Our Story
The idea for the Blue Ridge Running Club was born on a cold December day in 2019, when a few adventurous souls paved the way for a tradition now at the core of the club. The founding members, led by the intrepid Brad Smith - running since 1990 - ran a 16.9 mile loop course connecting Gates Canyon Road, with Mix Canyon Road outside of Vacaville California. All new members must complete the initial challenge of conquering a slightly shorter fourteen-mile loop that meanders its way up and down 2,600 vertical feet of the ridge-line. Blue Ridge Running Club is now a growing community of fifty plus individuals united by the love of running, who endeavor to support one another in their goals, and collectively celebrate their achievements.
The term "Blue Ridge" is commonly used to refer to a ridge or a series of ridges that typically run along the eastern part of the Napa Valley and into Solano County in Northern California. The Gates Canyon Loop, Cold Canyon, and Berryessa Peak Trail's all share this continuous series of ridges. The hills near Vacaville, including Blue Ridge, are part of the California Coast Ranges, and the surrounding area includes a mix of grasslands, oak woodlands, and chaparral habitats home to a wide variety of wildlife. This area was originally inhabited by the Patwin.
