12th Annual P2P Point Reyes to Fairfax

(Note: this event is cross-listed with the Berkeley Running Club. You can check that site as well if you'd like to see who's going outside the MRC.)

Join us for a beautiful point-to-point run beginning in Point Reyes and ending in downtown Fairfax. This is the 12th running of this route originally designed by the Drew "the matchmaker" Cannon in 2015. This run has a little bit of everything: shady forest, open foothills, lots of single-track trails and fire road, and about a mile of pavement at the end. Yuch and Megan will lead the 23-mile route (4750' gain) from the Bear Valley visitor center: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/993659. For those who want something shorter, there's a 16-mile alternative (3100' gain) that begins in Samuel P. Taylor State Park: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1792723. Drew *may* lead this route, or may opt to go long--we'll keep you posted. If anyone wants to volunteer to lead the shorter route, please let us know. Whichever route you choose, please download the GPX file beforehand so you can navigate if need be. We'll try to stick together but may get spread out if there's a lot of variation in pace.

We will stagger the starts (with the shorter route starting later), so the two groups may meet along the trail or for post-run food and drink.

Since this is a point-to-point run, we'll take public transport to the start. We'll meet at the Broadway/Bolinas bus stop in Fairfax and take the #68 bus to the Bear Valley visitor center in Point Reyes. From there, we'll run our way back. You can find the bus schedule here (click the Saturday/Westbound tabs): https://marintransit.org/routes/68

Those doing the 23-mile route should catch the 7:53 bus, which arrives at Pt Reyes at 8:35. Those doing the 16-mile route should catch the 8:53 bus and get off at Samuel P. Taylor State Park (8185 Sir Francis Drake Blvd) at 9:21. We strongly recommend being at the bus stop ten minutes early--the bus waits for no one, and if you miss it, you miss the run. (Bus fare is $2 cash, $1.80 Clipper.) There is typically plenty of street parking around Claus Circle, a couple of blocks from the bus stop.

Post-run food and drinks at Gestalt Haus in Fairfax.

A few more points:

• Not a beginner run. The 23-mile run in particular is long, hilly, and doesn't have much in the way of bailout options. Whichever distance you choose, make sure you feel up to it. No one has to do it fast, but we'd like everyone to get to the finish.
• There is no potable water along either route, so bring as much as you think you'll need. It is possible to filter water at Lagunitas Creek, about halfway thru the 23-miler. If you think you'd like to do this, be sure to bring your favorite filter. The creek is just downstream of a water supply reservoir, and if you're lucky, you might see spawning salmon.
• Bring sufficient calories.
• Keep an eye on the weather forecast and come prepared, whether that means a rain jacket or sunscreen.
• If there's a lot of variation in pace, we may get spread out and/or divide into subgroups. As noted, you should download the GPX file beforehand to ensure that you stay on course.
• In the past, we've occasionally encountered mud and downed trees along the Point Reyes section. Who knows what the trails will look like this year, but be aware that this could be part of the fun.

If you have any questions, please raise them in the comments section!