Cupertino's Big Bunny 5K: the teen ruling the town!

Phew, back to the same-day race report, yeah! The race starts around the block, on a Saturday morning, and is fast and short, perfect setting and much easier to wrap it up on the same day than a 100K race, for a change...

This is a low key event organized by our city, Cupertino. It used to be on Easter Saturday, a date which drew families with young kids for an Easter Egg hunt. Needless to say, the event attendance suffered the pandemic hit. I was told it was still not back to pre-COVID registration levels, yet slightly better than last year. 509 names on the result sheet from SVE Timing.

After breaking my meniscus exactly a year ago, it felt great to have been able to work on rebuilding some speed in preparation of this race, at the track. After last week's workout, my goal was to break 20 minutes, with sub 19 as a big bonus.

In addition to the excitement for this race, or rather stress as I take running rather seriously, my mind and heart were filled with emotion and excitement after watching Ireland-France: what a game for Les Petits and Les Bleus! The game finished 15 minutes before the start of the race, not much time to warm-up! I got to the start just in time, literally! As I got to the front at 8:28, the speaker announced 4 minutes before the start. That was helpful to catch my breath but then, 10 seconds later, it was a 40-second warning. Then "runners take your mark" then... another 10 seconds. Then a 10-second count down. Certainly not a USATF-sanctioned event...

As usual, a few kids rushed out of the gate like it was a 60-meter dash sprint. With my own rush before the start, I didn't have my GPS watches on the right pacing screens so I just went all out as well. Passing by the house at 0.7 mile, I was still in good company.

I ran the first mile in 6:02 which was on the aggressive side, given my current fitness level. And age, I may say. It wasn't too uncomfortable but I didn't believe in me enough to hold that pace. A tall runner I didn't know, Chris Heinonen, 46, was running just behind and I was secretly hoping he was going to pass me to lead the second mile but that didn't happen. Instead, two teens, one with a Lynbrook shirt, pulled ahead while maintaining the 6-minute/mile pace. And, as opposed to 20 or 10 years ago, I had lost sight of the leaders...

My GPS watches buzzed at the exact same time at the end of second mile: 6:25, yikes! Still within my sub-20 goal but better not slow down more, I was eating the buffer... Thinking of my fellow Frenchmen's battle in Dublin gave me a kick and, pushing the pace, I managed to pull away from Chris. Agnès snapped another picture before the end of the third mile which I ran in 6:12.

I kept sprinting to the finish for a chip time of 19:02. Ahh, so close to 19 but I'll certainly take that milestone as a proof that hard work is starting to pay off. 8th overall, 2nd Master (40+) albeit far behind Jonathan Kimura who took second in a blazing 16:31.

Speaking of sub-17, I do miss these years... That was was only my 9th edition as, for several years, the event conflicted with my Boston runs (seven there so far). 16:54 in 2002, 16:50 in 2004, 16:06 in 2005, 16:33 in 2006, 16:09 in 2007 (the year I started blogging), 15:54 in 2008, 16:36 in 2010, 16:20 in 2013, 19:02 in 2025 (12 years gap including two key injuries...). Let's see what's in store for a number 10, hopefully next year, and shaving off 3 seconds!

Quick chat with a volunteer queen, Fari, who keeps our neighborhood safe and prepared for disasters.

I went back on the course to run another loop as cool-down and to net 10K today. The award ceremony started around 10:20. The weather and family spirit were so great that many age group winners were still here, to get the honors of the podium. For a nice change, it started by the 80+ category so I wasn't too far behind! ;-) With Big Bunny, and Alejandro Gonzales who, at 63, was the last of 15 to break 20 minutes today.

The metric I'm the most pleased with is my average stride of 1.38 meters. The longer it is and the faster I go, the least pounding and stress on my knee! I still need to rebuild my glutes, they are the ones screaming at that pace, more than the lungs.

Back to the title, it was humbling and cool to see so many teens among the fastest time today, hats off! The winner of this 2025 edition was Leo Silberstein, 14 years old, in 16:28! 6th and 7th place were 14 too and 10th place, only 12!!! 8 teens or under in the top 20, bright future ahead!

Look at this age distribution. This event is a family one, many parents running or walking with, or behind, their kids.

Good diversity on the gender side too.

And on the world representativity as well, based on people's names. I've lived in Cupertino for 26 years and love that diversity, from Asia to Europe and the Americas of course. Well done, Cupertino, stay healthy!

