WMA XC Course Update

from Lynn Walker

Well, good news WMA cross country participants, our beloved PA officials have saved the day and come up with an alternate course plan at the same venue, Granite Regional Park. John Mansoor has given me a draft of the new course and provides this explanation:

"Here is a detailed map which includes mile and kilometer marks by tomorrow. Basic description is 1- 1/2 times around the soccer fields at the start then out to the course. 2-1/2 complete loops on the course which gives you four hills total for 8K. The course is almost completely done right now with a small 40 meter section that is being worked on today. Any new rain should not affect this route."

I have drawn lines in pink to indicate where the hill sections are located. These represent both up and downhill sections and those to the left, towards the soccer field are traversed in both directions (up and down).

For those wanting to visit the park and run on the course before the big day, if you go to the north side of the park by the picnic area and follow the service road you will come to a locked gate with pedestrian access. You will find an asphalt road on the other side of the horseshoe pits, up against the embankment. Follow this (green line on map) for almost half a mile and you will come out in the area of the course where the runners enter the park (about .8 mile mark). Pay attention to how you got there or you might miss the trail on your way back out. Help yourself to a blackberry snack, courtesy of Mother Nature. The berries that pull off easiest are the sweetest.

Temperatures are projected to be 68-70 degrees F for the 8am races, 73-75 degres for the 9am races. There is no shade to be found on the course. There are sections with broken asphalt and gravel which will make spikes inconvenient. Except for the grassy soccer fields, most of the course is hard packed dirt with dry grass trimmed to 6 inches. One spot has loose and half-buried rocks so be aware and avoid tripping.

I have also circled in yellow, and numbered 1-3, the three free parking lots. The large parking lot on the far west side of the park bordered by Cucamonga Ave. and Ramona Ave. charges for parking.

Click here to view a larger image.