M.O.R.E.: June 2011

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Hills

Caryn and I set out to do a more intensive hill workout today. We had planned on running to the top of the plateau at Central Park two times, but our glutes and calves were screaming NO MORE!!!!!! Ironically it was actually easier on the second attempt, but we had already planned to go only halfway up and come down the other way. Our goal is to make it all the way to the top without stopping.

I have been inspired by a new book I'm reading called "Born to Run". The story got me hooked right away because the author went on a quest to find out why his foot hurts when he runs. As it turns out, his pain is in the same exact spot as where I've been having problems and so I'm curious to find out how it all turns out.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

The Perfect Run

Just as surfers look for that one perfect wave, runners are always chasing after that one perfect run. Today, I would have to say was pretty much near perfect except we were missing our running buddy, Patty. We couldn't have asked for better running weather this morning. Caryn and I ran a slow and steady pace out of Lowes and really focused on distance rather than pace and was able to log in 7.8 miles with no pain. We even managed a decent pace of about 10.5. It was so nice to finally get in a long run without any aches and pain and the legs feeling pretty good. Now if only Patty would return to join us and then it will be perfect.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Creeping up

Today just Caryn and I ran since Patty is away in paradise. All I can say is that I'm glad we ran as long as we did at a respectable pace considering we haven't been doing any long runs. It's nice to finally see the miles creeping up again. Now if only we can see the pace start creeping down.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

No More?

We have been very bad lately as far as keeping up the blog and running that some might be wondering if we have completely given up running altogether. Trust me the thought has crossed my mind and we've come close, but we are still at it. Now that I am all done with my credential program, we have been adding the number of runs we are getting in during the week to more than just 1. My body is going into shock, but I am going to work towards getting back in shape.

I know my friends are on the same page as me about getting back in shape because we seem to be telepathically sending messages about what we should wear while running. Two days in a row, we have managed to show up wearing the same color, and even the same shirt. We have even received comments like "hey great color coordination!" from fellow runners. I guess great minds do think alike.

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.