2006 Boise METROGAIN III

The Greenbelt Challenge

 

What

Boise METROGAIN is an orienteering event spanning multiple mapped regions in and around Boise on the same date. It is designed to give an opportunity for the orienteering fans to experience long courses. On foot or on bike, you will try to find multiple controls along the lengthy course.

 

Registration

Pre-register by sending email to savelichko@yahoo.com before October 11 so we can pre-print maps for you. State your name and the course you selected (Long or Short). You don’t need to pre-register for Beginner course. You will need to fill out a registration form before your start so give yourself an ample amount of time for the final registration and warmup before the race starts at 11 am on October 14.

 

Courses

This year courses offer Long, Short, and Beginner options. Long course is suited for experienced athletes. Short course is suited for experienced juniors, women, and elderly athletes. Beginner course is suited for first comers and families with small kids. You have an option to explore on foot or use your mountain bike.

 

Long course (suited for experienced athletes) starts at the rotunda in Julia Davis park, goes through the park and BSU campus, continues for the short 500m along the Greenbelt to the Ann Morrison park, goes around Ann Morrison park, continues along the Greenbelt for about 2 km to the Veterans park, goes around Veterans and Willow Lane parks, and finishes in the Willow Lane park. See the map for the course layout. First leg will be on easy side as it shares with the short course. Course statistics (length and number of controls are tentative to give a sense of what to expect):

 

Leg #

Park Name

Length

km

## Controls

Map Scale

1

Julia Davis Park/BSU Campus

3

10

1:7500

2

Path to Ann Morrison Park

0.5

 

 

3

Ann Morrison Park

3

10

1:5000

4

Path to Veterans Park

2

 

 

5

Veterans/Willow Lane Parks

6

20

1:7500

 

Total:

14.5

40

 

 

Climb is negligible. Expected winning time on the long course is 1:30 hours.

 

Short course (suited for experienced juniors, women, and elderly athletes) starts at the rotunda in Julia Davis park, goes through the park and BSU campus, continues for the short 500m along the Greenbelt to the Ann Morrison park, goes around Ann Morrison park, and returns back to the Julia Davis Park for the couple last controls. It shares first leg and somewhat shares second leg with the Long course. See the map for the course layout. Course statistics (length and number of controls are tentative to give a sense of what to expect):

 

Leg #

Park Name

Length

km

## Controls

Map Scale

1

Julia Davis Park/BSU Campus

3

10

1:7500

2

Path to Ann Morrison Park

0.5

 

 

3

Ann Morrison Park

3

10

1:5000

4

Path back to Julia Davis Park

0.5

 

 

5

Julia Davis Park

0.5

2

1:7500

 

Total:

7.5

25

 

 

Climb is negligible. Expected winning time on the short course is 1:15 hours.

 

Beginner course (suited for first comers and families with small kids) starts at the rotunda in Julia Davis park, goes through the park and BSU campus, and finishes back at rotunda. Length of the course would be around 3 km.

 

Maps

Maps of Julia Davis Park/BSU Campus (1:7500), Ann Morrison park (1:5000), and Veterans/Willow Lane parks (1:7500) were recently updated. Look at the CTOC web site http://www.ctoc-boise.org/ctoc/maps.htm for samples of the maps.

 

Awards

First three places in each Long, Short, and Beginner courses will be awarded with special prizes. Honorable awards to female athletes on Long course, and, of course, our kids.

 

Start

Start will be Saturday October 14 at 11:00 am sharp at the rotunda in the Julia Davis Park. It will be mass start so be prepared for some fast pacing beginning.

 

What to Expect at the Start

10 minutes before the start (10 minutes before 11 am) all are called to the start line for the instructions.

2 minutes before the start all receive competition packets that include course layout map, clearly marked maps for each leg with pre-printed controls and punch boxes, and control clue sheet.

1 minute before start all allowed opening their competition packets.

At 11:00 am mass start is given.

 

Punching

Please punch at each control in corresponding boxes on your maps. For example, punch first 10 controls in Julia Davis Park/BSU Campus on Julia Davis/BSU Campus map in designated punch boxes. Punch next 10 controls in Ann Morrison Park in designated punch boxes on Ann Morrison Park map. And so on. You will surrender maps with punches at the finish so we can verify that you found all controls on your course. You will get maps back shortly thereafter.

 

Fees

To cover costs you will be charged:

-         Long and Short course $10 non-members and $5 members.

-         Beginner course fees are our regular.

 

Transportation and Babysitting

No babysitting is offered. Please consider parking and carpooling from the finish area at Willow Lane Park to the start in Julia Davis Park if you plan to run Long course. It is your responsibility to arrange for the transportation. Start and Finish for the Short and Beginner courses is at the rotunda in Julia Davis Park.

 

 

 

Water

Drinking water will be available at the start and finish, as well as one each control with water in Ann Morrison Park and Veterans/Willow Lane Parks. They will be marked on the maps with drinking glass symbol.

 

Hazards

It may be cold – dress according to the weather. Have a change of the clothes at your designated finish (Willow Park for Long course and Julia Davis Park for Short and Beginner courses). Stay hydrated – water is provided on the course. Plan to take some food with you on the course – you will need those extra calories. While crossing canals and streams on the bridges be careful as they may be slippery. All courses are designed to avoid traffic. You will cross major transportation arteries using under-bridge passages. However, there might be some traffic in the parks so be careful while crossing any roads in the parks.

If you chose to use bike on the course you are required to wear proper protective attire including approved helmet.

 

Directions

More information and maps are available at our web site:

http://www.ctoc-boise.org/ctoc/maps.htm

 

Julia Davis Park / BSU Campus, Boise, Idaho (Start and Short/Beginner Course Finish)

Park and BSU are located at the beautiful Boise Greenbelt along the Boise River. The park entrances are at the Capitol Blvd and Myrtle St (train engine entrance). Start and Finish will be at the rotunda that is close to the Boise Art Museum.
For out of Boise commuters:
I-84 to I-184 connection (Exit #??). Take I-184 toward city center. Drive along of I-184 (about 3-4 miles). I-184 will merge into Myrtle St. Keep in the right lane and go straight East passing about 5 lights (13th, 11th, 10th, 9th, Capitol Blvd). Park entrance is on the right after you have passed Capitol Blvd and a light. After you enter the park take right and drive to parking lots surrounding the Boise Zoo. It takes approximately 10 minutes from I-84.

 

Willow Lane Park, Boise, Idaho (Long Course Finish)

Park and Sport Complex is located Between Boise river and State Road West of Veterans Memorial Pkwy. Park entrance is off of Willow Lane.
Meet center is usually at the parking lot closest to the Boise river.
For out of Boise commuters:
I-84 onto Orchard St Exit in Boise (Exit #52). Go North on Orchard St. Pass Franklin Rd, Fairview Rd intersections, go down to Chinden Blvd (it takes about 10 minutes from I-84). Take left onto Chinden Blvd. Drive West 2-3 minutes along Chinden Blvd to Veterans Memorial Pkwy. Take right onto Veterans Memorial Pkwy. Drive to State Rd. Take left at the lights. Drive approximately 1/2 mile until the lights at Willow Lane. Take left onto Willow Lane at the lights. Drive forward to the park entrance.