M.O.R.E.: Working It Out

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Working It Out

Thankfully, I was able to make it to the run this afternoon. I was a little surprised that Marathon Mom, and C were up for a run after their "hill workout" yesterday. They didn't seem to be suffering from the hills, and that makes me a bit suspicious-we always joke about just going out for coffee, maybe that is what they did? We started at Cheesepark and ran to the Heritage Trail, taking it toward Decoro, we then crossed over to the other side of the trail and took that side back up to Copperhill. It was hot to start with but we were going downhill and with the wind, so it seemed like it went by pretty fast. I have to say, that for whatever reason, I like the other side of the trail better when we are running back "up" to Copperhill, today it was cooler (a bit of a headwind) and it is definitely flatter, so it seems faster to me, even though I know it is farther. My legs felt good today, and I knew we were keeping a pretty good pace. We discussed the fast -vs- slow theories and I don't think we have settled the question of which one is better. I think for us, that mixing it up is going to be the way to go with our running for now. We aren't training for any particular run, and I personally would like to jump start my metabolism and lose those few holiday pounds that are still with me. If I remember right we ran 4.3 miles, at a nice 9.29 (?) pace, which felt good but cut down a bit on the talking. Marathon Mom is off to the snow, so C and I will see what kind of long run we are up for this weekend. I am so looking forward to the long weekend, which starts for me tomorrow!

1 comment:

marathon mom said...: I'm glad things were better today and you were able to make it to our run. I am just as surprised as you that C and I had so much energy after yesterday's run. I really don't think we have tapped the full extent of our marathon training benefits. However, I am now exhausted and ready to go to bed at 7:30 p.m. I think I prefer the shorter, more intense workouts, but I agree that we need to do both the long, slow run and the short intensity runs. I hope you and C decide to do the Ben's Ten run. It's a lot of fun and no pressure. I just hope I can get some miles in somehow this weekend.; January 14, 2010 at 7:21 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.