Marin County’s Dipsea Trail stretches 7.4 miles and climbs 1,370 feet along the northern face of Mt. Tamalpais. Aim High fan John Rutledge ran it four times in five and a half hours – and turned this accomplishment into thousands of dollars of support for Aim High.
Every year, hundreds of runners converge on Mill Valley for the Quadruple Dipsea, an annual 29-mile ultramarathon along the trail that runs from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach through Muir Woods National Monument and Mt. Tamalpais State Park. The Dipsea Trail’s terrain varies from highway shoulders and parking lots to wilderness paths and a brutal climb of 671 steps. Though the highest elevation on the course is 1,370 feet, racers climb and descend more than 9,000 feet over the course of the race.
Before taking on the Quad Dipsea, John’s longest race had been the 7.4-mile single Dipsea, which he has run for the last 3 years. John has been running for just 5 years, starting the day his wife insisted that he join her for a trail run.
John had been interested in trying a marathon, but was not interested in switching to road running. Slightly longer than a marathon and traversing a familiar trail, the Quad Dipsea seemed like a good – if challenging – race to try.
Though it’s one of the shortest ultramarathons, the Quad Dipsea’s steep elevation changes, twisty trails and alluringly unmarked “shortcuts” make it one of the most treacherous. Many of the race’s 250 runners are professional or semi-professional athletes.
John was near the head of the pack for the first three-quarters of the race, remaining in the top 20. He finished in 5 hours and 20 minutes, just over an hour behind the winner.
To prepare, John trained three times a week in the Marin County hills near his Larkspur, CA home. He decided that the hours he was dedicating to training could also be used to help people, and set a goal to earn $10,000 in sponsorships for his run.
Aim High came to mind as the organization to support, Rutledge says, because of its balance of academics and environmental education. “I personally believe that there is a sense of calmness that you can only pick up in the outdoors, without the distractions of TV and shopping and work at home.”
Sharing the outdoors with youth and teaching environmental stewardship is a key component of Aim High’s summer program, which recently expanded its environmental sites to serve students in Oakland and the South Bay.
John hasn’t committed to running the Quadruple Dipsea again next year, preferring to focus on the most imminent outdoor challenge: conquering snow season with son Dylan, 5, and daughter Cassidy, 3.
He also plans to continue seeking support for Aim High. “I work in the financial services industry,” he says, “so my colleagues are feeling the financial crunch – but people gave! I think I’ve opened a lot of people’s eyes to the work that Aim High does.” As of this publication, John was about halfway to his $10,000 goal.
To John, the real outcome of the experience was driving home the point that you can do whatever you put your mind to.
“The first guy to finish was a professional runner who finished in just under 4 hours. The last guy to cross the finish line was 11 hours later – he was 82 years old. The question is, do you want to do it?”
From the archives: December 2008
Marin County’s Dipsea Trail stretches 7.4 miles and climbs 1,370 feet along the northern face of Mt. Tamalpais. Aim High fan John Rutledge ran it four times in five and a half hours – and turned this accomplishment into thousands of dollars of support for Aim High.
Every year, hundreds of runners converge on Mill Valley for the Quadruple Dipsea, an annual 29-mile ultramarathon along the trail that runs from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach through Muir Woods National Monument and Mt. Tamalpais State Park. The Dipsea Trail’s terrain varies from highway shoulders and parking lots to wilderness paths and a brutal climb of 671 steps. Though the highest elevation on the course is 1,370 feet, racers climb and descend more than 9,000 feet over the course of the race.
Before taking on the Quad Dipsea, John’s longest race had been the 7.4-mile single Dipsea, which he has run for the last 3 years. John has been running for just 5 years, starting the day his wife insisted that he join her for a trail run.
John had been interested in trying a marathon, but was not interested in switching to road running. Slightly longer than a marathon and traversing a familiar trail, the Quad Dipsea seemed like a good – if challenging – race to try.
Though it’s one of the shortest ultramarathons, the Quad Dipsea’s steep elevation changes, twisty trails and alluringly unmarked “shortcuts” make it one of the most treacherous. Many of the race’s 250 runners are professional or semi-professional athletes.
