On Sunday, you will be logging between 5-8 miles depending
upon your training level. The link below should give you a relatively
clear sense of where we're going. I've also included a verbal
description beneath it:
Sunday’s Run Course!
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SUNDAY'S RUN-
In short, we will head NORTH from the Marina Green Monkey Bars on
along Marina Boulevard for roughly 1/2 mile until we reach the grassy,
volleyball court area on the right. Take a right and cut through the
volleyball court area and run through the parking lot behind it. Turn LEFT onto the Marina Promenade which is a fire road/dirt trail.
Continue running on this path for roughly a mile. Eventually, this path
will veer to the right towards the Warming Hut. Continue running towards
the Warming Hut. For the uninitiated, the Warming Hut is A BIG WHITE
BUILDING WITH TABLES AND BENCHES IN FRONT OF IT. Hopefully, it will be
hard to miss). The Warming Hut is 2 MILES
Continue past the Warming Hut towards the base of
the Golden Gate Bridge. You will run roughly half a mile until you
reach 'Hoppers Hands' which is right at the base of the bridge. This is a
dead end, so you have to turn around. This is 2.5 MILES. Beginner runners will have logged 5 MILES upon returning to the Monkey Bars.
Everyone else will continue running SOUTH along
the paved path past the Marina Safeway and UP Fort Mason Hill. Just as
the hill is about to head down into Aquatic Park, Intermediate runners will
turn around and head back to the monkey bars for 6 MILES!
Advanced and Race level runners will run down the hill into Aquatic Park. Run along
the sidewalk adjacent to the waterfront. Advanced level runners will
turn around at the end of Aquatic Park/Edge of Fisherman’s Wharf. Advanced runners will return
to the monkey bars for 7 MILES!
Race level runners continue into Fisherman's Wharf until they reach the intersection of Jefferson/Powell. Turn around here and head back to the monkey bars for 8 MILES!
Friday, January 31, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Wednesday Marina/Presidio Run (3/26/14)
Tuesday's run launches from Presidio Sport & Medicine
at 1162B Gorgas Avenue. Here's a map link to the launch location-
Presidio Run Rendezvous Point
We're logging 2-5 miles. This is a pretty run through the Presidio, Crissy Field, and a little bit of the Marina (if you're doing 4-5). Here's a link to the course map-
Wednesday Presidio Run Course Map
We'll launch from Presidio Sport & Medicine and promptly take a left on Girard Avenue. After running a short distance (1/4 mile) on Girard, we'll run into Lincoln Ave. Turn right on Lincoln.
You'll continue on Lincoln into the Presidio past the San Francisco National Cemetery (it will be on your left).
Roughly 200 meters after you pass the cemetery you will see a MM2 on the ground in chalk. Beginners will turn around here and head back to the start for 2 MILES!.
Everyone else will continue to the intersection of Lincoln/McDowell. This is a controlled, 4 way stop. Turn right on Mcdowell and head downhill towards Old Mason Street.
Turn RIGHT on Old Mason Street and continue running on the paved pedestrian path until you reach the metal power box on YOUR LEFT. This is 1.5 miles. There will be a MM3 here in chalk as well. Intermediate turn around here and head back to Presidio Sport & Medicine for 3 MILES!
Advanced and Race level runners will continue running along Old Mason Street past Sports Basement (on your RIGHT). Shortly after passing Sports Basement, you will reach the intersection of Mason/Halleck. Crissy Field Center will be on your RIGHT. This is 2 miles. There will be a MM4 here in chalk as well. Advanced runners turn around here and head back to Presidio Sport & Medicine for 4 MILES!
Race level runners will continue running along Old Mason Street which eventually turns into Marina Boulevard. Shortly after you pass the volleyball court area (on your LEFT), you will reach the intersection of Marina/Baker. This is 2.5 miles. Race runners will turn around here and head back to Presidio Sport & Medicine for 5 MILES!
Presidio Run Rendezvous Point
We're logging 2-5 miles. This is a pretty run through the Presidio, Crissy Field, and a little bit of the Marina (if you're doing 4-5). Here's a link to the course map-
Wednesday Presidio Run Course Map
We'll launch from Presidio Sport & Medicine and promptly take a left on Girard Avenue. After running a short distance (1/4 mile) on Girard, we'll run into Lincoln Ave. Turn right on Lincoln.
