TRAIL TAMER—Valencia resident Jeff Vannini, the winner of the 2010 Bandit Ultra Trail Run’s 15K race, basks in the sunshine at the top of Rocky Peak overlooking Simi Valley. This year’s races will take place Sunday, starting at 7 a.m. at Corriganville Park. VICKI ADOFF/Special to the Acorn On Sunday, hundreds of trail runners will be climbing the hills of eastern Simi Valley, pushing themselves to the limit on some of the most difficult terrain around.

Organizers of the Bandit Ultra Trail Run are hoping for no blood, but there will definitely be sweat and probably even a few tears as trekkers tackle a 15K, 30K or even 50K circuit.

And what for? It’s all for the sake of a good challenge.

Because of that “ultra” in the name, some of those runners will, by choice, be working even harder than the rest: This year the race organizers added a 50K-loop to the lineup. That’s 31 miles of rugged, winding, not-for-the-faint-of-heart trails.

“This race is harder than any local race within 50 miles,” race director Randy Shoemaker said. “And that’s what the aggressive trail runners are looking for. They’re looking for a challenge; they’re looking for something that’s going to push them.”

Sponsored by DCH Toyota of Simi Valley, the race is in its third year. Shoemaker, who owns and operates 805 Boot Camp in Simi Valley with his wife, Sarita, got the idea for the Bandit three years ago. Avid trail runners and exercise enthusiasts, the couple decided they wanted to create a challenging event right in their own backyard.

“805 Boot Camp is an outdoor fitness program, and a couple days a week we run the trails, and it’s everyone’s absolute favorite thing to do because it’s so beautiful,” Randy Shoemaker said. “There are people who’ve lived in Simi for 20 years who’ve never seen Simi from the top (of the mountains) down, and they are so inspired by it.”

The race starts and ends at Corriganville Park, 7001 Smith Road off of Kuehner Drive, and climbs through Rocky Peak and into Marr Ranch.

Simi resident and race manager Larry Lee said one of the purposes of the Bandit is to show off the town’s trails.

“Corriganville Park, with all the history, it’s just a really cool place and beautiful,” said Lee, a longtime Boot Camper who runs the paths often, usually while taking in the sunrise. “If we can encourage people to get out and check out the trails in Simi, even just walking or hiking, that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Shoemaker said runners are always looking for longer races to run. While the Bandit’s 15K and 30K races were already intense, Shoemaker said he decided to up the ante by adding an “ultra.”

As someone who’s run one himself, Shoemaker said the desire to do an ultra—anything longer than a traditional 26.2- mile marathon—is in every trail runner’s blood.

What really impresses him, though, is that there are people who can finish a 50K through the mountains in four hours.

“It is so hard. The 50Ks that we run are in the middle of summer and every step you take you think you’re going to die, and it’s this incredible mental effort that you go through,” Shoemaker said.

So why do it?

“It’s just the challenge of it,” he said. “That’s kind of how the trail races are. In the trail runner’s mind it’s, how far can I push myself? And these elite athletes just want to push the limits of where they can go physically and mentally.”

Shoemaker said ultra runs have become very popular, so much so that he has runners coming from as far as Australia to participate.

“The 30K and the 15K will mostly be residents, local people from Ventura County,” he said. “The ultra pack is definitely this small group of people that will travel to a good, hard race.”

In addition to the 15/30/50K races, there is also a one-mile “Bandito” race for kids and a 4K, six-legged “Bandit Buddies” race for residents and their leashed canine companions.

Over the past three years the race has grown and changed. This year, the organizers moved up the date so it wouldn’t coincide with the L.A. Marathon, which it did last year.

As a result, more people have signed up.

Shoemaker said the first two years saw about 120 runners; this year 200 have registered. Participants in the main races range in age from 15 to 62.

The date change means it could rain on race day, which will add to the natural challenge of the trails, Shoemaker said.

He warned that the three distances are for those who train for these types of events, not for casual runners.

“It’s a tough race. Even the 15K is very hard to do,” he said.

Next year the Bandit will add a 5K run to allow beginners to safely take part and get an introduction to trail running.

No matter which race runners choose, Shoemaker said, the route is sure to be scenic and inspiring.

“ It’s beautiful,” he said. “When you get that oxygen in your bloodstream you feel inspired. The air is cleaner and it’s quiet; it’s like you’re in a whole other country.”

While the Bandit is all about sweating hard in the Simi hills, Shoemaker said, the non-running public is welcome to attend.

“If people want to come out and see what a trail race is like, if they want to come out and cheer people on, they’re invited,” he said.

“ We want to make this a community event.”

Check-in at Corriganville begins at 6 a.m. on race day, Sun., Feb. 20. The 50K starts at 7 a.m., with the other races kicking off soon after.

Advance registration for the runs is $85 for the 50K, $65 for the 30K, $55 for the 15K, $35 for Bandit Buddies and $ 20 for Bandito.

Runners can sign up to participate the day of the race, but only cash will be accepted, and the cost of each race except Bandito will be $5 to $10 higher. No day-of-race cost is available for the 50K race.

Every runner will receive a T-shirt, a medal and a goodie bag.

To register before race day or for more information, including course maps, registration fees and running tips, visit www.bandittrailrun.com.