John was near the head of the pack for the first three-quarters of the race, remaining in the top 20. He finished in 5 hours and 20 minutes, just over an hour behind the winner.
To prepare, John trained three times a week in the Marin County hills near his Larkspur, CA home. He decided that the hours he was dedicating to training could also be used to help people, and set a goal to earn $10,000 in sponsorships for his run.
Aim High came to mind as the organization to support, Rutledge says, because of its balance of academics and environmental education. “I personally believe that there is a sense of calmness that you can only pick up in the outdoors, without the distractions of TV and shopping and work at home.”
Sharing the outdoors with youth and teaching environmental stewardship is a key component of Aim High’s summer program, which recently expanded its environmental sites to serve students in Oakland and the South Bay.
John hasn’t committed to running the Quadruple Dipsea again next year, preferring to focus on the most imminent outdoor challenge: conquering snow season with son Dylan, 5, and daughter Cassidy, 3.
He also plans to continue seeking support for Aim High. “I work in the financial services industry,” he says, “so my colleagues are feeling the financial crunch – but people gave! I think I’ve opened a lot of people’s eyes to the work that Aim High does.” As of this publication, John was about halfway to his $10,000 goal.
To John, the real outcome of the experience was driving home the point that you can do whatever you put your mind to.
“The first guy to finish was a professional runner who finished in just under 4 hours. The last guy to cross the finish line was 11 hours later – he was 82 years old. The question is, do you want to do it?”
Marin County’s Dipsea Trail stretches 7.4 miles and climbs 1,370 feet along the northern face of Mt. Tamalpais. Aim High fan John Rutledge ran it four times in five and a half hours – and turned this accomplishment into thousands of dollars of support for Aim High.
Every year, hundreds of runners converge on Mill Valley for the Quadruple Dipsea, an annual 29-mile ultramarathon along the trail that runs from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach through Muir Woods National Monument and Mt. Tamalpais State Park. The Dipsea Trail’s terrain varies from highway shoulders and parking lots to wilderness paths and a brutal climb of 671 steps. Though the highest elevation on the course is 1,370 feet, racers climb and descend more than 9,000 feet over the course of the race.
Before taking on the Quad Dipsea, John’s longest race had been the 7.4-mile single Dipsea, which he has run for the last 3 years. John has been running for just 5 years, starting the day his wife insisted that he join her for a trail run.
John had been interested in trying a marathon, but was not interested in switching to road running. Slightly longer than a marathon and traversing a familiar trail, the Quad Dipsea seemed like a good – if challenging – race to try.
Though it’s one of the shortest ultramarathons, the Quad Dipsea’s steep elevation changes, twisty trails and alluringly unmarked “shortcuts” make it one of the most treacherous. Many of the race’s 250 runners are professional or semi-professional athletes.
John was near the head of the pack for the first three-quarters of the race, remaining in the top 20. He finished in 5 hours and 20 minutes, just over an hour behind the winner.
To prepare, John trained three times a week in the Marin County hills near his Larkspur, CA home. He decided that the hours he was dedicating to training could also be used to help people, and set a goal to earn $10,000 in sponsorships for his run.
Aim High came to mind as the organization to support, Rutledge says, because of its balance of academics and environmental education. “I personally believe that there is a sense of calmness that you can only pick up in the outdoors, without the distractions of TV and shopping and work at home.”
Sharing the outdoors with youth and teaching environmental stewardship is a key component of Aim High’s summer program, which recently expanded its environmental sites to serve students in Oakland and the South Bay.
John hasn’t committed to running the Quadruple Dipsea again next year, preferring to focus on the most imminent outdoor challenge: conquering snow season with son Dylan, 5, and daughter Cassidy, 3.
He also plans to continue seeking support for Aim High. “I work in the financial services industry,” he says, “so my colleagues are feeling the financial crunch – but people gave! I think I’ve opened a lot of people’s eyes to the work that Aim High does.” As of this publication, John was about halfway to his $10,000 goal.
To John, the real outcome of the experience was driving home the point that you can do whatever you put your mind to.
“The first guy to finish was a professional runner who finished in just under 4 hours. The last guy to cross the finish line was 11 hours later – he was 82 years old. The question is, do you want to do it?”
