The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman The Inaugural Big Alta 100k Preview Show | Course, Conditions, & Contenders
Mar 19, 2026
A lively preview of the Big Alta 100K course, from Cavallo Point through coastal climbs to the long Mount Tam ascent. Discussion of the brutal 13,000ft profile, nine major climbs, and the decisive 8-mile, 3,000ft crux. Weather, heat strategies, aid station and crew logistics get practical attention. A rundown of top contenders and intriguing dark-horse picks rounds out the race build-up.
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Marin County In One Signature Route
- The Big Alta 100K stitches together nearly all iconic Marin County trails in one point-to-point route.
- The course is 62 miles with ~13,000ft of climbing across nine distinct climbs, effectively traversing Marin south to north and hitting many famous spots.
Race Is Heavily Front Loaded On Climbing
- The race is front-loaded on vertical gain with Mount Tam marking the halfway point.
- First 50K to the summit contains ~8,000ft of climbing while the second half has ~5,000ft, so fatigue will concentrate early.
Start Easy Then Target Mount Tam Move
- Pace conservatively through the first 20 miles and save effort for the long Mount Tam climb and the downhill after it.
- Target staying controlled on punchy early climbs, then choose a sustainable push up Mount Tam and avoid overdoing the descent into the watershed.