4.31 Dipsea Race Gang

4.31 Dipsea Race Gang

Author: Matthew Kleinosky September 12, 2026 Duration: 1:14:25

In episode 4.31 of Running in the '70s, host Matthew Kleinosky sits down with veteran runners Bill Scobey, Don McEwan, Vince Engel, Roy Kissin, and Mark Byers to share memories and lore surrounding Northern California’s legendary Dipsea Race.

  • The Panel & Their Histories: The guests recount running the Dipsea across multiple decades starting from the mid-1960s onward. Highlights include Don placing 9th as a 16-year-old running from scratch in 1967, Bill finishing 7th in 1970, Mark first running at age 17 in 1965, Vince returning after a 41-year gap, and Roy earning 11 coveted top-25 black shirts across 23 finishes.

  • Course Profile & Challenges: The group walks through the 7.1-mile trail course from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach over Mount Tamalpais, discussing notorious landmarks like the 672 stairs, Windy Gap, Suicide (and its detour, Rangers Trail), Dynamite, Hogsback, Cardiac Hill, The Swoop, Steep Ravine, and Insult. They highlight the sheer danger of the terrain, poison oak, steep descents, and how course features have evolved from open pastures and dirt paths into stepped and regulated trails to combat erosion.

  • Race Traditions & Handicapping: The runners explain Dipsea's unique age- and gender-based staggered handicap system, the history of legendary handicapper "Birdman," early day-of-race registrations, and the strict tradition that runners may only wear their earned black finisher shirts on race day without committing a faux pas.

  • Iconic Characters & Lore: The conversation covers memorable Dipsea figures, including the "Dipsea Demon" Jack Kirk (who lived off the grid and created "Kirk's Revenge" on Mount Diablo), colorful runner Pax Beal, record-holder Ron Elijah, 8-year-old race winner Mary Etta Boitano, and early ultrarunner Walt Stack (famous for starring in the original Nike "Just Do It" ad).

  • Film and Other Races: Roy shares details about producing and co-starring in the 1986 Bruce Dern running movie On the Edge, recounting the grueling 35-day shoot on Mount Tamalpais. Vince discusses his involvement in the Humboldt documentary The Harriers. The panel closes by reminiscing about other memorable distance events, such as the Trinidad to Clam Beach Run, Italy's Cinque Mulini, and the Lassi Virén Finnish Invitational.


Matthew Kleinosky hosts Running In The 70s, a podcast that steps off the beaten path of modern running culture to explore a pivotal decade in the sport. Instead of focusing on stats and records, each conversation is a journey into personal memory. You'll hear directly from the men and women who were there-cross country runners grinding through autumn mud, track athletes pushing the limits on cinder and early synthetic surfaces, and road racers who helped ignite the first mass-participation boom. Their stories capture the unique texture of the era: the training methods without today's technology, the rivalries, the sheer love of the run, and how the landscape of the sport was fundamentally changing beneath their feet. This podcast isn't just about nostalgia; it's about understanding the foundation upon which today's running world is built, told through the vivid, often surprising recollections of those who lived it. Tune in for intimate, meandering interviews that feel like sitting down with a fellow runner after a long workout, uncovering the heart and hustle of 1970s running one story at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Running In The 70s
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