We are having a 14.5 mile group training run that will start at the Boone County History & Culture Center, 3801 Ponderosa St, Columbia, MO 65201.Everyone is welcome whether or not you are training for the HOA marathon or relay. If you want to run more than 14.5 miles, you can add more mileage at the end or you can also shorten at end by not going out to the lake if you want less.
We will meet at the Boone County History and Culture Center, 3801 Ponderosa St, Columbia, MO. We will start in parking lot along Ponderosa. There should be plenty of parking and they don't open until 11 am. We would suggest parking in the lot south of their building along Ponderosa and not directly in front of the building.
We will run from the HOA start to approximately Mile 4 at Rock Bridge Elementary School. Then we will turn left on 163 and run about 2.5 miles on the old course. At Pierpont, we will turn left and get back on the course running the last 8 miles to the end (Boone County History and Culture Center).
Feel free to carry your own beverage, but there will be 4 water stations (look for coolers). One at 4.0 mi (Rock Bridge Elementary), 8 mi (Shooting Star Trailhead), ~10.3 mi & ~12.9 mi (Toltan HS) - bottled water will be provided.
The course will not be marked. Please take written instructions or your smartphone to help navigate if you are concerned about getting off course or run with a buddy.
Here's the map for the training run (you can export the GPX file if needed):
https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/4488539002
Course Instructions for Training Run (these are actual course instructions for the marathon with modifications for the training run):
There are several roundabouts on this course. All roundabouts are handled the same way. This is how to run the roundabouts:
As you approach the roundabout, enter on the sidewalk to the left (clockwise) – stay on the sidewalk. Cross at the pedestrian crosswalk. Continue on the sidewalk. Do not run in the road. Do not cut across the middle. Do not run counter-clockwise around the roundabout.
Start – Boone County History and Culture Center – 3801 Ponderosa St. Columbia, MO
Start line – In the parking lot near the playground.
Exit parking lot and turn Right on Ponderosa
Run up to and circle the roundabout clockwise and back to Ponderosa
Immediate left on E. Nifong Blvd – no shoulder, exercise caution, run single file
Left on State Farm Pkwy – Stay on the left (east) sidewalk. Do not cross the road at State Farm Pkwy – simply turn left onto the sidewalk. You will soon approach the first roundabout. Stay to the east/south side of the roundabout – use sidewalks and pedestrian crossing. See roundabout directions.
Roundabout exits to Veterans Pkwy – sidewalk
Left on S. Providence Rd. – bike Lane
At Rock Bridge Elementary turn left on 163 (cutting through to the course starting at Pierpont)
Left at Pierpont/163 (~6.6 miles)
Left on E Bonne Femme Church Rd – gravel ( you will pass Shooting Star Trail Head on your left)
Left on S. Gans Creek Rd – gravel
Left on E. Gans Rd
Left again continuing to E. Gans Rd – sidewalk to just past the conservation Office
Cross road at conservation Office – to sidewalk on north side of E. Gans Rd.
Right on Bristol Lake Pkwy – (watch for brown Philips Lake sign) – runners to stay on sidewalk heading toward the lake
Right into parking lot to Philips Lake – stay to the right entering the lake trail area
Run counterclockwise around the lake including over the spillway (should be bridge over this section at some point per the City)
Exit Philips Lake trail to the parking lot back to left on Bristol Lake Pkwy – runners to take the road (left hand side) heading back down Bristol Lake from the lake area)
Turn left on E. Gans Rd and get back on sidewalk (sidewalk is wider at this stretch)
E. Gans Rd becomes Discovery
Left on Endeavor
Stay left on sidewalk and use ped crossing at roundabout *see roundabout instructions above*
Follow signs toward Nocona (also labeled Briarmont Ave.) – sidewalk
Follow sidewalk and ped crossings and continue around roundabouts
Left on Ponderosa
This is where the sidewalk ends. Stay to the left of the road and pass 3Fifteen Primo Cannabis
Take the first Nifong Park entrance to the left immediately past 3Fifteen Primo Cannabis
Enter trail
Finish at Gordon Cabin with Easley store just ahead of you!
It sounds like a lot but really isn't that bad!
There will be another training run in August (starting at Devils Ice Box if you'd like a chance to tackle Easley Hill.
Don't forget to sign up for the marathon, team relay or to volunteer:
http://heartofamericamarathon.com
Event Venue
Boone County History & Culture Center, 3801 Ponderosa St, Columbia, MO 65201-5460, United States,Columbia, Missouri
