46th Billygoat Run at Bigelow Hollow State Park
Union, CT

SCHEDULE​

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• Mass start for the Billygoat and Kid is at 11:00 AM.

  • There will be a pre-race briefing at 10:45 AM.

  • Start is only about 600 m from registration.

• All courses close at 4:00 PM; 2:30 is the cut-off to earn a Billygoat T-shirt.

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REGISTRATION

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• Please register at the online registration site: [EventReg link to come]. See [who’s registered] for the Billygoat/Kid. NOTE: This registration page is for all Sunday courses: Billygoat, Kid, and/or score-O. See below for registration information for Saturday's courses. 

 

      *** Regular registration for the Billygoat and Kid is through April 25. ***

 

• Register before April 26 to ensure you get your finishing T-shirt (if under 3 1/2 hours) on race day, a nicely printed map on waterproof paper, and to avoid late registration fees. Our regular registration deadline is based on when we need to confirm our T-shirt and map printing orders.

• Late registration is from April 26-May 7.  If you register late, you will pay more, not be guaranteed a T-shirt, and may get a Staples-printed map.

• After May 7, please contact the event director to see if there are any maps left (or if you have to partake in the Billygoat tradition of following!).

 

Groups and Teams:  Teams and groups are more than welcome to participate! You can also follow and collaborate with others you meet on the course (see below). However, each person should register individually.

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COST

 

​Billygoat

                                      Adult                Junior (20 and under)

   Regular                        $38                  $20

   Late (after April 25)       $50                  $30

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Kid

                                      Adult                Junior (20 and under)

   Regular                        $20                  $15

   Late (after April 25)       $25                  $20

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Note that the fee for the Billygoat includes the T-shirt (if you finish in under 3.5 hours) and plenty of snacks and drinks.

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EVENT PARKING AND CHECK-IN​

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The event will be at Bigelow Hollow State Park in Union, CT. This was the site of the US Masters Orienteering Championships in 2022, hosted by NEOC. The parking fee for out of state vehicles is $15, free for CT vehicles. 

• We will have a primary parking lot, secondary lot, and overflow lot. A parking attendant will direct you to the correct lot. See the locator map below. For scale, it is 0.7 miles / 1.1 km from CT-171 to the main parking area.

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• Porta potties are available at the primary lot.

• Registration is immediately adjacent to the primary lot. 

• On the day of the event please check in at the registration area so we can confirm your participation, check your SI number, and give you control descriptions (if you want). For Billygoat participants, you can also leave any special drinks/snacks that you want at the midway refreshment stop.

• Note that there is no potable water source at the park. We will have water available at start, on the course, and at the finish.  However, we would appreciate it if you bring your own water bottle for use before and after the race.

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THE COURSES​

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Approximate data

• Billygoat: 13-14 km, 400-500 m climb, 30 controls (one skipped)

• The Kid:  6-8 km, 250 m climb, 16 controls (one skipped)

 

Skipped Control: One of the primary Billygoat traditions. You may skip one and only one control (this goes for “The Kid” as well). This can be any control. You may skip the first control, the last control, the control before or after the forked control or the forked control itself, or any other control. But only one. Choose wisely.

 

Forked Control: There may or may not be a forked control; please watch this space for updates. Final course design is not possible until the snow melts in the woods.

 

Changing from Billygoat to Kid: It may be possible to switch from the Billygoat to the Kid on race day. We will update this section once course design is finalized.

 

BILLYGOAT TRADITIONS

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Aside from having a great time, these core traditions will be observed:

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T-Shirts: Custom designed T-shirts will, as at all Billygoats, be awarded to all Billygoat registrants who finish within 3½ hours. A central tradition of the Billygoat has always been that the 3:30 limit is ruthlessly enforced. If you hear people at the finish yelling at you to run, give it all you’ve got.

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T-shirts will be unisex and will be available in sizes XS, S, M, L, XL and 2XL. Please indicate your T-shirt size when registering for the event. 

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Following: Another key tradition. Following and collaboration is explicitly allowed.

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Saeger Loop: This is a deliberate dogleg in an area of good visibility, which will allow you a good look at who is just ahead of you and who is chasing you. The course may or may not include this. 

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Control Codes: Keeping with tradition, control codes correspond to the initials of the top finishers of last year’s Billygoat Run.

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Club Award: The Club Award is given based solely on the judgment of the Head Goat and using criteria not announced, though in the past club spirit, enthusiasm, and perhaps most importantly bribery–which like following is explicitly allowed–have been notable features.

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SAFETY

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You must check in at the finish even if you do not complete the course. More details will be provided to orienteers upon check-in.

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COURSE AND MAP NOTES

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Map Scale: 1:10,000 with 5m contours

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Out-of-Bounds: ​

 

Please do not enter any out-of-bounds area, both to respect other landowners and preserve our ability to use the park in the future.

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SportIdent STICKS

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We strongly recommend that Billygoat competitors have SI-6, SI-9, SI-10, or SIAC sticks. All controls will be in Air+ mode. Rental sticks are available.

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