Hundreds compete in 31st annual Way Too Cool run

Runners lined up on the starting line at 8 a.m. in Cool Saturday for the 31st annual Way Too Cool 50K Endurance Run. Over 800 runners of all skill levels, including a few international runners from several countries, joined the others on the starting line. Nearly 500 were competing in their first Way Too Cool run and 180 were running their first 50K run. The oldest runner, 85-year-old Manual Leverde, and the youngest, 17-year-old John Heaps, set a wide spectrum of experience and skill level. Auburn resident Bill Finkbeiner, 64, carries the distinction of being the only runner to compete in all 31 Way Too Cool runs as he lined up Saturday morning. Finkbeiner finished his 31st overall this year in 7 hours, 3 minutes, 45 seconds. Winning the race was Darren Thomas, 26, of Encinitas with a winning time of 3:18:04. The women's champion was Kimber Mattox, 31, of Bend, Oregon, finishing in a time of 3:49:57. The course is nearly all single-track trails with no two-way traffic, filled with breathtaking vistas along the way. The spectator-friendly course allows family, friends and supporters to find their runners at numerous places along the trail to provide moral support. Well-stocked aid stations staffed by volunteers provided beverages and nourishment. NorCal Ultra race director Julie Fingar said that this year's race was blessed with good weather. "The trails were dry this year," said Fingar midway through the run. "It has rained on us the last three years. We're lucky this year if the rain holds." After 31 years, the Way Too Cool 50K run is still a very popular race on many endurance runners' bucket list. "Athletes rush to register for Way Too Cool 50K every year," said Fingar. "We're talking about some of the best athletes in the world." 31st ANNUAL WAY TOO COOL 50K ENDURANCE RUN MEN 1 Darren Thomas, 26, Encinitas, 3:18:04 2 Justin Grunewald, 34, Minneapolis, MN, 3:21:16 3 Anthony Fagundes, 30, Fair Oaks, 3:22:06 WOMEN 1 Kimber Mattox, 31, Bend, OR, 3:49:57 2 Caroline Coble, 34, Mill Valley, 4:08:27 3 Lindsay Allison, 24, Boulder, CO, 4:12:20