M.O.R.E.: Mystery Solved!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Mystery Solved!

On my way to meeting Patty for a run at Heritage, I noticed people just sitting in chairs at every corner of McBean. My initial thought was that these people were canvassing the area and were just waiting to be picked up. The funny thing is, Patty also noticed these people on her way to the park. As we made our way up the bike trail from Heritage to Decoro, over McBean towards Helmers, into Bridgeport and back to Heritage we came upon another man sitting in a folding chair at the corner. Curiosity got the better of us and we had to stop and ask him what he was doing. As it turns out, the city hired all these people to sit at corners and count traffic. He was a very nice man and I'm glad we stopped to chat. Maybe we should do that more often, stop and chat with people we meet along the way. Although it may ruin our already slow pace. I think we ended up running 9.3 avg miles, which isn't too bad considering the hilly route we took and considering that my legs felt like crap from the very beginning. I'm reminded of an interview I recently read of Kara Goucher, pro marathoner and Olympian. She nailed it when she basically said "running is painful". There is really no way around it. So why do we do it? I run to help me keep my weight in check while I continue to enjoy eating the things I like to eat, but most of all, I run for the camaraderie and the stress relief benefits. Why do most people run? Is it to see how far they can push their bodies? Is it to set personal bests? Why do you run?

4 comments:

Patty said...: I was thinking on the way home that we could have easily walked for 10 minutes to cool down instead of standing near our cars and talking for a half hour! I am pretty happy with the pace considering I felt dead legged and short of breath the whole time. It really was warmer today and my house was still pretty hot when I got home. I have to say that bottom line, the reason I run is to keep my weight down, but I really get so much more than that, so that is why I can stay consistent.; May 27, 2009 at 9:08 PM
justme said...: i run b/c it is a challenge each time you go out for that run, whether you are running for a time, distance, or you didn't feel well that day and want to get out and see if you can.

I always feel like I accomplished something after I run.; May 28, 2009 at 10:50 AM
marathon mom said...: I guess no matter how aweful I feel during a run, I am always glad I did it AFTERWARDS! Also,I think most runners have a competitive nature in all aspects of their lives, although they won't always admit it.; May 28, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Patty said...: I must say that the social part of running is a big plus for me as I get older. I observed another running pair that I have always admired for their consistancy and just overall awesome running abilities. Anyway they were just walking and talking today and I thought that was great, sometimes it is just too hard, but it is nice to be able to share that time with a good friend!; May 28, 2009 at 10:39 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.