Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
Date: (Sun.) Apr. 1, 2012
Location: Richmond, CA
Event Directors: 
- 510.779.8808, - 510.526.9071
Course Setter: Steve Gregg
Type: C; Standard White, Yellow, and Orange courses, and a special "THOMASS" course
This year's Point Pinole event will take place on Sunday, April 1st. I hope this later date will mean that the goats will definitely be out of the park, and that the bad weather that has plagued this event in recent years will be less likely to occur.
I will set the usual White, Yellow, and Orange courses, with lengths of 2.3 km, 2.5 km, and 3.9 km, respectively. As usual, beginners will be welcome, and short, repeating beginner clinics will be offered.
However, I have decided to try something new this year, and so the "main event" will not be the usual Prologue and Chase pair of races. Instead, I will set what the Canadians call a "THOMASS" course. It will be a mass-start race, starting at 11:30 AM or so, with everyone running the same course. However, in the middle of the course there will be a "box" of 10 controls that the competitors can take in any order, and where the number of those 10 controls you must visit depends on your age and sex — anywhere from only 2 for the older runners, to all 10 for the 21- to 39-year-old men. First across the finish line wins. Should be fun, and definitely something I do not think BAOC has done before.
Your total running distance will be somewhere between 3.7 km and 5.9 km, depending on your age and sex. Will that be enough of a handicap so that Jonas and company will have to push hard to win? Not sure, but it will be interesting to find out.
See the Course Setter's Notes for more information.
Joan Roos has agreed to be, not exactly the event director, but the "volunteer finder", so expect to get a call from her as the event date nears asking for help. Of particular value would be people not interested in the mass-start "THOMASS" event at 11:30, who could arrive at the park early, run their course, and be back by 11:30 to help "hold down the fort" while the mass-start race is taking place. Control pickup volunteers are also needed as well. If you are willing to help out at the event in any capacity, please contact either or .
As of Thursday, March 29th, the weather forecast is for a sunny Sunday! Although there will be tons of standing water in the park, especially if it rains hard again on Saturday as is currently forecast. So come prepared!
Request for Help with Control Pickup
I believe at this time we have enough volunteer staffing in place for the Point Pinole event, with the one glaring exception of control pickup. I would like to have a team in place ahead of time if at all possible, so if you are willing to pick up controls after the event, please let me know. Control pickup is quite easy at Point Pinole, as the park is quite flat, with many trails, and the controls are all reasonably close to one another this year. As usual, many hands make for light work. Thanks!
Driving Directions
Take the Richmond Parkway exit off Interstate 80 in Richmond, and go west for 1.3 miles. Immediately after the stoplight at San Pablo Avenue, turn right at the next light onto Atlas Road. After 0.8 miles on Atlas, you will cross over a set of railroad tracks and encounter a stop sign. Turn left onto Giant Highway at this intersection. You will pass a detention center on your right, and the park entrance will be immediately after that, also on your right. Pay the fee (if there is one), park, and walk over the railroad tracks to the staging area in the meadow.
There's a map here that shows the location of the event.