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Bike race part of MarSOC recruiting drive

West Coast Marines thinking of joining the Corps’ special operations community might want to lace up their cycling shoes this weekend.

Hundreds of riders are expected to participate Saturday in the Bulldog Bike Race, the first event in this year’s Camp Pendleton Hard Corps Series. With an eye on recruiting Marines into its growing community, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command is this year’s headlining sponsor for the 26-mile road race that begins at Pendleton’s Camp Las Pulgas and runs through rolling coastal hills with views of the Pacific Ocean.

“Race participants are looking for a challenge — MarSOC is a new challenge for Marines who want to explore opportunities in special operations,” Maj. Erin Gianopoulos, MarSOC marketing officer, said in a news release.

MarSOC, which is based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., is the primary sponsor for eight other races in the Hard Corps Series, which includes the June 19 Armed Services Mud Run.

The Semper Fit Division of the base’s Marine Corps Community Services organizes this year’s 10 races, which attract thousands of Marines and other service members, as well as elite runners and cyclists from throughout California to run or ride the base’s roads and rugged — often muddy — trails.

Along with the Bulldog Bike Race, the 2010 Camp Pendleton Race Series includes:

• Devil Dog Duathlon, March 20. A mostly flat 5-kilometer run through Camp Las Pulgas, followed by a 30K bike course through the base’s hills and another 5K run through Las Pulgas.

• Hard Corps Marathon, April 17. A 26.2-mile race along paved roads offering ocean views.

• World Famous Mud Run, June 5. The 10K race for five-person teams that includes muddy hills, a tunnel crawl, obstacle walls and a final mud pit. It was a sellout Jan. 1, the first day to register for any of the 2010 Hard Corps Race Series.

• World Famous Mud Run, June 6. Same 10K course as the previous day for five-person teams. It also was a sellout Jan. 1.

• World Famous Mud Run, June 12. The mud slog’s popularity enticed race organizers to add this third date for another 10K team race, which also sold out Jan. 1.

• Armed Service YMCA Mud Run, June 19. Same 10K mud run course. The race is sold out.

• Sprint Triathlon, Aug. 7. A maximum of 1,200 competitors will swim 500 yards in the ocean, at Assault Craft Unit 5’s beachfront compound, bike 30K across hilly roads and run 5K to the finish.

• Heartbreak Ridge 13.1 Marathon, Sept. 11. More than 1,000 runners will take to a mostly gravel, hilly off-road course at Las Pulgas.

• Buffalo Alley 10k/5K/1-mile run, Oct. 16. The challenging 10K and 5K races begins at Camp Horno, home to the 1st Marine Regiment, and honors fallen and wounded warriors. Kids can race in a 1-mile fun run.

For registration details or information, visit http://www.camppendletonraces.com.