Lake Sonoma Race Series 50-Mile and 100K Endurance Races Return to Wine Country in September with Garmin as Official Timing Partner

June 23, 2021

Iconic Lake Sonoma races deliver innovative GPS and timing solutions in collaboration with Garmin

Lake Sonoma Race Series and Garmin^® International, Inc., a leading global provider of GPS-enabled products, are helping athletes train for their upcoming endurance events this fall. Garmin and the Lake Sonoma Race Series will pair training runs and coaching services with unique qualifying opportunities into the heralded 50-mile and 100K endurance races scheduled for September 4-5 in Northern California.

“We are excited to participate in the Lake Sonoma Race Series as this year’s official timing partner and also take part in qualifying events leading up to race weekend,” said Susan Lyman, Garmin vice president of global consumer marketing. “As a company that believes in the value of physical fitness and leading a healthy lifestyle, we’re pleased to be involved in pre-race training as well as race day guidance as these athletes run through wine country.”

More and more athletes are also finding coaching services helpful to prepare for the long and taxing ultradistance races. Lake Sonoma 50-mile and 100K runners can take their running to the next level with science-based, adaptive training programs that blend Garmin’s latest technology with experienced guidance from Trails & Tarmac, a leading provider of personalized ultrarunning coaching.

With interest in running and endurance events growing throughout the pandemic, Garmin and the Healdsburg Running Company are also offering new ultrarunners a shot at earning a spot in the already sold-out Lake Sonoma races. Four training run courses will be set up in Tahoe, San Francisco, Southern California, and Healdsburg, California. Garmin GPS data will track the runners with the top men and women from each of these four courses earning entry into the Lake Sonoma Race Series.

“We’ve seen such immense interest in ultrarunning of late and athletes excited to test themselves in new ways,” Healdsburg Running Company owner Skip Brand said. “We hope this opportunity for individuals to run their way into the Lake Sonoma Race Series inspires great adventures and new accomplishments.”

In addition, Garmin and the Lake Sonoma Race Series will be working with some of America’s top trail running shops on runs, contests, and competitions that will enable 10 additional women to capture a spot in the Lake Sonoma Race Series this September. The initiative underscores the Lake Sonoma Race Series’ commitment to inclusion and equality.

“I am excited by these different ways new ultrarunners can test themselves and earn their place at the Lake Sonoma starting line this fall,” said Keira Henninger, race director of the Lake Sonoma Race Series. “Today’s ultrarunners are training smarter, running harder, and gaining access to better insights thanks to Garmin GPS data as well as Garmin’s other features that monitor important metrics like heart rate and pulse oximetry. This can help athletes break personal barriers and record wonderful achievements.”

Founded in 2008, the iconic Lake Sonoma 50 Miler is known for having one of most competitive fields in the United States according to UltraRunning magazine. The beautiful wine country 50-miler consists of nearly 90 percent single-track trails weaving through relentless rolling hills, testing runners with three big climbs, and traversing more than a dozen creek crossings. Ultrarunners travel to Sonoma from over 20 countries to experience one of the globe’s most popular and distinctive ultrarunning events, one that includes a trail movie festival, gourmet athlete dinner, multiple industry panels, and a lively finish line celebration featuring award-winning wine country chefs, multiple breweries, and celebrated wine from Wilson Artisan Wineries. Participants as well as their families and friends will enjoy Lake Sonoma and Healdsburg’s small-town charm at an event were 100 percent of the proceeds support the Children of Vineyard Workers Scholarship Fund that expands educational opportunities for local students.

About Garmin

Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionized life for runners, cyclists, swimmers and athletes of all levels and abilities. Committed to developing technology that helps people stay active and elevate performance, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday. Other Garmin fitness brands include Tacx and Firstbeat Analytics. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at media.relations@garmin.com, or follow us at facebook.com/garminfit, twitter.com/garminnews, instagram.com/garminfitness, linkedin.com/company/garmin or youtube.com/garmin.