M.O.R.E.: Forcing a Run

Monday, January 11, 2010

Forcing a Run

Today, Marathon Mom, C, and I showed up to run, with a long list of aches and pains from our 10 miler last week. The tone at the beginning was definately negative, and that is why I titled this blog "forcing a run". I know if any of us would have had to get out on our own tonight, we would have just skipped it, but luckily, misery loves company, and that is what we got. We agreed to run a mile and then stop and evaluate how far we wanted to really go. It was a good thing we had agreed to stop because with the wind in our face, and Marathon Mom speeding up the pace (on the uphill, REALLY), and C's hip pain, we all welcomed a break, after a mere mile. We all agreed that 3 miles would be just fine, and trudged through another half mile, where we turned and started the preferable downhill part of our run. I say we trudged, because I honestly felt like someone had poured cement in my shoes, it was that hard to keep my legs moving. The last mile was the best, even though the pace picked up quite a bit, I finally felt like my legs were moving, and my breathing had hit a comfortable place. Surprisingly, we managed an overall pace of 9.3, and that was only because we really picked up our pace at the end. We keep talking about trying to swim after our long runs to give our legs a rest, but I fear for anybody who might have to witness three mature ladies in bathing suits, in the dead of winter. I am going to search online for a body suit, one that goes at least to my knees. Anyway, I am glad I got out, hope I burned some calories, because I am back home, in my jammies, looking for something to eat!

1 comment:

marathon mom said...: That was a good title for today's run. It really did feel like we were "forcing a run" in the beginning. However, it is important to clarify that we didn't run 10 miles last week, it was just yesterday. I knew it was going to be tough by the way I was feeling all day yesterday after our run and today. I just have to accept the fact that running is pretty much painful and difficult to do. I think the sooner we accept that, the less likely we'll be surprised at how terrible we feel most of the time. You would think we'd be used to it by now. I do think swimming would have felt better on my legs today. I guess I really need to start looking for a suit.; January 11, 2010 at 9:38 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.