M.O.R.E.: The Long Road Ahead

Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Long Road Ahead

Well I think I'm going to live up to my blog name and finally start training for a marathon. It's funny because I've been thinking about it a lot this last week, but was afraid to say anything to my friends in case it might scare them off and Patty was secretly plotting the same thing in her mind and hadn't said anything either. During our long run today ("C" was sleeping in), we both confessed our plans, which actually were quite similar. See, great minds do think (and scheme) alike! I think it was the fact that we were both feeling much better this morning on our run that gave us hope and confidence to even consider the marathon. We ran from Lowes to the Wiley Bridge on the South Fork trail and then headed back via the trail beside the Hart baseball diamonds for an even 8 miles, all under 10 min. pace. We got some good info from a seasoned marathoner at our local Starbucks so I think we're ready to go. Our plans are to run a half marathon in the fall/winter and then a marathon in early spring, possibly L.A., San Diego, or Santa Barbara. I'm actually looking forward to it.

5 comments:

Patty said...: I have to say that 8 miles in the cool morning air, is a whole lot easier than 4 miles, in the wind and the heat! Planning a trip to buy new shoes this week, my hip and hamstring are a bit sore, they are way overdue. I know you can do the marathon, but it does take time to train, we just have to take it one run, and one week at a time. If the "Biggest Losers" can do it, we can. I was even inspired by the loser in the movie "Run Fat Boy Run" and that was just a movie. You should watch it!; May 16, 2009 at 2:18 PM
marathon mom said...: We should consider the Santa Barbara International Marathon. It's scheduled for Dec. 6th, which would work well with the training runs for the SCV marathon. The course doesn't look too bad, except for a half mile stretch of uphill at mile 23. Something to think about. We could also do the SCV half for a training run to prep for it.; May 16, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Patty said...: I will check it out, I definately think we should go somewhere it doesn't take too long to get to. I am hoping it is cooler for your son's race, good luck to him and all the boys!; May 16, 2009 at 4:25 PM
marathon mom said...: We got back from the CIF prelims at about 9:30. It took us 2 hours to drive there so that we can watch a 3 minute race. None of them had their best race, but I think they were ready for the season to end. I wish my friends could have been there, but I did the next best thing and took pictures of the VHS and WR kids. As usual, they're in my gallery.; May 16, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Claire said...: Wow, you ladies are awesome! I am feeling like a running loser right now...my running has been nonexistent these past few weeks and here you are thinking about marathons!

Better get my act together if I hope to ever do a 1/2. I continue to be inspired by all of you!; May 17, 2009 at 8:20 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.