The race was started in 1986 by television director and eccentric track and field enthusiast Andrew Hecker.

He devised this event on encouragement from another local, eccentric race director Brian Pritchard, who at the time the Long Distance Running Chairman for Southern California TAC (The Athletics Congress), the predecessor of the modern day USATF.

The steep hills are part of the distinctive and challenging course, which boasts over 1200 feet of elevation gain (and loss) over its four miles.

The first is the Skyline hill, a residential city street adjacent to the park, rising almost 400 feet in just over half a mile.

The next one is referred to as "The Finger," as in the obscene gesture, which ultimately winds down to the base of the steepest hill on the course, called "The Wall" which achieves almost a 20 percent grade.

Just for insult, the final 50 yards is a steep climb up a grass hill.Course map See the satellite view of the course area.

The tiles have become so treasured, perhaps a badge of honor, that some competitors have put them on display by installing them in their kitchen or bathroom wall.