M.O.R.E.: Perspectives on Walking

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Perspectives on Walking

I have to say I'm NOT a walker. I'm just too impatient. If I can get somewhere quicker by running, then I'll run. Today I brought my dog to Central Park to visit other dogs at the park. I decided to take the long way and walked from the basketball courts on the XC trail to the dog park rather than going directly to it through the parking lot. I used to think the first mile of the XC course at CP was the worst part when running and now I'm convinced that it is. Today's walk confirmed it. When running that first mile, it seems to go on forever, but walking it feels like an eternity. In fact, I cheated by jogging that part here and there because I just couldn't stand it anymore. I suppose the walk put the trail into perspective for me. The next time I'm dreading that section while running, I will think back and remember that it's better than walking it. After all that walking, my dog didn't seem too interested in the other dogs in the park and wanted to get the heck out of there. I hope he enjoyed the walk!

P.S. I hope my friends were successful today with their shopping for running shoes.

4 comments:

Patty said...: I did get a pair of shoes and I can't wait to try them out! They tried to get me to buy the same ones I had been wearing but I really didn't want them. The ones I got were $30 cheaper so that alone was reason enough. They are Nike's and they feel so light and cushy, we will see. My friend ended up getting the SAME pair. I agree about the walking, I am just too impatient! Fido is not a "doggie" dog!; May 22, 2009 at 6:44 AM
marathon mom said...: No, I suppose my dog is not a "doggie" dog. That's what you get for naming him "Phydeaux" instead of Fido. Oh and it was a good thing the "humper" wasn't there because that would have really sent him over the edge!

I can't wait to see your new shoes on Saturday.; May 22, 2009 at 6:54 AM
Patty said...: I didn't mean to offend your dog, I do think you may have set the tone with the spelling of his name. Oh well, you don't have to spend your evenings at the dog park yelling at him to "stop humping" so count yourself lucky!; May 22, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Patty said...: I just wanted to let you know that I have plenty of time to leave comments on the blog, because I am not doing anything tonight.; May 22, 2009 at 7:50 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.