Saturday, September 28, 2013

Trail 101 Course Description (9/29/13)

Here's a course map for Sunday's run..

Trail 101 Course Map

Here's a description of the course we'll be traveling...
-Turn left onto Geary and follow for roughly 1.4 miles.
-Turn RIGHT on Presidio Ave and follow for roughly 1/2 a mile.
-Follow the chalk and flour markings LEFT onto Mountain Lake Trail.
-Mountain Lake Trail runs parallel to Pacific Avenue. Continue on Mountain Lake Trail past Julius Kahn Playground (on your right).
-You will continue running on Mountain Lake Trail for roughly 3/4 of a mile and then turn RIGHT onto Ecology Trail. 
-Follow the Ecology Trail past Inspiration Point. Look for flour markings and follow them to the end of Ecology Trail (roughly 1/2 mile from Inspiration Point). The trail terminates/ends in a parking lot.
-Turn around here and head back to Studiomix for 6.6 MILES!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Saturday Recovery (Trail Run)-4/12/14

Everyone will be covering 5 miles for our recovery run, but it's a relatively challenging 5 miles with some trails, climbing, and amazing views! Here's a link to the course map-
Here's a description of the course we'll be traveling...
-Turn left onto Old Mason Street from Sports Basement pkg lot and follow for roughly half a mile until you reach the intersection of Mason/Crissy Field Ave. Turn LEFT (look for the 'MM' in chalk) and head up McDowell Avenue. (.5 miles approx.) 
-Run to the intersection of McDowell/Lincoln (this is a controlled intersection w/stop signs) (.75 miles approx..) 
-Run directly across the street into ‘Park Trail’ (there is signage). Follow Park Trail LEFT and continue to Amatury Loop (look for signs). Take a RIGHT on Bay Area Ridge Trail at Amatury Loop  & cross Park Blvd on Bay Area Ridge Trail (1.1 miles approx.) 

-At Rob Hill Campground follow Access Road LEFT to Washington Blvd (1.6 miles approx..)

-Follow Trail LEFT on Washington Blvd. to the Immigration Point Overlook (on the WEST side of Washington (1.8 miles approx.) At Immigrant Point Overlook take STAIRS down & Cross Lincoln Blvd. (2 miles approx..)

-Join Battery to Bluffs Trail (look for signage) & follow this trail until you run into Lincoln Blvd. again (2.5 miles approx.)
-Turn around here and head back for 5 MILES!

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Trail 101 Course Description


Here's a course map for Sunday's run..

Trail 101 Course Map

Here's a description of the course we'll be traveling...
-Turn left onto Broadway and follow for roughly 1.5 miles. There are '2' tough climbs in the latter stages of this stretch.
-After running for 1.5 miles on Broadway, Broadway ends and there is a large gate. Run through this gate and follow the chalk and flour markings onto Mountain Lake Trail.
-Mountain Lake Trail runs parallel to Pacific Avenue. Continue on Mountain Lake Trail past Julius Kahn Playground (on your right).
-You will continue running on Mountain Lake Trail for roughly 3/4 of a mile and then turn RIGHT onto Ecology Trail. 
-Follow the Ecology Trail past Inspiration Point. Look for flour markings and follow them to the end of Ecology Trail (roughly 1/2 mile from Inspiration Point). The trail terminates/ends in a parking lot.
-Turn around here and head back to Lombardi's for (nearly) 6 MILES!

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

I run because one day I won't..

The overwhelming majority of the people I work with are in constant pursuit of faster times. Maybe it's a Boston qualifying time or simply shaving a few seconds off their last half marathon.

I think it's pretty much a given if you're a runner that you're constantly seeking a faster time. The type-A personality the sport tends to attract largely dictates this.

I used to be one of these runners. Ten plus years ago I rediscovered the sport and realized that while I had been away from it for quite some time, I still had something left in the tank and I desperately wanted to find out how much.

I threw myself into my training with reckless abandon. I embraced fatigue, suffering, and pain as signs that I was becoming the runner I was always meant to be. Rather than going out on Friday night with friends, I would massage and ice my sore calves in preparation for a 2+ hour long run the next morning.

I would push myself so hard the next morning that the rest of the day was effectively a wash. I'd lie around like a corpse for the balance of the day reveling in the fact that I had pushed myself to the limit. The exhaustion I felt was a sign that I was getting closer to finding out exactly what I had left in the tank.

My relentless and unforgiving approach to training paid off to a point. I qualified for Boston. I broke 3 hours for the marathon. I posted a 2:45 for 26.2 and felt like I had plenty left in 2005.

I thought maybe, just maybe I could get within striking distance of a qualifying time for the Olympic trials for the marathon. It was a huge stretch, but given how far I had come and how strong I felt, shaving off 25 minutes didn't seem impossible.

But, just as Daedalus paid the price for venturing too close to the sun, so did I for playing with fire all those years pushing my body to the limit and beyond.

It would be three years before I would toe the line for another marathon. While I ran a bit faster (2:43) in 2008, this was a far cry from the Olympic Trials qualifier I had dreamt of three years earlier.

