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Gold Rush 50k
Runner Instructions
Thank you for entering the Gold Rush 50k. This is a beautiful rolling course that offers beautiful
vistas of the American River and Folsom Lake, traveling the same route as Gold Miners on their
way to Sutter’s Fort.
A few runner instructions.
1. Packet Pick Up for race morning will be at the Lake Natoma Inn parking lot at 4:30 AM4:50 AM. If you have a drop bag please bring it with you at this time. It is advised that
you clearly mark your drop bag with your name and bib number. This will aid the
volunteers in helping you find your bag.
2. Shuttle – There is a complimentary shuttle leaving the Lake Natoma Inn at 4:45 and 4:50
to take runners to the start. We highly recommend you take advantage of this as there
is NO PARKING AT THE START. You may, however, have your crew drop you off at
Cronan Ranch.
3. If you are taking the shuttle buses from the Lake Natoma Inn, please do not park at the
Lake Natoma Inn unless you are staying at the Inn. Please park in the garage at Reading
St and Leidesdorff St and walk to the bus pick-up. Parking in that garage is free all day.
4. Directions to the start, please see the crew directions for the instructions on how to get
to the start. Please print these out and have them with you, cell reception is spotty
and GPS is highly unreliable in getting you to Cronan Ranch.
5. If you choose to be dropped off at the start you will need to get your bib on Friday and
drop off your drop bag on Friday as well. We will not be accepting drop bags at Cronan
Ranch.
6. The Bureau of Land Management is currently grazing sheep at Cronan Ranch to keep
noxious weeds under control, and these sheep are protected by herding dogs. The
sheep are fenced in off the race route and should not interfere with runners, but if you
should encounter one please take efforts to appear non-threatening (walk, speak
soothingly) and do not approach the sheep closely.
7. The first aid station, The Movie Set, will have a gear drop option. If you choose to start
with a headlamp or gloves, etc. You may drop them here. The gear will be taken back to
the finish line. We recommend you mark your items to help ensure you get your items
back at the end, some people may have similar headlamps.
8. The course is 31.8 miles in length.
9. The course will be marked with pink ribbon. You may see some flour marks as well.
10. This event uses popular trails and sometimes the public will remove markings. We will
do our best to make sure the course is properly marked. If you have gone more than five
minutes without seeing a ribbon, retrace your steps back to the last ribbon you saw.
Turns at intersections will be marked with a couple of ribbons before the turn on the
corresponding side and a couple of ribbons after the turn.
11. Pacers are allowed not allowed.
12. One bottle is required, two bottles are recommended, especially if it’s warm – and it
looks like it will be!
13. Due to the drought we are experiencing, you may see gold nuggets left over from the
gold rush along the course. Please pick these up and turn them into the Race Director at
the finish line.
14. If you need to drop from the race, notify the closest Aid Station Captain. They will record
your name, time, and take your bib. You cannot drop at South Fork or Lake Hill Aid
Stations. Please plan ahead.
15. We will transport one drop bag to Folsom Point (mile 26.6).
16. There are 9 aid stations on this course. See the Runner pace chart and aid station
location chart. Most aid stations will have chips, cookies, salt, water, candy, etc.
17. Runner Cut-off Location - See the distance and pace chart for Runner Cut-off locations
and times, there are 3 of them. Please follow the directions of race personnel. These
cutoffs are for your safety, volunteer safety, and to keep with the instructions of our
permits.
18. Medical – we will have salt and Vaseline on the course, as well as more substantial
medical support at several aid stations. Please bring, or have your crew bring, any other
needs. The finish line will be fully stocked and medical personnel will be available.
19. Any runner that needs medical attention while on the course will be transported to the
nearest hospital by ambulance.
20. To repeat - Parts of the course will use multiuse paths and active roadways. Be aware of
mountain bikes, horses, and hikers. Runners must yield to horses and hikers.
21. As you are entering Historic Folsom, please follow directions given by course monitors.
They are there for your safety.
22. Please do not litter. Carry trash to the next aid station or use trash cans along the trails
23. You can be crewed at three aid stations. See the Crew Driving instructions. Your crew is
responsible for State Park entry fees ($12 for a day pass).
24. There is poison oak on the trail!
New to the Trails?
Welcome to the trails! Trail running offers a different running experience, it’s an adventurous
day in the woods. Being a slightly different sport there are some things you may want to keep
in mind if you are new to the trails:
1. Be familiar with your route. Take a minute to look over the course on the website,
although we will have the course marked it’s always good practice to at least have an
idea of where you will be running.
2. Wildlife – be mindful that you are in the great outdoors and you are running through
local wildlife habitats. You will mostly see birds, squirrels, and deer. However the trails
are also home to snakes, small lizards, ticks, and on extremely rare occasions mountain
lions. If you see a snake wait for him to cross the trail before proceeding. As a rule of
thumb, it is always a good idea to check for ticks after any run on the trails. On the off
chance that you see a mountain lion stop running, shout and make yourself look as big
as possible and wait for other runners behind you to catch up.
3. Poison oak is on the trail, particularly after you cross Salmon Falls Bridge and head
towards the south side of Folsom Lake. It is a good idea to have Tecnu or dish soap at
the finish line to wash off after the race. These will help break up the oils and will lower
your chance of getting a rash.
4. Fuel – You will be out on the trails for a longer period of time. Have a plan for proper
fueling, you will need more calories than you would if you were running on the road.
