On August 17, 2026, Iron Horse Run Club took on its second trail run: 15 miles on the Mount Diablo Summit Trail.
The goal was simple to describe and hard to earn—reach the summit together. By the end of the day, we had one more challenge down and a new chapter in the club's growing run archive.
Seeing the Challenge Ahead
At Mitchell Canyon, the trail sign made the scale of the day real: 7.30 miles to the Mount Diablo summit. We had a long climb in front of us, followed by the miles back.
Trail running changes how I think about pace. The terrain decides the rhythm. Some sections invite steady running, while others ask for patience, shorter steps, and attention to the people around you.
Climbing Together
The route moved between exposed golden hillsides and shaded stretches beneath the oaks. In places, the cloud layer settled below the trail and made the climb feel even farther removed from the city.
The strongest part of a group trail run is not that everyone moves at the same speed. It is that the effort belongs to everyone. We kept moving, regrouped, and carried the day together.
Reaching the Summit
At the top, seven of us stood together above the clouds. The group photo captures the finish, but the real memory is everything that led to it: the long climb, the changing terrain, and the shared work behind those 15 miles.
One more challenge down—15 trail miles to the Mount Diablo summit.
Run Details
- Date: August 17, 2026
- Run: Iron Horse Run Club's second trail run
- Distance: 15 miles
- Route: Mount Diablo Summit Trail
- Photos: Chinggis Munkhbat, @chingistu
You can see the full route and photo gallery on the Iron Horse Run Club website.