M.O.R.E.: We Love Hills, NOT!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

We Love Hills, NOT!

I think it says a lot about our personalities that we continue to run those hills repeatedly at C.O.C. even though we really despise them. I think runners, especially long distance runner, have some type of personality flaw or mental disorder that keeps us coming back for more pain. The same is true of cross country runners. On average, they say cross country runners do better in school, not necessarily because they are smarter, but because it takes a very disciplined person to stick to something that is difficult, whether it be school, a job, or running. So today Patty, C, Sea N Sun, and I were very disciplined and ran the C.O.C. course not once, but twice. I didn't wear my Garmin, but I could tell that we ran it rather quickly. We were definitely feeling it by the second time around. I'm sure we'll continue to feel it tomorrow.

Patty and I were talking about our "phantom" readers. We can tell that others besides Patty and I read this blog by our site counter, but no one else seems to post much. We would love to hear from some of our "phantom" readers, just so we know someone is listening out there.

3 comments:

Claire said...: I suppose I count as a semi-phantom reader?! I read regularly but don't always comment. Sometimes I am too in awe of all the awesome running to say anything :)

Keep up the good work ladies, you all inspire me daily!; August 20, 2009 at 6:37 AM
marathon mom said...: You're not a phantom or even semi phantom reader. You actually post quite regularly. Trust me, we are nothing to be in awe of so feel free to post whatever. Thanks for posting!; August 20, 2009 at 7:30 AM
Patty said...: It is funny that you wrote about the torture we put ourselves through when we run. I mean what do we think is going to happen, one day the COC hills will be easy, and we will just sprint to the top barely out of breath? I always inwardly curse us when we get to the bad parts of our runs, (hills, tempo, or mile 10 of a long run) but it all melts away when we are done and planning our next run. I think it is our naturally competetive natures, or maybe that "runner's high" but we are a glutton for punishment, aren't we? I must say that all the years that I ran by myself, I always took the comfortable route, pace, etc. I think a lot of it is peer pressure, in a good way!; August 20, 2009 at 8:43 AM

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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.