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Steve Bond
The most asked question over the last few weeks has been "What is the 2008 Gold Country Grand Prix race schedule?"
Most of the following ten races and dates are set in stone, but there might be a change or two - and an additional race - so keep checking back for the most current information.
The first event on the local calendar, once again, will be the Penn Valley Daffodil Run, with 5-kilometer and 10K races (as well as a kids' run, which is not part of the Grand Prix), held on Sunday, April 6. The race will start at Western Gateway Park.
The second event will be the Nevada City Spring Run 5K and 10K, starting at the Methodist Church at the top of Broad Street on Saturday, April 26.
The Kids' Run, usually held the first Saturday in May on the lower fields at Nevada Union High School, will no longer be part of the Grand Prix, but to the best of my knowledge will still be held.
The third event in the Grand Prix will be the Salmon Run, which has traditionally been held on Mother's Day. But due to popular demand, the event has switched to the day before, which this year is May 10. While billed as a 10K trail run, it actually has been measured reliably closer to 11K.
The following Saturday, May 17, the AnimalSave Run For the Animals 5K and 10K races, held on the same courses as the Spring Run, will give competitors a chance to see how much they've improved in three weeks.
Two weeks later, on Saturday, May 31, the Twin Cities Church Run For the Community 5K and 10K races will be held. Both race courses feature a combination of road, trail and field running, starting at the church near the intersection of Rough and Ready Highway and Ridge Road in Grass Valley.
The Habitat For Humanity trail run, held last year in the latter half of June, is off this year's schedule for now.
This marks not only the halfway point of the calendar year, but of the 2008 Grand Prix race year unless an additional race gets added (which is possible).
Five down, five to go.
The sixth race on the schedule is the Independence Day 5K, held on the Fourth of July mostly on the trails behind Nevada Union High School. This course features three significant hills, including one in the last mile dubbed "Killer" by the high school runners.
After a break of over two months to avoid the worst of the hot summer days, the Grand Prix continues with the Draft Horse Classic 5K and 10K races (as well as kids' run, which is not part of the Grand Prix). It'll be held on Sunday, Sept. 21, starting at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.
The eighth of the ten Grand Prix events will be the Run Through the Colors 5K and 10K, starting at Pioneer Park in Nevada City on Sunday, Oct. 19. Interestingly, this was the final event of the first Gold Country Grand Prix in 2006.
Next up, with the race year starting to wind down and points becoming more valuable to those in close Grand Prix age group competitions, are the Monster Gym 5K and 10K, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1, in Nevada City. More details to come on this one. But last year, before it was a Grand Prix event, I heard it was a three-loop 5K.
Last, but most certainly not least, is the races that will answer all the remaining questions in the standings: the Michael Bratton II Turkey Trot 5K and 10K, held on Thanksgiving Day on the trails and roads behind Nevada Union High School. In its third year, and second in the Grand Prix, this event, which includes walkers, has been far and away the most heavily attended of them all with over 1,000 in 2007.
Now you have the schedule for this year's Gold Country Grand Prix races.
Those of you who have written needing specific dates to help with your training schedule or to get time off from work so you won't miss races, now have what you need. The rest is up to you!
Next column, the all-important changes from last year's rules. Trust me, there are some big ones that will effect many.
This year's fun is just getting started.
See you out on the roads and trails!
ooo
Steve Bond is a competitive runner who lives in Nevada City and regularly writes columns and feature stories about running for The Union. He may be reached via e-mail at stillrunning55@sbcglobal.net.
Most of the following ten races and dates are set in stone, but there might be a change or two - and an additional race - so keep checking back for the most current information.
The first event on the local calendar, once again, will be the Penn Valley Daffodil Run, with 5-kilometer and 10K races (as well as a kids' run, which is not part of the Grand Prix), held on Sunday, April 6. The race will start at Western Gateway Park.
The second event will be the Nevada City Spring Run 5K and 10K, starting at the Methodist Church at the top of Broad Street on Saturday, April 26.
The Kids' Run, usually held the first Saturday in May on the lower fields at Nevada Union High School, will no longer be part of the Grand Prix, but to the best of my knowledge will still be held.
The third event in the Grand Prix will be the Salmon Run, which has traditionally been held on Mother's Day. But due to popular demand, the event has switched to the day before, which this year is May 10. While billed as a 10K trail run, it actually has been measured reliably closer to 11K.
The following Saturday, May 17, the AnimalSave Run For the Animals 5K and 10K races, held on the same courses as the Spring Run, will give competitors a chance to see how much they've improved in three weeks.
Two weeks later, on Saturday, May 31, the Twin Cities Church Run For the Community 5K and 10K races will be held. Both race courses feature a combination of road, trail and field running, starting at the church near the intersection of Rough and Ready Highway and Ridge Road in Grass Valley.
The Habitat For Humanity trail run, held last year in the latter half of June, is off this year's schedule for now.
This marks not only the halfway point of the calendar year, but of the 2008 Grand Prix race year unless an additional race gets added (which is possible).
Five down, five to go.
The sixth race on the schedule is the Independence Day 5K, held on the Fourth of July mostly on the trails behind Nevada Union High School. This course features three significant hills, including one in the last mile dubbed "Killer" by the high school runners.
After a break of over two months to avoid the worst of the hot summer days, the Grand Prix continues with the Draft Horse Classic 5K and 10K races (as well as kids' run, which is not part of the Grand Prix). It'll be held on Sunday, Sept. 21, starting at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.
The eighth of the ten Grand Prix events will be the Run Through the Colors 5K and 10K, starting at Pioneer Park in Nevada City on Sunday, Oct. 19. Interestingly, this was the final event of the first Gold Country Grand Prix in 2006.
Next up, with the race year starting to wind down and points becoming more valuable to those in close Grand Prix age group competitions, are the Monster Gym 5K and 10K, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1, in Nevada City. More details to come on this one. But last year, before it was a Grand Prix event, I heard it was a three-loop 5K.
Last, but most certainly not least, is the races that will answer all the remaining questions in the standings: the Michael Bratton II Turkey Trot 5K and 10K, held on Thanksgiving Day on the trails and roads behind Nevada Union High School. In its third year, and second in the Grand Prix, this event, which includes walkers, has been far and away the most heavily attended of them all with over 1,000 in 2007.
Now you have the schedule for this year's Gold Country Grand Prix races.
Those of you who have written needing specific dates to help with your training schedule or to get time off from work so you won't miss races, now have what you need. The rest is up to you!
Next column, the all-important changes from last year's rules. Trust me, there are some big ones that will effect many.
This year's fun is just getting started.
See you out on the roads and trails!
ooo
Steve Bond is a competitive runner who lives in Nevada City and regularly writes columns and feature stories about running for The Union. He may be reached via e-mail at stillrunning55@sbcglobal.net.
