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Bon Tempe Reservoir

Date: Dec. 17 - 18, 2005
Location: Fairfax, CA
Event Director: - 510.658.4327
Course Setter: Penny DeMoss
Type: C; Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event, limited to BAOC members who volunteered during 2005. Participation is free, but limited to 20 per day.

Event Write-Up

By Penny DeMoss

Well, I see that the 5+ inches of rain over at Bon Tempe on Sunday set a record. The most since they started recording amounts 100 yrs. ago. Figures doesn't it? The day had an ominous start for us, first having to get ready to go in the dark with no power at our house (tripping over 4 spooked cats all the while) and then there was the horrible bus, truck, and multiple car accident on 880 that we had to navigate around. What more could happen?. We got set up in the shelter and before long Steph, Derek, and the boys showed up and told of a weather alert ... thunder and lightening was expected. Then Peter Graube shows up with news of a tornado on the way ... and all the while the cascade coming down from the dam was positively roaring ... an absolute torrent of water coming down where there was not much coming down at all on Sat. We wondered if the picnic area ever flooded. Rory kept a close watch on the water level near a particular bush, ready to let all know if we had to run for it. Gusty winds sent rain into the shelter, so we blocked off one end with a tarp. The temperature was in the mid 50's F. Whew ... so you're probably thinking that the Sunday runners had it worse than those on Saturday. Guess again. On Saturday the temp. never got above the low 40's F. Add rain and some wind on the ridges, and you've got one bunch of miserable runners. When you're that cold your hands don't work, and many complained of not being able to punch their cards. I'll tell you, it was brutal, and the din of the chattering teeth was memorable. I think the Saturday runners had it worse.

The Hillside of Death was not much of a problem. I kept the controls high on the hillside and very visible. Most people took no chances though, and took the time to climb up to the trail and come back down to the last control. Some even did that for the middle control. Whatever works, right? Unfortunately it appears to Harold and me that the scotch broom is taking over the park in spite of the rangers' concerted efforts to get rid of it. The lack of poison oak was a nice treat though.

On Saturday, Brad Wetmore had the fastest time on Long, with Ian Tidswell (who ran in shorts!) in second, and Peter "all I want for Christmas is a pair of running gloves" Graham in third. Sunday's fastest time on Long was turned in by Tapio Karras, with Andrew Masalkovas a close second, and Derek Maclean was third. I think about 3 of the 5 inches of rain come down while Derek was out running early. He certainly got the worst of it in that respect.

On Saturday, the best time on Medium was turned in by Chad Davis. He was well clear of Nick Corsano in second, who in turn was well clear of Jennifer Kerr in third. On Sunday, George Minarik bested Chad's time from the day before by almost two minutes. Evan Custer was second, and Steph Maclean pulled out a good run for third after being ill all week.

There were no competitors on Short on Sunday. Jim Fish had so much fun with his winning run on Saturday that he went back out on Medium. Beth Dixon was second and Steve Beuerman was third.

The full (combined and revised) results are below.

Thanks to the following for their help with this event. The rangers at the Marin Water District, Rosemary Johnson for getting the permits, Bob Cooley for printing the maps, and Steve Gregg for helping us pick up controls on Tuesday. Thank you Harold for helping me vet the courses, and put out and fetch controls. But most of all, thank you to the people who attended for your help at meets throughout the year. (This was the thanks you got ... making you slog around in the freezing rain...)


Results

Bon Tempe Reservoir

Fairfax, CA
Saturday/Sunday, December 17/18, 2005


  Pl  Name                 Time     Day


Short Course    (3.4 km, 165 m climb, 8 controls)

   1  Jim Fish            1:20:48   Sat.
   2  Beth Dixon          1:29:08   Sat.
   3  Steve Beuerman      1:33:00   Sat.
   4  Vic Revenko         1:47:45   Sat.
   5  Barbara Straka      2:24:48   Sat.

      Dean French           DNF     Sat.


Medium Course   (5.2 km, 230 m climb, 12 controls)

   1  George Minarik      1:19:49   Sun.
   2  Chad Davis          1:21:44   Sat.
   3  Evan Custer         1:30:21   Sun.
   4  Nick Corsano        1:41:10   Sat.
   5  Steph Maclean       1:51:47   Sun.
   6  Jennifer Kerr       2:09:45   Sat.
   7  Bill Straka         2:21:05   Sat.
   8  Leif Kirschenbaum   2:27:10   Sun.
   9  Bill Wright         3:00:03   Sat.
  10  Nancy Lindeman      4:05:52   Sat.

      Marina Keating        DNF     Sat.
      Shirley Pierce        DNF     Sat.

  Second Course

      Jim Fish            2:31:28   Sat.


Long Course     (6.5 km, 310 m climb, 16 controls)

   1  Tapio Karras        1:24:26   Sun.
   2  Andrew Masalkovas   1:25:03   Sun.
   3  Derek Maclean       1:30:07   Sun.
   4  Steve Gregg         1:33:02   Sun.
   5  Dan Greene          1:39:43   Sun.
   6  Deron VanHoff       1:42:05   Sun.
   7  Brad Wetmore        1:42:28   Sat.
   8  Ian Tidswell        1:45:47   Sat.
   9  Peter Graham        1:54:16   Sat.
  10  Wendell Doman       1:56:31   Sun.
  11  Peter Graube        2:03:20   Sun.
  12  Gavin Wyatt-Mair    2:04:40   Sat.
  13  Jim Waite           2:06:30   Sat.
  14  Mark Blair          2:24:01   Sun.
  15  Joe Maffei          2:31:53   Sat.
  16  Kelly Wells         2:49:30   Sun.

      Matthias Kohler       DNF     Sat.
      Bill Papendick        DNF     Sat.
      Chuck Spalding        DNF     Sat.

_______________

DNF = Did not finish (missed one or more controls)