Sonoma Valley High School cross county coach finishes #1 in every race

A Sonoma Valley resident and cross country coach at Sonoma Valley High School has been racking up wins anywhere that will let him run.

John Litzenberg has placed first in at least one category in all five races he’s run in the last six months — an effort that culminated in him running the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon on Jan. 15.

He finished eighth overall and first in the masters (40 and over age group) for the SF Giant Race 5K at Oracle Park and the Embarcadero in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2022.

He again finished first in the masters at the Clo Cow Half Marathon on Oct. 16, which took place along the hilly country roads of Petaluma. He was fourth overall to cross the finish line.

On Thanksgiving, Litzenberg took part in the Napa Valley Turkey Chase and, once again, placed first in the masters. He was second overall this time, climbing steadily up the ranks each race up to this point.

The Reindeer Run on Dec. 3 yielded his best finish yet, with a first-place overall medal. This was his second year running in the event at American Canyons at Wetlands Edge Park. For him, it was the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season.

At Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon, Litzenberg was 15th overall, third in the masters and the first man over 50 years old to cross the finish line, with a time of two hours, 52 minutes — an average of about six minutes, 35 seconds per mile. The course started in Tempe, then went through Scottsdale, then Phoenix and then back to Tempe, finishing on a bike path that circled a waterway at a beach park that's close to Arizona State University.

This was Litzenberg’s 21st marathon. He received a mini-record-shaped medal for winning in his age group.

Contact the reporter Rebecca Wolff at rebecca.wolff@sonomanews.com.