The weekly Tuesday night social run on the Sourdough Ridge loop has developed a support infrastructure that would impress an ultramarathon director. What began as six friends meeting at the trailhead for a casual four-mile loop now features three water stations, a gel handoff zone, and a designated pacer rotation.

“We noticed the second half of the loop was getting slow,” said Bryce Hensley, 34, who works at a downtown gear shop and coordinates the pacer schedule via spreadsheet. “So we stationed Karen at the saddle with tailwind and encouragement. Times dropped immediately.”

The aid stations operate on an honor system. Runners leave reusable cups at the switchbacks on the ascent and retrieve them on the descent. A cooler of electrolyte drink appears at the high point each week, though no one has claimed responsibility for transporting it up 1,800 feet of elevation gain.

Last Tuesday a volunteer stationed at the false summit began offering salted potato wedges wrapped in foil. Attendance increased 40 percent. The group is now discussing a drop bag system for the final descent.

“It’s just a social run,” said Mara Volk, 29, who has attended every week since March. “But also I PR’d by six minutes last week because someone handed me a gel at exactly the right switchback.”

The Forest Service has not issued a permit for the aid stations. A ranger visited two weeks ago, accepted a potato wedge, and suggested they formalize the water cache locations to reduce vegetation impact.

Organizers are now recruiting a sweep runner to ensure no one gets left behind on the descent. The position requires a headlamp and willingness to carry a basic medical kit. Applications are accepted via the group chat.

The loop takes most runners 45 minutes. The post-run debrief at the brewery lasts three hours.