You'll continue on Lincoln into the Presidio past the San Francisco National Cemetery (it will be on your left).
Roughly 200 meters after you pass the cemetery you will see a MM2 on the ground in chalk. Beginners will turn around here and head back to the start for 2 MILES!.
Everyone else will continue to the intersection of Lincoln/McDowell. This is a controlled, 4 way stop. Turn right on Mcdowell and head downhill towards Old Mason Street.
Turn RIGHT on Old Mason Street and continue running on the paved pedestrian path until you reach the metal power box on YOUR LEFT. This is 1.5 miles. There will be a MM3 here in chalk as well. Intermediate turn around here and head back to Presidio Sport & Medicine for 3 MILES!
Advanced and Race level runners will continue running along Old Mason Street past Sports Basement (on your RIGHT). Shortly after passing Sports Basement, you will reach the intersection of Mason/Halleck. Crissy Field Center will be on your RIGHT. This is 2 miles. There will be a MM4 here in chalk as well. Advanced runners turn around here and head back to Presidio Sport & Medicine for 4 MILES!
Race level runners will continue running along Old Mason Street which eventually turns into Marina Boulevard. Shortly after you pass the volleyball court area (on your LEFT), you will reach the intersection of Marina/Baker. This is 2.5 miles. Race runners will turn around here and head back to Presidio Sport & Medicine for 5 MILES!
Tuesday Golden Gate Park Run (3/15/16)
You will be logging between 2-5 miles depending upon your training level. Here's a link to the course map for your reference-
Tuesday's Golden Gate Park Run
We will actually be launching from the top of the staircase that leads down to the ballfield and heading WEST on Martin Luther King. This course will follow Martin Luther King for the first 2 miles out.
Continue running on the paved path on the RIGHT side of MLK towards the direction of 19th Avenue. Once you reach the intersection of MLK and 19th Ave, wait for the light to turn green and head straight across and continue running on the paved path on the RIGHT side of MLK.
Once you reach the paved path on the other side of the intersection, you will have logged 1 MILE. Look for chalk indicating 'RC 2'. Beginner runners will turn around here and head back for 2 MILES!
Everyone else will get on the sidewalk on the LEFT side of Transverse and head NORTH towards Golden Gate Park. Continue following Transverse Drive until it intersects with JFK. Get on the LEFT side of JFK and run EAST into Golden Gate Park.
Roughly half a mile after the initial turn onto Transverse towards Golden Gate Park you will reach the intersection of JFK/Stow Lake Drive. This is 1.5 MILES. There will also be a 'RC3' in chalk here. Intermediate runners will turn around here and head back for a total of 3 MILES!
Everyone else will continue running along the sidewalk on the left side of JFK. Roughly half a mile later you will see the De Young Museum approaching on your RIGHT. Directly across from the De Young Museum is a pedestrian crosswalk near JFK/10th AVE. This is 2 MILES. Look for a 'RC4' in chalk on the ground. Advanced runners will turn around here and head back for a total of 4 MILES!
Race level runners will continue running along the sidewalk on the left side of JFK. Roughly half a mile later you will pass JFK/Observatory Way. Look to your left and you will see a large white building. This is the Flower Observatory. Once you are directly across from the Flower Observatory, you will have logged 2.5 MILES. Look for a 'RC5' in chalk on the ground. Race level runners turn around here and head back for 5 MILES!
Tuesday's Golden Gate Park Run
We will actually be launching from the top of the staircase that leads down to the ballfield and heading WEST on Martin Luther King. This course will follow Martin Luther King for the first 2 miles out.
Continue running on the paved path on the RIGHT side of MLK towards the direction of 19th Avenue. Once you reach the intersection of MLK and 19th Ave, wait for the light to turn green and head straight across and continue running on the paved path on the RIGHT side of MLK.
Once you reach the paved path on the other side of the intersection, you will have logged 1 MILE. Look for chalk indicating 'RC 2'. Beginner runners will turn around here and head back for 2 MILES!
Everyone else will get on the sidewalk on the LEFT side of Transverse and head NORTH towards Golden Gate Park. Continue following Transverse Drive until it intersects with JFK. Get on the LEFT side of JFK and run EAST into Golden Gate Park.
