M.O.R.E.: Water Tower

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Water Tower

Today was a harder than usual workout. We wanted to make up for our lack of running these last few weeks so we ran the hilly paseos of Valencia. We met at our usual Chesebrough Park and headed into the paseos towards Helmers Elementary. Immediately we started on an incline, which is even harder when your legs aren't quite warmed up yet. Once we got onto the paseos, the trail evened up a bit and was more of a rolling hill workout. As we headed down behind Helmers, we decided to tackle the water tower road. I have attempted this road many times in the past and have never made it to the top without stopping. I am happy to report that I finally made it! And my friends were not too far behind me. Unfortunately once we got that over with, we still had to work our way back up the switch backs behind Helmers. All in all, it was a good run and I'm really happy that we were able to run two days in a row. Although I'm sure I'll hear about how sore they are tomorrow.

4 comments:

Patty said...: The only good part about running in the back is being able to curse out the person who's idea it was to run the hill in the first place. I know I didn't kill it but I definitely think it is doable, and is now a new challenge for me. I am glad we did it, and I am not planning on being sore tomorrow!; February 19, 2009 at 9:38 PM
marathon mom said...: I'm already sore! The only way I know I'm actually improving is when I'm able to do something I wasn't able to before. The same is true with our run up the dirt trail from the Apple Core. Remember how we had to stop at the top of the gate or along the way up and now we are able to continue on? Remember. . .hills are intervals in disguise, but without the crowd.; February 19, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Claire said...: I am so impressed-I remember walking up that path behind Helmers as a child and wanting to die!

I am very nervous that when I visit next time that I will be invited along to run up that path or some horrible hill. I need to start training now!; February 20, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Picture Lady said...: Sounds like a good time! I'm jealous!
I've never gone up there... the no trespassing or keep out signs always caused me pause. However, I have a child who claims it is the best place to watch the fireworks if the police don't catch you.

I always feel good about my daily 3 mile commitment until I hear how far you all go when you run. I'm suppose to be the rabbit, but I feel more like the tortoise, slow and steady :-)
Well congrats on the water tower hill ~ charge on!
"Good luck is another name for tenacity of purpose." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson; February 20, 2009 at 5:17 PM

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Favorite Trails

South Fork 3.1: Start from dirt parking lot on Magic Mtn Pkway and run to the loop at Wiley Bridge and return the same way.

Tesoro 3.25: Start in Albertson parking lot and take sidewalk/trail until it ends and then enter the water tower road to the top two towers where the ends. Return the same way.

Chesebrough 3.25/4.60: From Chesebrough Park, N. to Copperhill, So. on Bike Trail, turn around at Decoro, back up trail to power lines to bridge at park. Turn around at Heritage will give you 4.6 miles.

Chesebrough 3.5: Chesebrough Park down to McBean, south to Northpark Dr., the paseo trailhead. Take the paseo to Helmers and back. Very hilly.

Bridgeport 4.0: Fairly flat, run toward Lowes and under Bouquet bridge to RiverPark community until you reach the closed gates and return. For a hilly run, go north into Helmers and run up the paseo switchbacks into Northpark where the paseo ends and return the same way.

Chesebrough 4.0: N. to Copperhill to west side of river trail, run S. on Bike Trail past Decoro bridge, across Decoro to the east side of river trail, up back to power lines trail, back to park.

Chesebrough 4.0: From park down power line trail to Heritage Park and back same way.

Bridgeport 4.0: From School, cross McBean via bridge or street and head into industrial center on Ave. Scott Bridge and enter bike trail going south toward the train bridge. Turn around at train bridge and return same way or cross the bridge and head toward Peet's after crossing train bridge and back onto the Lowes Trail.

Heritage 4.0: From park, run up bike trail to Decoro, over McBean Bridge into Helmers, and into Bridgeport through lake trail back to park. Can be done in reverse. Moderately hilly.

Chesebrough 4.25: Chesebrough north to Copperhill, left to Albertson side of bike trail. Run south on trail to Decoro and cross over bridge and head north all the way to Copperhill on east side of river trail and back to the park the same way as started.

Cheese/Decoro/Helmers 4.25: From the park, down dirt trail to bike path, south to Decoro. Leave bike path at Decoro and cross paseo bridge at McBean. Stay on paseo up hill towards Helmers. Run up water tower trail once then continue on to switchbacks and paseos back to park.

Heritage/Bridgeport 3.3: Heritage Park south to McBean Bridge @ Panera. Cross and head toward Lowes bike trail and head east toward Bridgeport Park. Halfway mark is at park bathroom, head back by entering trail along the lake and back onto the bridge.

Lowes 4.25: Lowe's parking lot to McBean, cross the bridge and to South Fork. At Valencia Bridge, enter trail behind Hart Baseball diamonds. Continue on trail to Bouquet and across the bridge on the east side and back under the bridge again towards Lowes.

Peet's & Decoro 5.2: Peet's Coffee to train bridge path; to Decoro and across bridge; back down McBean side of bike trail back to Peete's.

Peet's & Wiley 6.0: Start at Peet's Coffee and head east toward South Fork trail and past the Wiley Bridge. Keep running another 200 yards to where the trail forks left and right. Turn back same way.

Peet's & Copperhill 6.0: From Peet's to bike trail heading north to Copperhill and back.

Albertson 7.0: From the Albertson parking lot on Copperhill, enter the westside bike trail and head south until the train bridge. Return the same way.

Peet's 8.5: Run to Copperhill on east side of river trail and return via train bridge on other side.

Lowes 10: Start in the Lowes parking lot. Enter the bike trail heading west. At McBean, cross the bridge and head east toward SouthFork trail. Continue on trail until you come to the Wiley bridge and head back the same way.

McBean 14: This route can be done from anywhere along the trail route. Starting from McDonald's across the post office, run to the end of the South Fork trail and return the same way, cross the McBean bridge and run on the Lowes trail until you hit Bridgeport Elementary and then cross Newhall Ranch via the bridge or street and run back towards McBean. Continue north on McBean until you hit Copperhill. At Copperhill, cross McBean and enter San Francisquito bike trail and run south on the trail until you are back at McDonalds.