After this stint into road speed, I need to switch back to endurance and longer runs to prepare for the 50K Nationals in Wisconsin next month, then adding some serious hill training before Quicksilver 100K in May. This polyvalence is both challenging and exciting! And more complicated now that I can't log as many miles as before given my damaged meniscus.

With that, don't forget we change time tonight and see you next year, Big Bunny!

PS: the title is also a wink to my boys who sat on the Cupertino Teen Commission, 10 to 15 years ago...

Cupertino's Big Bunny Fun Run 5K: in and out

I was really excited by the prospect of running this local race again, literally one block from my house, can't get any closer! I've had a good run at that event, even winning it at least once: 16:54 in 2002, 16:50 in 2004, 16:06 in 2005, 16:33 in 2006, 16:09 in 2007, 15:54 in 2008, 16:39 in 2010 and 16:20 in 2013. That's like 16:24 +/- 30", quite consistent. To be fair, the course is on the short side, that helps getting great time. But at least the course hasn't changed so that makes for a good local benchmark.

It happens on Easter Saturday so the date varies significantly over the years. Sometimes it conflicted with the Boston Marathon, others, with American River 50-mile, or international business trips or family plans. This year, I could make it, cool! Because my focus is mostly ultra running nowadays, I decided to go to the track on Monday evening for some speed work and faster pace testing. I had run the hilly Redwoods 50K on Saturday and 15 recovery kilometers on Sunday. At the Cupertino High School track, I saw the boy's Coach and chatted about his involvement to salvage the Track & Field program, at least on the running side. It was chilly at the end of the day (6 pm), so I went on to do a few 400s. I felt reassured that I could still break 1:30 for each lap and decided to keep going until I couldn't. There was some strong breeze coming from the North which was making the last turn feel like running uphill. Good training.

After 6 laps, I was able to hit 1:25 for the remaining of the laps. Hamstrings were getting tighter though so I stopped after 12 laps. I was going to jog two more laps before running back home (another mile) but had to slog the last lap as a sharp pain fired in my left calf. Dang, I came back home walking...

I took the rest of the week off but did some solid strength training on Thursday: leg press, leg curls and abs. So much that I was quite sore on Friday, and still Saturday morning, to the point couldn't assess precisely the calf injury. I was so tempted to sign up on Saturday morning but that wasn't reasonable, too much risk for limited rewards. And the entry fee made the decision even easier ($56 for 3 miles, that's one of the most expensive races around!). The last thing I needed was to push too hard to keep up with the leaders and worsen the injury.

But I still went to the start as a running buddy, Jason, was coming to town. Not just to run that 5K but as a prelude to a 10K orienteering race in Sunnyvale 3 hours later.

Also from Excelsior, Jon Kimura, 42, took second place while Jason finished 4th.

Andres Chau, 26, from Fremont won in 15:57.

Jason confirmed he felt the course was on the short side.

Here with the Cupertino Mayor, as excited as a bunny this Saturday, pumping her bunny ears up and down! ;-) 

Impressive was to see the smaller kids finishing strong. Two 12 year-old finished in 20:57 and 21:03, immediately followed by a 9 year-old in a blazing 21:06, wow! All results accessible on SVE Timing's website.

Our friend and neighbor Fari, volunteering once more, attentive to any medical need with this crowd including many first-time runners.

Overall, I ran 2.5 miles around and across the course to take pictures at 4 spots, barely making it on time back to the to City Hall to see the first runners cross the line. Calf felt almost ok although it was definitely the best decision not to get tempted to push the pace, racing. After that I did ran to Sunnyvale as well, and back, logging a half marathon. I'd better take another week off to keep the calf healing completely before Woodside/Purisima Crossover Half next week, and the rest of the Spring season. Big Bunny 5K will have to wait another year then...

Cupertino Big Bunny Fun Run 5K: 3.1 miles, really?

[For those only interested in the pictures I took of 250 or so finishers, here is the link to my Picasa album.]

A quick post for a quick run. And a big change from the 50K, 50-milers or 100-milers! Yet a good cause, a fund raiser for charity: water, all that one block from my house!

I've ran this Big Bunny Fun Run 7 times already in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and, since I'm blogging, 2007, 2008 and 2010; basically every year where Easter wasn't falling either too close to the Boston Marathon weekend or conflicting with an ultra race (American River 50-mile or Ruth Anderson 100K).

This year was special because, as Teen Commissioner, Greg was volunteering to lead the Big Bunny who has limited peripheral sight in its, err her, costume. In this function, Greg and her buddy saw many many kids this morning for a unique Easter shot opportunity.

