The last annual Third Circle of Hell

The last annual Third Circle of Hell race is best understood as a California race listing with two strands in its source material: a Winnetka 5K on the LA River Headwaters Bike Path, and the backyard-ultra format used by Big Dog's Backyard Ultra. In that ultramarathon format, runners cover 6,706 meters, or 4.167 miles, inside each hour, then use whatever time remains to recover before the next start. The pressure comes from repeating a manageable distance until the hourly starts wear down both the body and the mind. For the Winnetka 5K, the route is a flat out-and-back: runners start where the path crosses Tampa Ave, head west to a turnaround and aid station near DeSoto Ave, then return to Tampa. The path goes under major streets, so the course avoids car traffic, and nearby shopping centers provide parking and bathrooms. The event is not chip timed, and its proceeds support CHIME's K-8 Charter School; CHIME Institute is a nonprofit tied to inclusive education.