San Jose Trifecta Weekend Oakdale CA 4/5 2025
- Tom Shankapotomous
- Apr 10
- 9 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Oakdale, CA – March 30–31, 2025
Race Overview
Woodward Reserve is a fast course characterized by its heat, exposure to the elements, and beauty. All four race distances weave around a large reservoir that supplies water to the surrounding area. Last year, Spartan did not receive permission to use any part of the reservoir, but this year, the Ultra, Beast, and Super races incorporated the water into several obstacles, offering a refreshing break from the sunny weekend. This review also includes links to a more expansive article reagarding the geological background of the area and a hydration and nutrition guide.
Full Disclosure Statement — I initially intended to run the Ultrafecta weekend, but due to some last-minute scheduling changes, I opted for the standard Trifecta weekend instead (insert joke here about rationalizing failure). The Ultra Races at this course showcased some fast times and I had the chance to run and chat with several Ultra Racers; their insights contributed to shaping this article.
Logistics
The race is not located near San Jose; it is actually equidistant from Sacramento and San Jose. Last year, I flew into Sacramento Airport and drove 90 minutes south to Oakdale, the closest town to the race venue, and I followed the same plan this year. Sacramento is a medium-sized airport offering a convenient red-eye flight back to the East Coast, which influenced my travel plans. The race is not near San Jose; it's equally distant from both Sacramento and San Jose. which impacted my decision. Red-eye flights are the best way to save money and return to work on Monday, allowing time me to preparing for the next race.
Just like last year, I stayed at the Best Western hotel in Oakdale, which had a poolside shower that I used after the final race on Sunday before heading to the airport. When considering life's luxuries, the Best Western's kind of, sort of, not really hot shower at this hotel is a beacon of hope in these challenging times. Oakdale has plenty of Mexican restaurants which helped me out due to a late arrival on Friday night. I didn't get in town in time to pick up supplies at a local supermarket. But we adapt and overcome, and the local restaurants were solid, cost-effective oprion. I find most local restaurants more than willing to accommodate changes to their menu, so I did not break my nutrition plan.
Terrain + Environment
Woodward Reservoir is an artificial lake located north of Oakdale in Stanislaus County, California. Constructed in 1916 by the South San Joaquin Irrigation District, its main function was to support irrigation. The lake was created by an earthen dam that retains water from the Stanislaus River and other sources. This area is part of the eastern San Joaquin Valley and is distinguished by its unique geological characteristics.
The region features Late Cenozoic alluvial deposits, originating from the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges, composed of sand, silt, clay, and gravel. These alluvial deposits are loose sediments—such as sand, silt, clay, gravel, and organic matter—transported and deposited by water flows like rivers, streams, or floods. At Woodward Reservoir, materials were carried from the Sierra Nevada Mountains over millions of years. These sediments accumulated as the San Joaquin Valley gradually filled, creating today's extensive flatlands and fertile agricultural soil. They form alluvial fans, which are fan-shaped sediment deposits formed where streams or rivers emerge from narrow canyons or mountain passes onto flat plains, resulting in a landscape characterized by a gentle slope and the accumulation of transported materials. We ran all over these alluivial mateiral during all the races an got to them them pretty well.
Editorial Note - You may be wondering, is that it for the geology and deep time review? Seriously? What happened to you, man? You used to put in a solid effort. Well, in order to respect those subscribers who fell asleep five race reviews ago, I decided to provide a more thorough background (still high school level earth science) in a separate article you can find here. As a wave of relief sweeps across the Internet, let's return to the race....
The Course
Last year, the initial four miles of the Beast and Ultra race were characterized by an abundance of ground squirrel holes scattered across the rolling fields, presenting a unique yet troublesome challenge. These holes, which seemed to multiply as the day progressed, posed a significant issue, particularly for racers starting in the dark during the ultra and early heat times. This year, however, the course was slightly rerouted in an attempt to address the squirrel problem that had previously caused so much difficulty. Whether this change was due to a decrease in the ground squirrel population or an intentional decision by the race director (coincidence does not equal causality) remains unclear. However, it was noticeable that there appeared to be fewer holes during the initial miles of the race. The first four miles of the Beast, Ultra, and Super were primarily run on paths winding through the tall grass, providing more stable footing and a less hazardous experience before reaching the reservoir area.
The middle and ending section of the Beast and Ultra courses was particularly scenic, as it wound around the reservoir where pelicans and waterfowl soared overhead. The last four miles of both the Beast and Ultra courses brought us back into the rolling hills. The hills were not significant, with only minor elevation changes that were manageable for most participants. This is why this is an ideal entry-level Ultra or an Ultra to add to your buckle collection. It is a fair and fast course. It was during this section that the inevitable and now tiresome complaints of cramping started among some racers in the open division.
The Super course, on the other hand, cut out most of the reservoir section, incorporating only a brief water slog segment that provided a refreshing break without the trip around the perimeter. After the Beast, this seemed to make the race faster, since we were not slowed down by the water obstacles and running was pretty straightforward. The Sprint course eliminated all the water and was pretty much a small loop that connected during the final section of the longer races. I really liked the course setup. It had water elements, rolling hills, and elements you don't see at a lot of venues.
Obstacle Breakdown
In an effort to improve the obstacle analysis, this review will mention changes I have seen in the obstacles relative to other races this season.
Two (2) barbed wire crawls. The first was near the water, offering a chance for a water barbed wire crawl, which is my personal favorite. The second was a long crawl up and down an incline over grass, not hard but a little time-consuming. This crawl was similar in distance to Atlanta and occasionally reminded me of Cincinnati.
