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Golden
Gate Canyon Run, 2008
This has been a very busy past several months for me, with a new baby,
and two moves. As such, I have not had time to adequately prepare for
the race. I have had several people offer to help recently. However,
the race day logistics last few weeks of activity are not the problem.
What's lacking is the stuff that needs to happen months in advance,
such as getting enough sponsors, listings in race calendars, and
marketing. It is impossible for me to put on a quality race this year.
I do not want to put it on as a small, cheaply run race. That's not
fair to you as runners, sponsors, or my family.
However, Golden Gate is to great of a course not to share it with
others. So, I am going to offer it to people as a free fun run. What
does that mean?
- Show up on Sunday, July 27. We'll start at 8:00am. (or
shortly thereafter).
- No registration or fees. However, I will collect donations
for the Gilpin County Search and Rescue.*
- You are responsible for your own park passes. There's a
self-service kiosk at the bottom of Mtn Base road, near the start.
Bring exact change, $6/vehicle, cash only. Please park in designated
parking areas only. We can fit about 20 cars at the start, the Kriley
Pond overlook, if everyone parks diagonally around the outside. There
are a few spots available at the kiosk, at the bottom of Mountain Base
Rd. Additional parking is available about 1/2 mi up Mtn Base Rd.
There's also parking in the lot just below Kriley Pond. Please use this
lot as a last resort to keep it open for people to fish. Please do not
park along Golden Gate Canyon Rd.
- To carpool, meet at the
parking area (around a grass median), near the Subway, at N Rubey
Drive, just N of Iowa, just E of hwy 93, in Golden. It's just 1/2mi
from the bottom of Golden Gate Cyn Rd, 15mi from the start. Plan
to meet at 6:45. Look for other runners and arrange your own carpools
at that time.
- I'll provide water at the start/finish, and plan to have
self-service water at two spots on the course, 5.5mi & 8.5mi. Bring
your own cups or water
bottles.
- There will be limited course markings. The route
isn't that hard to follow with a map (please download from this site).
I plan to put out signs at a
couple of key spots, but no promises. There may be pace group leaders,
experienced GG runners who can guide others, at a variety of different
speeds. I'll be leading a group at about a 1:45 pace. Also, people
running about the same speed can stay close
together, and regroup as needed.
- We'll do the 12.7mi course. There's a chance to bail-out,
avoiding the last and biggest climb of the course, and cutting out
about 2.5mi. Also, if there's interest in shorter
options, I can describe easy ones to follow at that time.
- It will be self-timed. I hope we'll all start together.
- BYO food and drink for after the run. We'll have a potluck
picnic after the run.
Directions
and course description
The Gilpin County Search and Rescue
is an all volunteer organization, that handles emergency searches and
rescue efforts, as well as delivery of food and medicines to shut-ins
during large snow storms, in the smallest, yet one of the most active
back-country counties in the state. They do not charge for their
services. They have been a vital part of the previous five GG races,
providing radio communications, first aid and safety. I couldn't have
done the races without them.
I expect to bring back Golden Gate, and other races in 2009, bigger and
better.
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