Construction on 5K Course Will Be Done By Race/Watch For Equipment

Those of you practicing for the Tarantula Run or visiting the Interpretive Center may have noticed the equipment and crews working near the ponds below Walnut Blvd.

If you are practicing for the 5K this weekend, you may want to avoid this area near the ponds. Our crews will be working through the weekend, and with all the equipment it's a good idea to just stay out of the way.

Our crews have said they will ensure this section of the course is ready for the runners by race day.

We are clearing excess vegetation from the pond to improve habitat for California red-legged frogs. We will also be adding turtle rafts because there are about a dozen western pond turtles using the pond.

After the work on the pond is finished, we expect hikers on the Walnut and Kellogg Creek trails will be able to see the turtles basking on the rafts.

We clear out about four ponds every year to improve the habitat for the frogs and the California tiger salamander.

The frog and the salamander are both considered a “threatened species” by the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife. They have thrived in the protected environment of the Los Vaqueros Watershed. The turtles are also common in the watershed and are a “species of concern” and protected from hunting throughout California.

You Can Still Register Online For the Tarantula Run

We’ve closed the mail-in registration for the Tarantula Run, but you can still register online with Active.com through next Wednesday.

In addition, you can register in person on the day of the race, Saturday, Oct. 25.

To make it a little easier, print out this application, fill it out at home and bring it with you to the race.

Make sure you get there early to give yourself enough time to register and warm-up.

We open the gates to the runners at 6:30 a.m. and the half-marathon starts at 8 a.m. The 5K-10K starts at 8:30 a.m. Please note that the free 1K for kids will now start at 10 a.m. You need to register for the 1K, but you can do that the day of the race.