5. Watch your step – while this is not a highly technical trail for the most part, there are
rocks and roots out there. Particularly from mile 8-10 coming into Skunk Hollow. As you
tire your feet will not come as high up off the ground. Be attentive and watch the
ground.
GOLD RUSH 50K DISTANCE AND PACE CHART
Aid
Station
Mile
Marks*
Miles to
Next
Aid*
0
3
5.5
10
3
2.5
4.5
4
14
2.7
New York Creek
16.7
2.5
Lake View
19.2
4.3
Brown's Ravine
23.5
3.1
Folsom Point
26.6
2.9
Aid Station Names
Start: Cronan
Ranch
Movie Set
South Fork Trail
Skunk Hollow
Falcon Crest
Folsom Crossing
Finish: 200 Wool
St., Folsom
29.5
31.8
2.3
NA
Front
Runners
Pace
7:00/mi
6:30 AM
6:51 AM
7:08 AM
7:40 AM
8:08 AM
8:27 AM
8:44 AM
9:14 AM
9:36 AM
9:56 AM
10:12
PM
Pace
7:30/mi
Mid Pack
Runners
Pace
11:00/mi
Back
Runner
Pace
15:00/mi
6:30
6:52
7:11
7:45
6:30
7:03
7:30
8:20
6:30 AM
7:15 AM
7:53 AM
9:00 AM
10:01
AM
10:42
AM
11:19
AM
12:24
PM
Yes
No
No
Yes
1:11 PM
Yes
AM
AM
AM
AM
AM
AM
AM
AM
8:15 AM
9:04 AM
8:35 AM
9:33 AM
10:01
AM
10:48
AM
11:22
AM
11:54
AM
12:19
PM
8:54 AM
9:26 AM
9:49 AM
10:11
AM
10:28
AM
Crew
Access
No
No
No
No
No
10:00
AM
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
12:22
PM
Yes
1:09 PM
No
1:55 PM
No
2:30 PM
Yes
*Note that there will be slight variations in distances depending on how the runner navigates
the course and according to the gps device being used.
Runner cutoff times are absolute. The runner must leave this aid station by this time or the
runner will be pulled from the race. This is for the safety of the runner and safety of the
volunteers. Drops bags must be clearly marked with the runner’s name and bib number.
Times (except cut-off times) are
estimates.
Drop
Bag
No
Runner
Absolute
Cut-off
Time
2:30 PM
Crew Driving Directions
Lake Natoma Inn – 702 Gold Lake Drive, Folsom, CA 95630.
From 80: Take the Greenback Lane Exit and turn Easy on Greenback for 7.6 miles. Take a slight
left to stay on Greenback for another 1.6 miles. Take a slight right on to Leidesdorff Street and
turn right onto Gold Lake Drive.
From 50: Take the Folsom Boulevard Exit and head northeast for 2.7 miles. Take the Sutter
Street exit and turn left onto Sutter Street. Turn left onto Reading Street, followed by another
left onto Leidesdorff Street. Take another left onto Gold Lake Drive.
Cronan Ranch Trail Head - (Just off Pedro Hill Road and Highway 49) – Reminder: If you are not
taking the shuttle you can be dropped off at Cronan Ranch. There is no parking at Cronan
Ranch.
From 80: Take the Elm Avenue Exit and turn left (east) on Elm for .2 miles. Turn left onto CA49/El Dorado Street/High Street. Take a slight right ontp CA-49/El Dorado Street and continue
on CA-49 for 11.2 miles. Turn right onto Pedro Hill Road. Cronan Ranch will be on your left.
Skunk Hollow (Crew Access Point)
From the Lake Natoma Inn: Turn right on Leidesdorff Street followed by a left onto Wool Street
for .3 miles. Take a left onto Natoma Street and drive 2.2 miles. Turn right ontp E Natoma
Street and drive 1.1 miles. Turn left onto Green Valley Road and go 2.9 miles. Turn left onto
Salmon Falls Road and follow this for 5.9 miles. The Skunk Hollow parking lot is just after you
cross the Salmon Falls Bridge. It is a state parking lot so you will need to pay the $12 daily pass
fee. That is good for parking all day at any of the state parks.
Brown’s Ravine (Crew Access)
From Skunk Hollow: Head southwest on Salmon Falls Road for 5.9 miles. Turn right onto Green
Valley Road and drive .7 miles. Take a right onto Brown’s Ravine. The aid station is on the right
after you pass the toll booth. Again, parking here is $12 for a daily pass. If you paid at Skunk
Hollow make sure you keep your stub and you an use that pass here.
Folsom Point (Crew Access)
From Brown’s Ravine: Turn right onto Green Valley Road and drive for 2.2 miles. Take a right
onto E Natoma Street and drive .5 miles. Turn right onto Folsom Point. The aid station is after
the pay booth. After the pay booth stay to the right, do not enter the boat launch lot. After you
pass the boat launch lot the road will curve to the left and you will see a dirt trail on your right.
The aid station is on that dirt path, you should be able to see the pop up tent.
Finish – 200 Wool Street
From Folsom Point: Head out of the Folsom Point parking lot and turn right on E Natoma Street,
Drive .6 miles. Take a left on Natoma Street and drive for 2.2 miles. Take a left on Wool Street.
The destination is on the left. You can park for free in the parking lot across the street from the
finish line.