (I think. Maybe it was 9). This race was originally put on by Big Baz (Baz Hawley) and then later Old Goat (Steve). We (OnTheRun) ran it in 2019 and 2023 (re-routed). With fires and Covid, it’s been challenging keeping this awesome race on the books.
In 2024, we are back to the original course (Baz’s), with trail work scheduled completion in summer 2024. We’ve also kept Old Goat’s half option, which goes up the infamous West Horsethief! The course is short of an actual marathon (about 2 miles) but I promise, you won’t feel it.
Get a glimpse of the course here (it’s a little bumpy & blurry):
Anderson lives in lives in a rural town about ten miles south west of Nakuru, Kenya. He emailed last September 2023, requesting an invite to the Saddleback Marathon. With an invite Anderson could apply for a visa with the embassy for the purposes of running races. Why is this important to Anderson? There is little to no employment in Kenya. Running races outside of his country offers him a higher standing in Athletics Kenya which could eventually attract sponsors and possibly a running career in his country.
We sent a Billy Goat 1/2 marathon invite to Anderson and his running friend Evans. After confirming race records, passports and conducting basic online research, I set up a fundraiser in my name hoping to help Anderson get here. If you interested in helping, please see the link below. Any amount is greatly appreciated – small amounts add up!
We hope to see Anderson and his friend Evans this April (or November for Saddleback, if we can).
Read more about Anderson’s fundraiser here
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