Kids were also on the starting line of the 5K race, which always creates a risk of tripping to pass them before they slow down, breathless, by the 50-yard mark. Right off the "blocks" Brad Parker took the control of the race. When finishing my warm-up, I thanked him for wearing Brooks shoes but little did I know that was going to get him so close to a 5 min/mile pace! ;-)

At the start I was next to a high schooler, Liam McNell, 16, who wanted to break 16 minutes so I thought he would be the one in front. I ran the first 3/4 mile in second place before getting passed by Ollie Enlinger with whom I traded places several times in the next miles. Ollie eventually pulled away in the last stretch. Brad took first in 16:02, Ollie second in 16:12 and I crossed the finish line in 16:20, good for third overall and first M40-49.

Although my Garming GPS indicated 3.11 miles, I still suspect the course to be slightly short. At least the race was chip timed which allowed for an instant ranking and results posted right away to your mailbox, great improvement from the previous editions. Here are Brad and I with Jeremy, my Quick Silver Ultra Running teammate and track workout buddy:

Brad is going to Boston in 2 weeks to run his second marathon, we exchanged a few tips and I wish him good luck (my other track workout buddy, Bob, is also going there again and, per our recent workouts, is definitely in shape to break 3 hours!).

After finishing, I stayed for 15 minutes to take pictures of the 50K finishers. I got about 250 of the 450 finishers (red bibs), and that's not counting the walkers (black bibs). Nor the many children who took part in the kids race.

If you ran today, check if you are among the 250 finishers I captured in my Picasa album. As mentioned above, all the results have been posted very promptly thanks to the chip timing on RaceMine's website (Silicon Valley Endurance timing).

Thank you to the Cupertino Park & Rec team for organizing such an event at every Easter and all the great volunteers helping on race day but also before and after the race with the logistics.

And thanks to the sponsors too for the food, drinks and raffle prizes which kept the community together after the award ceremony. Rain showers were announced but only came in the afternoon, and still not compensating for the deficit of such a dry winter. I'm going to Marin Headlands to do 30 or more hilly miles tomorrow, maybe I'll get soaked there...

In the meantime, happy Easter weekend to all and a fruitful egg hunt this Sunday!

Not farther but, fortunately, faster

[You may want to skip to my Big Bunny Fun Run 5K race report]

When setting this year's race program up, I knew I was chasing many goals. When you switch to ultrarunning and ultramarathon, you run marathons as training runs. Training for a marathon is a very different exercise, and seems like a distraction or detour.

After last week's 50-mile Ruth Anderson race, which I transformed as my last long run before Boston by switching from my initial 100K goal, I wanted to know if I was still capable of running fast miles. I know, everything is relative, it's not that I got slow in ultras, but it's really a different pace. So, by fast for me, I mean sub-6 minutes/mile pace. After RA, I didn't run on Sunday April fool's day (despite Dean's advice that you should actually run the day after such ultras), and ran an easy 8 mn/mile 7-mile loop with Michael, a co-worker, at Shoreline Park, close to ILOG.

As I mentioned in my "Boston, you've got mail" article, I still include in my weekly training regimen 2 sessions of speed work at the track, with my friend Bob.

Tuesday 3

So here we are for one of our last speedwork sessions before Boston. As usual, 2-mile warm-up from 5:45 to 6am. I decide Bob to go for a mile repeat (a series of miles) below 6. It's dark, we can't see our watch at the 200m-mark to check the pace. Bob is leading, he has a great stride, we work really well together. Unfortunately, he drops after the first lap, and I find him after my second lap with an accute pain in his harmstring. He has been complaining about his harmstring for a couple of weeks now, especially after his last business trip to Spain. Fortunately, he got an appointment in the afternoon at SMI (Sports Medicine Institute in Palo Alto, the place I got my Vo2Max test), for a specialized deep tissue massage, so he will just stretch in the meantime.

After this initial 800m, I continue the session with a mile at 5:43, then 5:45, and a 800m in 2:32. Not my fastest 800m, but speed is back, feels good already!

Wednesday 4

Michael was supposed to come with me but cancels as he is working on a nasty bug in his product with Gregory. I decide to do my 6.8-mile loop at Shoreline Park again today. Start at a reasonable 6:30 pace. I didn't even think of pushing much, since I originally planned for an easy run between the two speed works of this week. Yet, after a couple of miles, I increase the pace. Bottom line: my third fastest time on this loop, 42:29. 6:13 mn/mile, I can do better.

Thursday 5

Back to the track. Bob does feel a bit better after the massage, yet not completely healed. Wisely, he doesn't show up and decides to wait until Sunday for a potential tempo run.

