Author: Edmund Louie

  • Watch Your Step: Tick Season Is Hitting Northern California Early

    Tick season is off to an early and unusually intense start in 2026!

    Recent reports are showing a spike in tick-related ER visits across the region as early as late April. While ticks are technically a year-round presence here, spring through early summer (March through June) is when the risk really ramps up. That’s when nymphs—tiny, hard-to-see ticks—emerge in large numbers and are most likely to transmit diseases like Lyme.

    Now is the time to be careful.

    Ticky Behavior

    Ticks don’t jump or fly—they wait. They tend to hang out on tall grasses, low brush, and the edges of trails, often right around ankle height. When you brush past, they latch on.

    Be mindful when running on singletrack, overgrown trails, in shaded wooded sections, or whenever vegetation is brushing your legs.

    Also keep in mind that nymphs can be as small as a poppy seed. You won’t feel them, and you probably won’t see them unless you’re looking carefully.

    Simple Habits That Make a Big Difference

    Stay Centered on the Trail

    It sounds obvious, but it matters. The closer you stay to the middle of the trail, the less contact you’ll have with vegetation where ticks are waiting.

    Dress With Awareness

    Not every run calls for full coverage, but when you’re in higher-risk areas:

    • Light-colored socks or calf sleeves make ticks easier to spot
    • Longer socks or tights create a barrier at the ankle (a common entry point)
    • Avoid brushing bare legs against grass and brush whenever possible

    Use Repellent Strategically

    • DEET or picaridin on exposed skin can help
    • Permethrin-treated clothing is especially effective for runners who are out frequently

    Do a Quick Post-Run Check

    Make this part of your cooldown routine:

    • Ankles and lower legs
    • Behind knees
    • Waistline
    • Armpits
    • Hairline and scalp

    Shower and Dry Your Gear

    • Shower within a couple hours of getting home
    • Toss your clothes in the dryer on high heat for ~10 minutes to kill any ticks that hitched a ride

    If You Find a Tick

    Don’t panic—but don’t ignore it either.

    • Use fine-tipped tweezers
    • Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible
    • Pull straight out steadily (don’t twist or crush it)

    After removal, keep an eye out over the next few weeks for:

    • Rash (especially a bullseye pattern)
    • Fever
    • Fatigue

    If anything seems off, it’s worth getting checked.

    The Bottom Line

    This isn’t about avoiding trails—it’s about being aware. Northern California has some of the best running terrain anywhere, and tick exposure is just one of those environmental factors, like sun or hydration, that you learn to manage.

    A little attention before and after your run goes a long way. Stay on trail, check yourself after, and keep enjoying the miles.

  • Club Shirts – Thank you Susan!

    Huge thank you to one of our members, Susan Wang for her incredible support of PARC!

    Her generous sponsorship helps us keep our club shirts affordable for our members, and we’re truly grateful for her commitment to supporting our running community. Thank you so much, Susan!

    If you or someone you know is thinking about buying or selling a home, we strongly encourage you to connect with Susan. She’s a trusted real estate professional with many years of experience and a proud supporter of PARC.
    👉 https://susanwang.kw.com/

  • CIM Transfers

    It’s the best time of year – time to find a last minute bib for CIM, without getting scammed! In the past CIM allowed sellers and buyers to manage the process, with all the fraud and scam that comes with it.

    Starting last year, CIM stepped into the bib transfer process and it’s much better for legitimate sellers and buyers. Here’s how it works:

    • Visit the CIM Race Roster page
    • Click the blue ‘Transfer’ button and log into your account
    • Click ‘Transfer to a New Registrant’
    • Enter the new runner’s email address
    • The new runner (buyer) will receive an email with an invitation to complete the transfer
    •  The new runner will pay Race Roster $230 ($180 blue level entry fee plus the $50 transfer fee) for the ability to register with a transferred entry. Do not exchange any money outside Race Roster.
    • The new runner will automatically be assigned a Blue Entry, and cannot transfer or defer the entry.
    • The original runner (seller) will receive a refund of their entry fee from Race Roster.
    • Bib transfers apply to marathon entries ONLY.

    As a reminder, if any seller asks for payment via Venmo, Zelle, crypto, etc it’s probably not legit. The bib transfer window is open from October 1st until November 17th, so there’s plenty of time to find a bib. From my experience last year, it generally gets easier to locate a bib once we get close to November. See you there!

  • End of Season Party 12/11/25

    Dear PARC Members,

    The Palo Alto Run Club Board invites you to join us at PARC’s annual holiday party on Thursday, December 11th from 6:30-9:30 PM at the Garden House at Shoup Park in Los Altos. This event always promises to be a fun evening and wonderful way to end a year of great running, racing, and socializing with one another, so we certainly hope you can be a part of it. The night will feature yummy appetizers, a delicious catered dinner, wine and non-alcoholic drinks, music, a slideshow, a dessert competition, and a raffle!  Stay tuned for sign up details. See you there!