Cupertino Big Bunny 5K 2026: that one on Coros!

That was race #390 in my log, which includes 210 ultras like 85 50Ks, but it was only my 23rd 5K: I see some room for an aging runner! :-) That was also my 10th participation to this event since 2002, not counting 2 Cupertino Heroes 5K in 2016 and 2017. 2002, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 25 and 26. It's literally on the same block I live so the logistics is really easy for that one. It even allowed me to finish watching France-Scotland until the end at 8 am! (For those who don't follow, that would be the 4th round of the 6 Nations rugby tournament.) Last year I was back in shape after my meniscus issue which got me off running for 7 months in 2024 but at least I was uplifted by watching the French win their game. This year, they finally lost for the first time, so I had to revert back to my own spirit. And my GPS watch.

I still have to write my race report of the 100-mile Nationals in Vegas 2 weeks ago. The past 2 weeks haven't been so great for running. Last week I shared that I spent Saturday on mushy snow at Royal Gorge. Before that, I even hurt my lower back by carrying a 100-lb box. And I got an ear infection after Royal Gorge. With that, I had run only 51 miles since that 100-mile race and still felt quite tired. So much that I took Friday off, hoping that would freshen my legs enough for a faster pace.

I got to the start line at 8:25 and it was already packed with really young kids. Who, like every year, struggled for air before the first turn, 200 yards in. I got two scares approaching that first corner because, mind you, when these kids can't keep up, they typically change direction, or lane, yikes! Anyway, it was a good start overall, no fall, and I settled in 10th place, 400 yards in, phew!

On Blaney, I closed on a runner who had told me before the start that he wasn't 60 yet (that would Ahmet Gokcek, #1578). But we got passed by a runner (#1226) wearing noisy carbon plates and, more importantly, having grey hair, so I was worried about my age group. That led me to push harder and not let him go too far ahead. With that, my Coros watch gave me a 5:59 split for the first mile, not too bad (I PR'ed on the marathon with a 6:01 average pace but that was 23 years ago... With my focus on ultra running, even sub 7-minute miles are rare.)

I was able to close the small gap before the end of the second mile and kept pushing. I was now in 4th, only seeing 3rd place ahead. On the Suisun Drive stretch, passed 2.5 miles, I suddenly felt deep in the red zone and had to ease on the gas pedal, creating a bigger gap with 3rd. At the turn on Fallone Drive, I looked behind and saw a runner not too far behind but what still looked like a safe margin for the remaining third of a mile. Well, I finished 2 seconds ahead in the results, that was a close call. (Thank you for the pics on the course, Agnès!)

I crossed the finish with a time of 18:28, 4th overall, 2nd Masters, 1st M60. And why did I plug Coros in the title? Because, at the beginning of the week, I incidentally noticed that Coros was forecasting 18:47 for the distance. Pretty close, not to mention the course was on the short side, with 3.06 on my watch. Good news is that they also lowered their marathon forecast down to 3:01:27: still quite some work to keep rebuilding leg muscles but there is hope for getting back to my "law" of running a marathon in 2 hours plus my age in minutes (that would be 3:02...). Anyway, I like pushing to see if I can prove Coros wrong, nice physical and mental push!

The race was won by Raphael Serrano again, in 16:27. He won the 2024 edition in 16:43. Another Cupertino resident and quite a fixture of this race, Jonathan Kimura, 45, placed 2nd in 16:57 (2nd in 2025 in 16:31, 3rd in 2024 with 16:57, 2nd in 2023 with 16:33, and a win in 2022 with 16:47, amazing regularity!). 3rd place was Justin Pham, 28, in 17:48. Jon on the left, Raphael in yellow:

That 5th place runner, right behind me, was Everett Jou, 15, with a time of 18:30. He did beat me last year with a time of 18:51. He had just turned 14 at the end of March 2024 while already running under 20 minutes (19:58). I wouldn't bet too much on me beating him next year, the youths are phenomenal at this race!

Bib 1226 was Bo Li, 55, who finished in 6th place, 8 seconds behind Everett. Ahmet was mere 8 seconds behind for 8th overall. Competitive M50 age group this year!

All results were promptly posted by SVE Timing thanks to chip timing. Previous years' results are available on the Cupertino website, back to 2013.

Before the award ceremony, I went back on the course to run a second loop in 20:50 (6:42 pace). Then, after the awards, race an easy half marathon at 7:45 min/mile, in the neighborhood. And the bunny was finally tired... ;-)

I love this lowkey race on my block and my training backyard. Such a refreshing change of pace and emulation which keeps us on our toes. They were several years which conflicted with my 7 Boston marathons, less conflicts nowadays that the event got moved earlier in March, and before Easter. Special thanks to the city and Parks & Rec team which put this event up, year after year. Was great to see almost 600 entrants, with many smiles at the finish! Hope to see you all again next year then, you got this!