After a 2-mile warm-up, I start the mile repeat at 5:45, followed by a 5:35. Between each mile, 1:20-rest (20" per lap). For the last mile, I start with a 1:14 lap, uh! 2 laps in 2:29, I'm holding... 3 laps in 3:54, I don't even remember if I've ran that fast in our 1,200-repeats or pyramids. Anyway, I keep pushing to finish in a blazing 5:07.

5:07, that's a new milestone for me. Can't say it's my mile PR, as I never really ran one mile to check, only repeat miles. But it's the fastest I've ever run in such speedwork sessions. Last time was a couple of years ago, 5:09.

Feels really good, a few days after a 50-miler. And 10 days before Boston, to get back to my marathon marks. Needless to say, after loosing a few pounds at RA, pounds gained inparticular during my injury break of January-February, I'm back to my ideal racing weight (126lbs - 57kg).

Friday 6

I like to rest the day before a road race, and tomorrow is...


Saturday 7


Big Bunny Fun Run, 5K, in my home town, Cupertino, CA! Right around the block from where we live, this is really an event the family likes to participate in when we are in town. More than 400 runners/walkers this year, quite a good turnout. As one of the city's 13 Teen Commission members, Alex is a volunteer and goes on site to setup the post-race food buffet at 7am.

9am, it's so packed that it's even hard to get a good stop on the start line.

Barely kidding, there were some kids which are so competitive that they rushed at the start like we were running a 100m dash. Needless to say, there are off oxygen after the first turn in Cupertino's streets.


At 300m, I'm still behind too "resisting" teens, who I pass. Before the first mile (this year the miles were not marked, but I know the course and can easily say from the clock), I hear a runner breathing in my back and trying to catch up. I decide to hold the pace, which I could feel was fast. After 1.5 miles, I'm on my own, following the race official truck opening the way.

Pushing all the way, to a 16:09 finish for first overall, and... 5:12 mn/mile. OK, I need to measure the course, to see how close to 5K that really was, but I really did run fast this time.

After crossing the line, I go back on the course to meet with the rest of the family.

Alex also ran in the 10-13 age group, not placing with 20+ minutes.

Greg, who entered the same age group this year, did an amazing 22:32, his PR on this distance which he likes. A 13-lap credit for his school exercise program this week.

Max who is acting in his high school amazing Guys And Dolls Sping musical, and had a late representation the night before, missed the start this year.

Enjoyed the post-race buffet with great fruits and muffins from Whole Foods. As top finisher, I got a free coffee at the Cupertino Library Coffee Society store, which our family coach, reporter and photographer, Agnès, appreciated very much. A big thank you to the Coffee Society's cool crew and Whole Foods for their sponsorship of the event.

There are always amazing prizes at the post-race raffle, like a $200 gift certificate for Alexander's Steak House, 2 free passes to Raging Waters, other restaurant coupons and tickets to sport games. Not for us this year, but an age-group winner plaque for me, the 6th year for this fun race.

Sunday 8

Bob is still tapering, to make sure to properly heal before Boston. He followed such a consistent 4-month marathon training program, shape shouldn't be an issue for him next week.

So I decide to go to Homestead track for an ultimate tempo run. Not on my own, actually, the three boys come to the field with me, while Agnès is cooking for our Easter lunch (a delicious lamb --the traditional French gigot d'agneau-- and chocolate tart, yummy). BTW, the boys didn't really come to run with me, or count the 40 laps for me, the bring books and homework with them... Yet, it's nice to have company for the hour.

My supporting crew

So, here we are for 40 laps. No warm-up, I usually use the first laps for that. Although, with the great weather and some excitement from the week, I start off below the 6 mn/mile pace with 2:54 for the first 800m. 5:48 for the first mile, I slow down to 5:55 for the second. 10" to drink at mile 2.5 which I pass at 14:25. Another brief stop (not the clock though) at mile 5, then none from lap 20 to 40. I indicate some of the count downs to the boys while passing.

10 miles in 58:33, 5:51 mn/mile. I was shooting for something close to 6, close enough, and on the right side.

Faster than planned, yet the boys are looking forward to returning home for lunch, must be ready by then! Not to mention the traditional egg hunt which Greg is so excited about.

On the running side, that was quite a good week, and I enjoyed the fast miles. We'll see how it plays for Boston after a tapering week, a dissociated Scandinavian diet (1) (hence some exercise on Monday and Tuesday), and hopefully enough sleep and not too much stress.

Stay tuned. 'Till Patriot's Day!

(1) In French, le régime Scandinave dissocié.