M.O.R.E.: An Unexpected Detour

Friday, June 12, 2009

An Unexpected Detour

There is nothing more deflating than running all the way somewhere and thinking you are almost done when you see the road is closed and you have to turn and go back the other way. That is what happened to me, Patty and C on our run today. We started out from Peet's and ran up the east side of the river trail to Copperhill to the other side of the river and down toward the train bridge. C was feeling really good so she stuck it out with us and decided to go longer. When we got to the train bridge at mile 7, the entrance was completely fenced off and men with a huge crane were trying to lift a heavy piece of metal drum into some round well. We tried several times to get their attention to see if they would allow us to go around and pass, but they completely ignored us even with Patty just in her sports bra and her top off. Finally C was able to get one of their attention (I suggested that we flash them and then maybe they would look our way), but they still wouldn't let us pass. So. . . . we had to turn around and go back the way we came from. We even debated on trying to cross the riverbed, but it looked too thick and creepy down there. Sure there were road closed signs, but they had been there for the last 3 weeks and we were still able to cross. As it turns out, it really wasn't that much further going back another way, perhaps 1/4 mile more than had we actually crossed the train bridge. All in all, we all did fine and are now ready for two days off and Patty can enjoy her son's graduation!

5 comments:

Patty said...: Sorry about messing up the blog, I was on another computer and had trouble with my comment obviously. I just wanted let our readers know that it wasn't a Mardi Gras atmosphere on our run today! I did have to take my long sleeved shirt off but the combo of my shirt around my waist and my water belt covered most of me up, and I made sure only to run like that on the back trail where nobody was. We tried to get the construction workers to let us around their crane, and the huge hole in the ground, but even our blonde, cute, skinny friend "C" had no luck, they ignored us as best they could and then said "no way". I am so glad to have the 8 1/2 miles done and can now go to San Diego and enjoy graduation. This was a good running week!; June 12, 2009 at 4:01 PM
marathon mom said...: There was no need to try to cover up. You looked great! I was actually surprised to see you and C show up in long sleeves this morning because I really didn't think it was that cold. Memories of the other day when we started in our jackets taught me a lesson. Have fun in S.D.!; June 12, 2009 at 4:22 PM
c said...: I thought you looked great Patty and I think you could pull it off anytime you feel like it !! I was surprised that I could keep up with you two. Maybe there is hope for me after all. Maybe I will consider the marathon or at least keep trying to train for it ! I might be getting ahead of myself ??? Well I hope graduation is wonderful and not too cold Patty. Kwan I hope you have a restful weekend ! I am going to try to recover myself too !; June 12, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Patty said...: You made our blog look nice again, I hated the mess I made. I think I heard "C" say she was going to train for the marathon with us. The way she has been running this week, she will be just fine. It is really incredible to me, that we are at a point where even when we don't feel our best, we can still finish an 8 1/2 mile run and put in a full day afterward! I am proud of us, and I have to say I would never be doing this alone.; June 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM
marathon mom said...: My husband tried running by the train bridge this Sunday. The construction guys were gone, but the fence was still there and an ALARM goes off if you go anywhere near it! I guess we won't be climbing any fences soon.; June 14, 2009 at 3:27 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.