M.O.R.E.: Hills from Hell!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Hills from Hell!

When I looked at the marathon schedule it said 8 miles and I thought I could handle that. I vaguely remember the word "hilly" next to the 8 miles, but we train on hills all the time and didn't think it would be THAT bad. Boy was I wrong! As it turns out, their 8 mile loop is the hardest run on the schedule, which they informed me of AFTER the run. I dragged my husband with me in case "C" couldn't make it this morning, but she came and ran with me while my husband basically ditched me the first mile. From Granary Square, we basically started right into the hills of the Summit up Arroyo Park Dr and winding back down to McBean and back up Valencia to Rockwell/Tournament. Once we made it up to McBean and Tournament, we were to run down to Singing Hills where we were to run across the shopping center parking lot and onto Tournament for the first loop, and then we were to do that AGAIN. The good part of this section was 1. it was almost half way over 2. the water stop was there 3. after the last loop it was basically downhill from there back down Rockwell to Valencia to McBean. It felt like the COC summer series x 3. I have to give us credit though. C and I paced ourselves carefully and didn't go out too fast. The people who ran out too fast, we ended up catching on the hills when they had to start walking and we just kept up our steady pace. We never walked and we never stopped except for the water stops. I have to say that running on new routes makes the miles go by faster and it is better when you really don't know what's coming. It's really nice that the guy that runs the training runs gives you a map of where you're going. That way you can decide if you just want to go home before you even get started! As usual I'm glad I ran and did it, but I'm sure C and I will be paying for it tomorrow. My husband did great and even though he really didn't want to come with me this morning, he too was glad he did it.

5 comments:

Patty said...: I think I picked a good week to be busy! I feel bad complaining about our run last night after what you guys went through this morning. My husband was the one who insisted I get out and get as far as I could, I think because he gets tired of my complaining about missing my run. I also think my son was a bit generous with our pace but who am I to second guess him, he's good with numbers.; June 28, 2009 at 4:33 PM
marathon mom said...: Just to warn you, next week is 10 miles to Mentryville. I think the plan is to run up McBean into Stevenson Ranch and turn onto Pico to the Ranger Station and back. It will still be somewhat of a climb going out. It might be a smaller group though because many of them are running the race on the 4th. I hope everything turned out well at the grad party and I'm sure your cupcakes were a hit!; June 28, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Patty said...: I have done the 10 mile run to Mentryville and I liked it, but that was about 13 yrs ago. It's tough going out but is mostly downhill coming back. I have never done the route you did today, that I can remember, it looks horrible. I am hoping to make that 10 miler, I have eaten so many cupcakes that I need to run them all off. They were a hit and I am glad that is off my plate!; June 28, 2009 at 8:56 PM
SD said...: wow, i jog/walk much the same route!! yours is a little different and my base (start/end) is the YMCA, but that is an excellent route!!

i might have to try it :); June 29, 2009 at 6:44 PM
SD said...: addtionally: please post all your training routes (if possible).. i always love finding new ones!! :D; June 29, 2009 at 6:45 PM

Post a Comment

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.