My new goal became cracking 2:40 and given how close I'd come in 2008, surely it would happen in 2009. Once again, my body failed me and while I completed a marathon in 2009, I was not in the kind of shape to attempt a time faster than 2:43.

2010 provided yet another opportunity to exorcise the demons and I was hellbent on taking care of unfinished business. A few weeks prior to entering taper, I would suffer a stress fracture. This ended any hope of notching a sub 2:40 that year.

More than 2 years passed before I commenced serious training for another attempt at sub-2:40. It had now been nearly 7 years since I had run a 2:45. Given my injury drenched past, I was very careful in how I approached training for this marathon.

My training cycle was lengthy and gradual. While I didn't do everything perfectly, I listened earnestly to the messages my body sent me and responded accordingly.

Years ago, I read somewhere that every cell in our body is replaced every 7 years. Whether this is in fact accurate, I don't know. But, I was keenly aware that I was a very different person 7 years ago.

I recovered more quickly. I felt more spry. Simply put, I was getting older. Granted, I was wiser as evidenced by my smarter approach to training, but would it be enough?

I toed the line in 2012 feeling confident that I was physically ready to attempt a sub-2:40. Unfortunately, the weather gods had different ideas that day. The worst weather I had ever trained or raced in would derail this latest effort.

This year will not present an opportunity for me to attempt a sub-2:40. I don't know if there will be another opportunity to do so down the road. I've come to the realization that most (if not all) of my personal bests are likely behind me.

Rather than feeling sad or somber about this reality, it actually feels a bit liberating. If I run another personal best, that's great. But if I don't, it's not going to kill me.

What would kill me is the idea of not being able to run at all. Having endured numerous injuries from 2005 to 2010, I tasted the bitterness of life without running and it's something I have no interest in.

Whether it's injuries, age, perspective, or some combination of the aforementioned, I've become more keenly attuned to the idea that my ability to run is transitory. It's a gift. It can be taken away from me at any moment. I am not unique in this regard.

So, on your shittiest run, your crappiest race, and your most unpleasant mile, don't forget the fact that you have the gift and don't forget that it likely won't be something you can do forever.

I run because one day I won't..

Thursday, September 05, 2013

Saturday's long run description (9/7/13)

We're logging between 8-12 miles on Saturday. This run is a bit of a 'mashup' that includes many segments we've covered before, but also includes a fun trail segment at the beginning in the Presidio!

Saturday Run Course Map

Here's a description of the course...

We'll launch from Crissy Field adjacent to Sports Basement and follow Old Mason Street until we reach the intersection of Mason/Crissy Field Ave. Turn LEFT (look for the ‘MM’ in chalk) and head up McDowell Avenue. 
 
Run to the intersection of McDowell/Lincoln (this is a controlled intersection w/stop signs). Continue directly across the street into ‘Park Trail’ (there is signage). Follow Park Trail LEFT and continue to Amatury Loop (look for signs). Take a RIGHT on Bay Area Ridge Trail at Amatury Loop  & cross Park Blvd on Bay Area Ridge Trail.

 

At Rob Hill Campground follow Access Road LEFT to Washington Blvd. Follow Trail LEFT on Washington Blvd. to the Immigration Point Overlook (on the WEST side of Washington. At Immigrant Point Overlook take STAIRS down to Lincoln Blvd. Look for a 'MM' in chalk here. Turn around and head back to the intersection of Lincoln/Mcdowell.
 
Turn RIGHT on Lincoln and head into the Presidio. Follow Lincoln past the cemetery and behind the Walt Disney Museum. Continue on Lincoln until you reach the Transit Cafe located at 215 Lincoln. You can use the restroom and/or grab some water here if you need to. 
 
Turn around and run back to Lincoln/McDowell. Turn RIGHT on McDowell and head down to Old Mason Street. Turn LEFT on Old Mason Street and head towards the Warming Hut. Run past the Warming Hut and continue to Hopper Hands at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. Turn around at Hopper Hands and continue running along the dirt path by the waterfront (Marina Promenade). 
 
You will continue on the Marina Promenade past the East Beach parking lot. The Marina Promenade will end at the parking lot for the 'Little Marina Green' (behind the volleyball court area). Beginners will turn around here and head back to Crissy Field (via the Marina Promenade) where we started for a total of 8 MILES!
 
Everyone else will make their way onto Marina Boulevard. Run to the intersection of Marina Boulevard and Avila.  There will be a MM9 in chalk on the ground. Intermediate runners will turn around here and head back to Crissy Field (via the Marina Promenade) where we started for a total of 9 MILES!
 
Advanced and Race level runners will continue running along Marina Boulevard towards the Marina Green Monkey Bars. Run past the monkey bars and continue towards Fort Mason Hill. At the base of Fort Mason Hill, Advanced level runners will turn turn around and head back to Crissy Field (via the Marina Promenade) where we started for a total of 10 MILES!
 
Race level runners will head up Fort Mason Hill and head downhill through Aquatic Park and into Fisherman's Wharf (via Jefferson Street). Run along Jefferson Street until you reach the intersection of Jefferson/Jones. Castagnola's Restaurant will be on your left at 286 Jefferson Street. Turn around here and head back to Crissy Field (via the Marina Promenade) where we started for a total of 12 MILES!