Slideshow: Mount Tam Hill Climb

For the stalwart runners of Mill Valley and throughout Marin, 2.8 miles is a mere jaunt compared to the and its and brethren.

But for the nearly 100 participants in the 31st edition of the Mount Tam Hill Climb on Labor Day, those 2.8-miles were enough to climb a whopping 2,572 feet - from the in downtown Mill Valley to the door of the on the top of Mount Tam.

Our photographer Hans Roenau took photos for us at the start line.

"It's not for the faint of heart," Roenau says.

In years past, runners chose their own way to the top, utilizing myriad short cuts. This year was different, as runners had to stick to a pre-determined route.

Newcomer Justin Morejohn, 26, won the race in a time of 38 minutes, while 36-year-old Rachel Lloyd took first among women. As usual, the race featured some of the biggest names in Dipsea history, including Russ Kiernan and Eve Pell, the latter of whom was running in memory of her late Husband, longtime Dipsea competitor Sam Hirabayashi.