SAN FRANCISCO BAY OIL SPILL
ALERT!
Last revised:
Sunday, November 18, 2007 8:20 PM
"The National Park Service might close San Francisco beaches again, depending on what
the wind and tides deliver to the shoreline over the next few weeks," said Golden
Gate National Recreation Area spokesman Rich Weideman.
The TURKEY has been in communication with the National Park Service (NPS) and the SF
Department of Parks & Recreation. There is no guarantee that the beach will
remain open on Thanksgiving Day. Following is an update on the effect of the oil spill on
the race.
The GREAT NEWS: The TURKEY Trot will be held on Thanksgiving
morning. However, some necessary and significant changes are being made to this
year's race.
If you choose not to participate due to the changes, please refer to the race credit policy.
NEW
LOCATION & COURSE
 The National Park Service originally closed
Ocean Beach to the public for 4 days and, at this late date, cannot guarantee that the
beach will be accessible on Thanksgiving Day. Some of
the highest tides of the year are expected to occur Thanksgiving week, possibly bringing
more oil to shore and causing an additional beach closure. Therefore, we will not
gamble on the possibility that Ocean Beach will be open again, and have come up with an
alternative location for the race: The Polo Field in Golden Gate Park.
Regardless of
whether Ocean Beach opens up again (then potentially closes again), the race WILL
be held in Golden Gate Park. This event cannot be planned on ongoing uncertainties
that are based on circumstances beyond control. Thank you for understanding.
The 2007 TURKEY Beach Trot is now officially the 2007 TURKEY PARK Trot, to be held in
Golden Gate Park.
This
race, as well as San Francisco, has been dealt a barrel of lemons. Let us make
lemonade........
Why
has the distance changed?
The new 5K
run & walk course will be taking trotters through
the lush greens of Golden Gate Park. The course has been shortened because there are
logistical & permitting issues
with holding races in Golden Gate Park that do not exist
at Ocean Beach, where an easy out & back 6 mile course can
be run with no road closures required. Unfortunately,
this is not the case in Golden Gate Park, where
significant
road closures would be required to accommodate 1,000
runners safely. Obtaining a permit for this is not feasible.
Consideration has also been given to a double loop course in
Golden Gate Park to accommodate a 10K distance. However,
given the course that will be used, there would be crowding
on the paths and trails when faster runners pass slower
runners & walkers on the second lap. Given the sudden situation
and other factors, there is no one size fits all fix.
If you have registered or are registering for the race, you will receive numerous email
updates over the next week. Please be patient
with us as we wish to ensure all information is available to all participants--no matter
how frequently the message is communicated. If
you have friends & family also participating, please ensure you relay the information
to them as well.
We regret any inconvenience caused (and will spare you any political commentary on that
wretched, wretched container ship that spilled the oil), but remain giddy with delight in
knowing that THE TURKEY will still have his day.
Be hungry. Be very hungry...
Most sincerely,
TURKEY BEACH TROT
Phone: (415) 595 6934
Web: http://www.turkeybeachtrot.com
Email: info@turkeybeachtrot.com
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