The Z Wall was different. There was no cutout section in the middle, which meant there was no chance of cheating; you had to use the hand grips and foot grips. I never understood why they had that cutout in the first place. Smarter people than me will probably say it was configured differently with a more severe right angle in the middle, so check with other racers. The configuration seemed overall different.
There was no rolling mud or dunk wall. I spoke with a Spartan staff member who mentioned that the venue was difficult to work with and inflexible regarding how the property could be used. I mean, it is a park and I am not sure they want Spartan digging up their property, but nonetheless these obstacles were missing.
Because of this, it was a relatively unmuddy race. The rope climb at the end, with no mud, was much different from some other venues this year and the opposite of Atlanta and, from what I hear, Charlotte. Dry races make things easier on grip strength, there is no doubt.
Someone needs to bring a laser measurement to the races. I swear the spear throw is shorter. It feels like throwing a dart instead of slinging a spear; the spear throw was at the end of all of the distances. Burpees continue to be a penalty.
There was a shorter green sandbag carry for the Beast and Ultra, but all races had the black pancake. This one was pretty long, a major loop through some scrubby trees with uneven footing. It felt like the ending Dallas sandbag carry.
Editorial Alert
At the risk of starting a food fight with OCR Kings subscribers, I thought the obstacles were placed evenly. This venue had easy access for their trucks, and I think they took advantage of it. But get those knives sharpened, boys and girls, because NJ is next with notorious front and back-loading. New Jersey always starts the beginnning of the serious part of the season for me. But for now, let's enjoy the even distribution and sleep well tonight.
Cramps and The Cramps
Over the weekend, the weather remained sunny, and the course had minimal tree cover. Although temperatures were in the mid-70s with no humidity, it still felt warm. I started my hydration routine on Wednesday and made sure to drink consistently throughout the weekend, setting my watch to beep every 20 minutes as a reminder to hydrate. I refilled my water bottle at every aid station, which were plentiful. I used Tailwind every other refill and had no hydration issues.
I have a new, untested theory that people are wrongly blaming cramps on insufficient training. If you dont train hard enough your legs are going to lock up. So there are cramps and then there are The Cramps. The Cramps were a fantastic 70s punk band formed in Sacramento, California, in 1976. They created the psychobilly punk category and held their own against more commercial bands year in and year out. So regarding leg cramps, I implore you to train harder, stay hydrated, and leave The Cramps out of it. But I want to offer an approach.
I personaly have evolved from a Cro-Magnon to an entry-level Neanderthal, and with that jump in cognition, I created a nutrition plan. Here is a link to a plan that uses a six-hour race as the basis for calculations and assumes energy expenditure for a Spartan race, a medium level of fitenss but can also be used for trail running as well. It includes hydration, nutrition, and caffeine timing so it can be done on autopilot with the use of a sports watch that beeps.
Festival Area + Recongition
There were several food trucks including a bacon-themed restaurant that served an outstanding bacon cheeseburger that I saw a lot of people eating. The Spartan Plus (now called the Members Tent) was packed at this race. This tent is now available to anyone with a Yearly Pass as well as the Unbreakable Pass holders.
According to the Spartan staff, there were an impressive 1,100 racers participating on Saturday and 4,000 on Sunday. I have given up trying to figure out what these figures truly mean in terms of participation. Does my presence count as three racers or just one? Who knows! Regardless, I will say this was one of the largest Ultra Races I have seen since Newberry last year.
Respected and Recognition
Our very own Alex Campos, OCR Kings subscriber, achieved his Ultrafeca, a remarkable accomplishment that deserves recognition. He not only completed the race(s) but also won a coveted or rivaled (I always get those confused) Shanks Gym Shirt. If you don’t know Alex, he is a fantastic guy, always laughing and spreading positivity before and after races. Part of my mindset is always to put in a solid effort out of respect for those racers who do the same. I don't shortchange my effort because people like Alex are out there working hard to get it done. His enthusiasm is infectious, and it was a pleasure to see him kicking ass this weekend.. Great job on the ultra, bro!
Summary
I understand that scheduling can be challenging for many racers throughout a long season. However, there might be openings in your schedule, or perhaps you want to explore another part of the country; maybe not this year, but perhaps next year. I really enjoy this venue; it's located in a part of the country that is distinctly non-touristy. It's a farming community within an area historically known as the breadbasket of the United States, and the reservoir was constructed to supply water to these farming communities. I had a fantastic time at this race and recommend considering it if you're planning to participate in an Ultra, Ultrafecta, or a first-time Trifecta weekend. It may be flat, but remember, there are no easy courses, only people who take it easy.
References
Jachens, R.C., and Graymer, R.W., 2005. Geology and mineral resources of the Southwestern and South-Central Sierra Foothills, California: California Division of Mines and Geology Open-File Report 2005-13, 49 p.
Jennings, C.W., 1977. Geologic map of California: California Division of Mines and Geology, Geologic Data Map 2, scale 1:750,000.
Saucedo, G.J., 1989. Geology of the Oakdale Quadrangle, California: California Division of Mines and Geology Open-File Report 89-3, 19 p.
Saucedo, G.J., 1991. Geologic map of the Oakdale Quadrangle, California: California Division of Mines and Geology Map Sheet 51, scale 1:24,000.
Wentworth, C.M., 1947. Geology and mineral resources of the Oakdale Quadrangle, California: California Division of Mines Bulletin 134, 117 p.
Final Word:
Medals are cool. Getting to the airport soaked in your own success, writing while sore, is cooler.
Finish the race. Don’t chase the credit.
Bucket, soap, notebook. Repeat.
Want me to clean this up into a downloadable doc or markdown-ready version for your site CMS?
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