Roughly half a mile after the initial turn onto Transverse towards Golden Gate Park you will reach the intersection of JFK/Stow Lake Drive. This is 1.5 MILES. There will also be a 'RC3' in chalk here. Intermediate runners will turn around here and head back for a total of 3 MILES!
Everyone else will continue running along the sidewalk on the left side of JFK. Roughly half a mile later you will see the De Young Museum approaching on your RIGHT. Directly across from the De Young Museum is a pedestrian crosswalk near JFK/10th AVE. This is 2 MILES. Look for a 'RC4' in chalk on the ground. Advanced runners will turn around here and head back for a total of 4 MILES!
Race level runners will continue running along the sidewalk on the left side of JFK. Roughly half a mile later you will pass JFK/Observatory Way. Look to your left and you will see a large white building. This is the Flower Observatory. Once you are directly across from the Flower Observatory, you will have logged 2.5 MILES. Look for a 'RC5' in chalk on the ground. Race level runners turn around here and head back for 5 MILES!
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Taste The Trail Recovery Run (5.25 miles approx)-6/22/14
Sunday's recovery run will include a few 'tastes of the trail'. If you've never done trails before, don't worry!
This run has a mix of paved roads and trails. The trail segments are not terribly technical/challenging. That being said, there is 'some' climbing involved as is the case with pretty much any trail.
Here's a link to the course map-
Taste The Trail Recovery Run
We'll launch from A Runner's Mind @ 3575 Sacramento and head down Locust Street to Julius Kahn Park. Once we arrive in the park we'll do some simple range of motion drills and then proceed with our run.
We'll run along the dirt path adjacent to Julius Kahn and connect with 'Ecology Trail'. We'll follow Ecology Trail for roughly a mile until you run into the Presidio. I will put down some flour markings on the trail indicating where to turn at a few key junctures.
The Ecology Trail runs right into a parking lot behind a building in the Presidio. Run directly ahead to Moraga Street and turn LEFT. Again, I will put some chalk markings down here.
Follow Moraga to Montgomery and turn RIGHT on Montgomery.
Follow Montgomery to Lincoln and turn LEFT behind the Walt Disney Museum and continue running on the paved path (aka-Lincoln).
Continue following Lincoln past the cemetery to the intersection of Lincoln/McDowell. At this intersection, turn LEFT onto Park Trail and follow the flour markings until you see a flour arrow indicating turn around (this is roughly 1/4 of a mile).
Turn around here and head back the way you came for just over 5 MILES!
This run has a mix of paved roads and trails. The trail segments are not terribly technical/challenging. That being said, there is 'some' climbing involved as is the case with pretty much any trail.
Here's a link to the course map-
Taste The Trail Recovery Run
We'll launch from A Runner's Mind @ 3575 Sacramento and head down Locust Street to Julius Kahn Park. Once we arrive in the park we'll do some simple range of motion drills and then proceed with our run.
We'll run along the dirt path adjacent to Julius Kahn and connect with 'Ecology Trail'. We'll follow Ecology Trail for roughly a mile until you run into the Presidio. I will put down some flour markings on the trail indicating where to turn at a few key junctures.
The Ecology Trail runs right into a parking lot behind a building in the Presidio. Run directly ahead to Moraga Street and turn LEFT. Again, I will put some chalk markings down here.
Follow Moraga to Montgomery and turn RIGHT on Montgomery.
Follow Montgomery to Lincoln and turn LEFT behind the Walt Disney Museum and continue running on the paved path (aka-Lincoln).
Continue following Lincoln past the cemetery to the intersection of Lincoln/McDowell. At this intersection, turn LEFT onto Park Trail and follow the flour markings until you see a flour arrow indicating turn around (this is roughly 1/4 of a mile).
Turn around here and head back the way you came for just over 5 MILES!
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
I run because it makes her happy..
It was a beautiful day on Crissy Field. The sun shone brightly illuminating the span of the Golden Gate Bridge.
She stared intently at the bridge. I couldn't quite read what she was feeling, but it was non-trivial.
'This is a big deal for me,' she finally said.
I hardly knew her. I assumed she was referring to the number of miles we'd be covering that day.
