M.O.R.E.: ENOUGH with the Snakes!

Monday, March 29, 2010

ENOUGH with the Snakes!

This afternoon, I met Marathon Mom, Sea and Sun, and C at Central Park for our Monday run. We spent the beginning of our run describing the large snake that crossed our path last week on the paseos behind Helmers. Marathon Mom also told us a story about how she killed a "baby rattler" at Central Park during her boys' running club practice. I don't know if everyone bought her story, or believed it was really a rattler, but sure enough, once we passed the employee parking lot, and started down the dirt, I started screaming my head off. I came very close to stepping on a "baby rattler" which was right in the middle of our path. Of course I am known for stepping on things, (rocks, dog poo, you get the picture) and it is a miracle that I managed to jump over it just in time. From that point on our pace was pretty speedy! I think all of us just wanted to be done, safely. With Marathon Mom in the lead, we managed a pretty good 9.25 pace for 3 miles. I don't think we will run at Central Park again, anytime soon, unless we need to do some speed work.

2 comments:

marathon mom said...: I hope that will be the last time you girls doubt me. I'm not sure what was making my heart beat so fast, the workout pace or the sight of the snake. I'm so glad none of us stepped on that thing. I can't believe Sea=N-Sun has never observed any of the rattlesnake signs throughout the park. Between the rocks and snakes on the trail, I think I'm done with that park for a while, at least until winter when the snakes are hibernating.; March 29, 2010 at 10:15 PM
marathon mom said...: Okay one more comment about the snakes. I'm not sure how much safer we will be running on the paseos since Karen spotted a coiled rattler right on the switchbacks we run on behind Helmers. I wonder how many runners, if any, are struck by rattlers on their runs?; March 30, 2010 at 2:05 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.