Fun day! I wasn't sure my legs were ready for that much flat running, but they did great during the crossing from the bay to Los Gatos. I like this route across town, with minimal streets, a nice couple of trails, and lovely ponds and creeks.
There is currently a small detour at the start of the Los Gatos Creek Trail (Curci to St Elizabeth), which I followed.
The second half trails are way more challenging (at least as I remember) compared to the open course route. Quite steep in several places. And I should have carried a head net - so many little gnats swarming around, plus a couple easier-to-manage horse flies. The last few miles on the Umunhum trail were a relief, with a gentler grade and fewer bugs.
My brother Kip met me at a few places with water, sustenance, and a shoe and pack change for the trails in the second half. Awesome support, thank you Kip!
He took a short video of the finish (attached)
Thank you to Mike for this route variation and a chance to try something new!