Granite Head Trails & Ale

Granite Head Trails & Ale is held at Granite Beach on Folsom Lake, California, on October 10, 2026. Two trail formats are offered: a Long Course of 18.7 km (about 11.6 miles) and a Short Course of 10.6 km (about 6.6 miles), with the event's name promising a beer at the finish.

Both distances are approachable and lean toward fun rather than suffering, which makes this a good pick for a group of friends or for anyone easing back into racing. The Short Course works as a first trail race or a hard tempo run, while the Long Course, a bit shy of a half marathon, suits runners who want a real effort on the lakeside trails without a long recovery afterward. Ten weeks of preparation is plenty: three runs per week, one of them on trails, a long run growing to 10 or 12 miles for the long course, and a few hill repeats to handle the rolling terrain around the lake. October in the Sacramento foothills is usually dry and can still be warm by late morning, so start hydrated and consider carrying a handheld bottle.