Running News Daily

Two world bests set at the 9th Annual Golden Gate Double 8k today August 6

We had an amazing morning in San Francisco for our 9th annual Golden Gate Double 8k (5k+break+3k) and our Golden Gate 10k/5k.   We had 452 registered runners.  The weather was perfect.  Like in the 50-60’s with hardly any wind.  And we could see the GG bridge the whole time.  

Congrats to our Double winners: the current king of the Double Anthony Cortes clocked 25:20 (15:52 + 9:28) for the win.  14-yearly-old Caroline Chang did her first double today and won clocking 32:03.

There were two world bests set today.  71-year-old Suzanne Koonce (second photo) from Menlo Park, California smashed the current 70  plus record set by Sharlet Gilbert of 43:38.  Suzanne clocked 41:48 today.  

Bobby Hastings of Chico, California set the record for 60-69 a couple of years back of 31:39, a time that was nearly two minutes ahead of everyone else.  Today he focused on beating that time and he did clocking 31:29.

The next double racing event is set for Dec 16th in Palo Alto California. The featured event, the Double 15k (10k+test+5k) will be run.  There will also be the Palo Alto 10k/5k and the Bob Anderson’s one mile kids run (kids 13 and under).

Anthony Cortes won his third official Double Racing event over the last eight months

Anthony Cortes (first photo) from Half Moon Bay, California won his third straight Double Racing event August 7 in San Francisco.  He clocked 25:21 for the Double 8k.

Double racing veteran Jose Pina was just 23 seconds behind in second place.  Anthony had won the 5k (15:59)  and Jose did close the gap by four seconds running at 4:59/mile pace but not enough to over take Anthony.  Times from the two legs of a Double are added together for scoring.

Participants in the Double 8k first ran 5k at 8:20am and then 3k at 9:35am.  The runner (male and female) who wins the first leg wears the yellow jersey in the second leg so everyone knows who they need to beat in the second leg.

In the female division 14-year-old Evey Powell (second photo with her mom in red cheering her on) from England blew away the field clocking 30:31. 7th best time ever. Her 12-year-old sister won the open 5k clocking 22:05 earlier in the day.

71-year-old Sharlet Gilbert from Richmond, California clocked 44:29 to win the 70 plus division.  This is the second fastest time for this divison.  She set the record in 2021 clocking 43:38 on the same course.

The best time ever for the Double 8K was clocked Sept 6, 2015 in Nyahururu, Kenya.  17-year-old Eligah Kariuki from Kenya posted 23:33.  Kristen Rohde (USA) holds the women's record clocking 27:34 in Palo Alto, Califonria Feb 19, 2017. 

At most Double Racing events there are also open races.  At this recent event there was also the Golden Gate 10k and 5k run/walk.

Nina Zarin’s from Arlington Va was the overal winner in the Golden Gate 10k clocking a blistering 35:59. First male was Noah Gonzalez clocking a solid 37:36.

18-year-old Dominic Robles won the Golden Gate 5k clocking a fine 16:54.

"What a fun morning we had in San Francisco August 7. The weather was perfect for our sold out field," said race director Bob Anderson.

This was an official Double Racing event sanctioned by the Double Road Race Federation (DRRF) which was founded in 2010 when the sport was created.  Over 150 events have already been held in six countries.  

There are four official Double Racing events: Double 5k (3k+break+2k), Double 8k (5k+break+2k), featured event Double 15k (10k+break+5k) and Double 21k (15k+break+6k).  Stats, records and more details can be found on the website DoubleRoadRace.com 

The next Double Racing events scheduled are: Palo Alto Californiua Dec 17 (Double 15k), Brisbane California (Double 15k) March 2023 and Golden Gate August 6, 2023.

"If you would like to set up an official Double Racing event get in touch," says Double Racing creator Bob Anderson. 

My Best Runs is the official sponsor of the DRRF.

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oollee Water Provider will be the official water supplier for the fifth annual Golden Gate Double 8K, UjENA 5k and Golden Gate 10k events being held August 4 in Crissy Field across from Sports Basement in San Francisco.

oollee Water Provider located in Menlo Park, California says "Drink your water clean, fresh and free of harmful additives and impurities using oollee services.  Limitless clean water in your home every single day."

"We are excited to welcome oollee as our official water provider," says race director Bob Anderson.  oollee will also be awarding the male and female 10K winner one of their water purifier system valued at $2199 each. 

The Golden Gate 10K, UjENA 5K and DOUBLE 8K (5K+3K) courses offer unparalleled views of the Golden Gate Bridge for more than 80% of the course! The course will begin on historic Crissy Field near the Presidio in San Francisco.  Runners will enjoy the gorgeous vistas of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

These races sponsored by Sports Basement are competitive and fun events.  A special Golden Gate finishing medal will be awarded to all 10K and 5K finishers. The featured event is the Golden Gate Double 8K.  Participants will race a 5K at 8am, take a break and then race 3K at 9:15am.  Times are added together for scoring. 

"Double Racing was started in 2010 and nearly 100 events have been staged already," says creator Bob Anderson. 

"If you have not done a Double, you need to experience it," says Lisa Wall social media director for My Best Runs.  "I have run several and I really like the unique aspect of the event."

The event is almost sold out and most likely will be within the next few days. 

70-year-old Bob Anderson will be running his 60th Double Racing Event on August 5

Bob Anderson ran his first "official" Double Racing event in October, 2010,  "That was the Double Road Race in Cabo Mexico," says 70-year-old lifetime runner Bob Anderson. 

"It was very hot and humid and the second 5k leg was tough but I did it."  For that Double, runners first ran 10K and then one hour and forty-five minutes ran a 5K.  Times are added together for scoring. Since then Bob has run 59 Double Racing events of different lengths. 

On August 5 in San Francisco, Bob will be running the 4th Annual Golden Gate Double 8K.  The first leg is a 5K and the second 3K leg starts one hour and 15 minutes later. 

"It is always hard getting started on the second leg but once I get going I get back into the rhythm" says Bob. 

"My pace is always faster the second leg.  I have had some sciatic nerve issues this year but that seems to be behind me now.  I can't wait to run the Golden Gate Double 8K and on September 30th the Pacific Grove (California) Double Road Race.  I am hoping to win my division at both."