M.O.R.E.: Labor of Love

Monday, September 6, 2010

Labor of Love

I suppose running is a labor of love for me to some extent. Running is really hard work, so why do I continue to do it? It's like all else that we labor for, the rewards that come from all our hard work. It was nice to get an extra run in during the morning rather than at night, although I wish I could have had another day of sleeping in. I also took my son and his teammates to their cross country practice and from how quiet it was in the car this morning, they were also wishing for another day to sleep in. That's one thing you really miss when you become a runner-sleeping in!

As Patty and I ran from Central up to Haskell towards Copperhill, I was actually surprised that it was as far as it was. We said we were going to run at least 40 minutes each time we get together, but we were so close to Copperhill when we had reached our half way time of 20 min., we decided to run a little longer to Copperhill before turning back. It turned out to be 4.7 miles round trip, which took us about 45 minutes. On the way back, some man walking decided to give Patty "pointers" on how to run. That always cracks me up when walkers take it upon themselves to give us running tips. If they know so much about running, why aren't they running themselves. The guy looked like he hadn't run a day in his life. Oh well, it was quite amusing and worth a good laugh.

2 comments:

Patty said...: I am sure it was amusing for you, annoying for me. I realize that I am the kind of person, who just looks like they need help. I was telling my husband about the "kind" man and his words of advice and I told him that I have come to the conclusion that I must just look like I need help with things. I mean some women have men "hitting" on them, but I seem to need help putting one foot in front of the other! I truly got the impression that during the time I passed him going uphill, and then again going down, that he had given it much thought. He felt a need to say something before I fell over. Oh Well, I choose not to be insulted, and it really made me try to keep my head up more :-/ Good run today!!!; September 6, 2010 at 3:34 PM
marathon mom said...: Perhaps he didn't say anything to me because he thought I was beyond help! To make matters worse, I was feeling pretty good about not having anyone mention our "matching" outfits, that is until we got back to the park when our friend Kathryn had to say something.; September 6, 2010 at 7:56 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.