Saturday (04/6/18) Route Description

We will run a lengthy stretch along the Great Highway FIRST and get our remaining mileage in Golden Gate Park LAST. You will be logging between 9-13 miles depending upon your training level. Here is a link to the course map-

Saturday Long Run Course Map

Here is a description of our course:

Everyone will head SOUTH from the Beach Chalet on the paved path running along the Great Highway. Everyone will run ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE GREAT HIGHWAY! The intersection of Great Highway and SLOAT is the end of the Great Highway.

There’s a controlled intersection here and the paved path effectively ends. This is a 2.35 mile stretch. If you need to use the restroom and/or grab a drink of water you will need to cross the street and head WEST over to the rest area (this will be clear once you get there).

Turn around and head back to the Beach Chalet. This is admittedly a challenging stretch as it seems to go on FOREVER! Once you get back to the Beach Chalet, you will have 4.7 miles under your belt. Again, feel free to stop, knock back a gel and/or some water, use the restroom, etc.before you head into Golden Gate Park for your remaining mileage.

Head NORTH from the Beach Chalet and promptly take a right turn to get onto JFK. You will run along the dirt path for about a half a mile until you come to a stop sign. Turn LEFT at this stop sign at the pedestrian crosswalk onto the dirt path running along JFK. I will try to put some chalk down at this intersection indicating where to go.

You will continue running along this path for some time. As you close in on the first mile you will see the 'Bison Paddock' on your left. Shortly after you pass the paddock, you will see Lake Spreckles on the left. If you need water, cross the pedestrian crosswalk over to Lake Spreckles and you will see the water fountain on your left.

Continue running on the dirt path for close to a mile and you will eventually come to a 4 way stop at the intersection of JFK/Transverse. This is roughly 2 miles from the Beach Chalet. If you cross over to the LEFT side of JFK, you will find another water fountain.

Continue running on the RIGHT side of the dirt path past JFK/Transverse for another 200 meters are so. KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR A PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND A ‘RC 9’ IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PATH! Beginners will turn around here and head back to the Beach Chalet for 9 MILES!

Everyone else will continue running on the paved path through the park. Roughly half a mile from the aforementioned crosswalk and ‘RC 9’ you will see DeYoung Museum coming up on your RIGHT. It’s kind of a funky looking building, hard to miss. KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR A PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND A ‘RC 10’ IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PATH! Intermediate runners will turn around here and head back to the Beach Chalet for 10 MILES!

Advanced and Race level runners will continue running through the park. Roughly half a mile past the ‘RC 10’, you will come to an intersection in front of the Flower Observatory. This is JFK/MIDDLE DRIVE! There is a stop sign here. Look for a ‘RC 11’ in the middle of the path at this point. Advanced level runners will turn around here and head back to the Beach Chalet for 11 MILES!

Race level runners MUST cross over to the OTHER SIDE of JFK once you pass the ‘RC 11’! Continue running on the paved path until you reach the intersection of JFK/STANYAN. This is a controlled intersection with stop lights. You will need to cross over onto the panhandle that runs between OAK and FELL Street. You will run on the RIGHT side of the panhandle which is adjacent to OAK Street. KEEP RUNNING!

Keep your eyes peeled for the cross streets that intersect Oak Street. You will run for three quarters of a mile before you come to the intersection of OAK and LYON! LYON is 2 blocks past MASONIC. The intersection of OAK and MASONIC is controlled with a 4 way stop. This should make it easy to identify.

Look for a ‘RC 13’ in the middle of the path at the intersection of OAK/LYON. Race level runners will turn around here and head back to the Beach Chalet for 13 MILES.