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Briones – Golden Goat & Golden Kid

Date: (Sun.) Mar. 25, 2007
Location: Lafayette, CA
Event Director: - 510.658.4327
Course Setter: Penny DeMoss
Type: Extra long and strenuous courses, plus Orange (intermediate) course; NO BEGINNER COURSES

Course Setter's Notes

Next Sunday's Golden Goat at Briones should be loads of fun—if you like lots of running in a beautiful setting. Because we're using the same park as last year, anyone who participated has an idea of how runnable and fast Briones can be. The grass is short and the ground is soft—it should be a very exciting race.

We will not be using any area that was used last year. You'll be in one area that has only been used once (in a Rogaine), and one area that is newly mapped and has never been used before. If you think you know Briones, think again. Remember also, we're using the Bear Creek Road entrance, the SW portion of the park, not the parking area we used last year. See Driving Directions below.

Horses

As always, horses have the right-of-way. Do not spook horses by running up from behind without warning. Call out to the rider and ask if it is okay to pass. If horses are approaching from the front of you, walk on the edge of the trail, or stand aside, until they pass.

Courses

The Golden Goat – 13.1 km, 837 m climb, 27 controls (26 actually, see Rules)

The Golden Kid – 6.9 km, 410 m climb, 16 controls (15 actually, see Rules)

Mass start at 11:00 A.M., with a briefing at 10:45 at the Start area, which is 500 m from the registration/parking area. Courses close at 4:00 P.M.

You do not have to declare beforehand which course you are running. Everyone will be given the full map. The decision as to whether you do the Kid or the Golden Goat is made after you punch at control 15. If you decide to do the Kid you'll go from control 15 to the last (GO) control, which is 27, and then to the Finish. There is a line on the map with the word "kid" going from 15 to 27. It should be obvious (famous last words). If you are doing the entire Golden Goat, you simply carry on in order from 15 ... until you finish.

Orange Course – 5.6 km, 325 m climb, 11 controls

Start times from 10:30 A.M. until 12:30 P.M. Course closes at 3:00 P.M. (We decided to extend the closing time a bit, because the Goat doesn't close until 4:00 P.M.) You can walk out and watch the mass start of the Goat and still have time to do your course. The start for the Orange course is in the registration/parking area, not where the Goat starts. It will be self start. Instructions will be there to help you. The rules below refer to the Goat courses only. The Orange course is a standard "take them in order" course, with no skips.

Rules

Take the time to read these, as they are different than last year. Everyone, whether you are doing the Golden Kid or the entire Golden Goat, gets to skip any one control in the first 15. No skips are allowed after control 15.

Within those first 15 controls there is a split on the course. You must choose the "A" split or the "B" split. There are three controls on each of the splits. So, you'll go from control 11 to 12A, 13A, 14A, or you'll go from control 11 to 12B, 13B, 14B. The courses rejoin at 15. Your skip can be one of the controls of the split, but not all three. (You do only one of the splits, either "A" or "B", not both—I mention this only because last year someone did the "A" split, and then ran all the way back and did the "B" split!!!) Both the Kid and the full Goat courses close at 4:00 P.M. (Five full hours!)

Map

The map scale is 1:10,000. The contour interval is 7.5 m.

There is an out-of-bounds area that you must not cross. It is private property, including the trail along the western edge.

The mapping for Briones was done by different people with different styles. You will notice that some areas are mapped with little black dots on the edges of all vegetation changes, and other areas are not. Too bad they couldn't agree on one or the other. You will be going in and out of these differing map styles. More than likely you'll be too busy to care.

The maps will be in sealed map cases. Loose clue sheets will be available at registration.

While hanging bags in the newly mapped area, I noticed that there are no North lines—oops. But think about it, I planned the courses, reconnoitered, vetted, and only today noticed their absence. So there's a good chance you wouldn't have noticed. The area is very "easy"—up the hill is North and down is South. Also, the control numbers are oriented North as usual, so you can use them if needed. This only affects people doing the Golden Goat, as it is after the Golden Kid splits off for the finish.

Registration

Enter on the day of the event—no pre-registration required. We're using E-punch and self registration on all courses. The entry fee for the Golden Kid/Golden Goat is $12 per person; no discounts for groups or juniors.

The Orange course has the usual entry fee. Ev and Jean Beuerman will be on hand to remind you of the fee structure, and you can rent an E-punch stick from them as well. Registration will open around 9:30 A.M.

Prizes

There will be prizes for the first three men and the first three women on the Golden Kid and the Golden Goat. There will also be a prize for the first "Old Goat" (50+) male or female on each course. No prizes on Orange. :( Prizes will be handed out at 2:00 P.M. If you need to leave early, and you've won something, find Harold or me and we'll give it to you. Saves us having to mail it.

Aid

There will be two water stops on the Kid course, and an additional two if you continue on the full Goat. The water stops on the course are for drinking only. Please don't refill camelbacks or water bottles. There is a shelter with a drinking fountain that you'll pass between controls 10 and 11. It will be marked on the map by a water-cup symbol. You can refill camelbacks and bottles there if needed. Also, at the major trail junction where you decide whether you are going to finish on the Kid or continue on the Goat, (after control 15), we will have an aid station with plenty of water for drinking or refilling bottles, camelbacks, etc. We will be providing only water, but if you would like to have something put there for you (e.g., a special drink, something to eat, etc.) we will have a box at registration in which you can leave anything you'd like brought out to that aid station. It will be marked on the map by a water-cup symbol.

Spectator Control

The point at which runners will decide whether to finish the Kid or continue on the Golden Goat is only about 600 m from the parking/registration/finish area. You can come out and watch—Harold and I will be there manning the aid station. Also, be sure to bring your binoculars, because you'll be able to see the runners on the Golden Goat as they run along and down a ridge line in the distance. This can be done from the parking lot, you need not come out to the aid station.

Crossing Points

There are four crossing points on the map. They are not mandatory, but two are on a new fence everyone must cross to go from 9 to 10, and it will probably save you time and please the rancher if you cross where we've covered the barbed wire. The next crossing point (after 10) merely shows a safe place to cross the very steeply-sided stream/gully. The fourth crossing point is on the later part of the Goat course, and shows a place where you can easily slip under an older barbed-wire fence. The wire will not be covered, as it's not needed in this case.

Dangers

There's very little poison oak on this course, but bring your Tecnu and wash afterwards even if you think you avoided it. There are coyotes, bob cats, rattle snakes, skunks, ticks, feral cats, barbed wire, steep banks, cliffs, uncrossable gullies,... all the usual fun things.

Kidding aside, the one thing you should be aware of is that many of the reentrants that look crossable on the map, are in fact ... not. Everything is steeper than it looks on paper. Be careful about picking your crossing points. Don't take unnecessary risks, as I have found easy crossings on all reentrants/streams that you'll be required to cross, but I've also seen very dangerous drops within a hundred meters of those easy spots. If it looks dodgy, spend a few seconds to be safe, as it's always quicker in the end anyway.

Spikes/cleated shoes are strongly recommended.

Preview Map

In the registration area there will be a preview map of the area you'll be running in. It will show the crossing points, the water stops that are not at controls, and the out-of-bounds area. Take the time to peruse the map.

Dogs

Dogs must be leashed and under control at any posted area, parking lot, picnic site, lawn or developed area. Owners must carry a leash (six foot maximum). Dogs may be off leash in open space and undeveloped areas, provided they are under control at all times. There is an additional fee for dogs.

Driving Directions

See you there. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I may have overlooked something obvious.

Cheers

Penny DeMoss, Course Setter
Harold DeMoss, Event Director