'I know. It's a big deal for most. You won't be alone.' I replied.
'The last time I was on the Golden Gate Bridge, they had to pull me off,' she stated matter of factly.
Her face turned dark and tears welled up in her eyes. She stifled a sob. I did my best to maintain a poker face. Fortunately, I had my hat and my sunglasses on. After a pregnant pause that seemed to last an eternity, I finally thought of something to say.
'Well...think of this as a cathartic experience....a cleansing experience. What we're doing today will be profoundly life affirming'.
Not perfect, but it was the best I could do.
She smiled a bit behind her tears and nodded quietly. Five minutes prior, I knew nothing of her. Now, I knew more about her than I needed to know and perhaps more than a lot of people knew about her.
I knew she was deeply troubled. I knew she had dealt with many dark nights of the soul. I knew she tried to take her own life. But, why she chose to share this part of herself with me I don't really know.
Maybe she could tell I battled demons of my own. Maybe she knew I had a few dark nights of the soul as well. Maybe she knew I would understand her and wouldn't judge her.
Mercifully, a few more of my runners arrived breaking the tension. My assistant coach arrived and I quickly pulled him aside.
Without going into exhaustive detail, I told him what she had disclosed and asked him to keep an eye on her when we traveled across the bridge. As we headed towards the bridge, I reflected on my past.
I'd suffered from depression multiple times. I'd never been suicidal, but I'd definitely thought about not being around. I'd been on medication. I'd sought counseling. Did she smell it? Did I say something inadvertently that tipped her off?
The run proceeded uneventfully and I was relieved to see her smiling at the end of the run chatting with some fellow runners. I wondered if she would tell any of them what she told me. I also wondered if I would see her again.
Fortunately, I would see her again. While she didn't revisit what she'd disclosed previously, she told me more about herself. She used to be obese. She'd lost a ton of weight. She was looking forward to running a half marathon. She also had plans to go skydiving. She smiled frequently that day.
I couldn't help but feel that in some small way, her time with me was acting as a catalyst of sorts. Whether it was the natural anti-depressants secreted while running, the contact with other people, the knowledge that I was in her corner, or some combination of the aforementioned, I don't know.
She was happy when she ran and after a few weeks I nearly forgot about her words prior to our journey across the Golden Gate Bridge. I clung to the hope that she was turning the corner and the simple act of running was a big part of this change. One step at a time, one mile at a time she was pulling herself out of the dark abyss that she was trapped in.
As the season progressed the darkness I saw in her that first day seemed to wane as the number of miles she logged waxed. My darkest periods have often been associated with not running, so it was no surprise to me to see her become lighter as her mileage increased.
She eventually traveled to Europe to complete her first half marathon in Dublin. I was thrilled to see her post a picture of herself on Facebook smiling proudly with her race shirt. She had come so far in such a short period of time.
Months passed and I didn't see her. As with many people I work with, they come and go. I assumed life had simply taken her in a different direction. I hoped it was a positive one that still included running in some way, shape, or form as it clearly had helped her a great deal.
I don't know exactly what inspired me to look at her facebook page months later. I suppose I missed her. I was worried about her. Was she still running? Was she still moving in the right direction?
I found the following on her page, 'Our wonderful daughter is no longer tormented and is finally at peace.'
While I didn't really know her or the demons she battled for so long, I was crestfallen. Should I have done something else? Could I have done something else?
After the fog of grief had lifted a bit, I realized there was very little I could have done. I don't know if there's anything anyone could have done.
I struggle to understand what happened despite my own personal dalliances with the dark side. I've never found myself in a place as dark as she did. I just can't know how dark things got with her.
The only thing I do know is that she was happy when she ran. In one of our last exchanges she told me, 'The lands end trail always inspires me. I love all the twists, turns, ups and downs through bushes and trees. I feel like a carefree kid again. I always find myself laughing as if I just took a carnival ride.'
I know she's running now like a carefree kid, laughing as if she just took a carnival ride. I know how she feels. I run because it makes her happy....and me too.
She stared intently at the bridge. I couldn't quite read what she was feeling, but it was non-trivial.
'This is a big deal for me,' she finally said.
I hardly knew her. I assumed she was referring to the number of miles we'd be covering that day.
'I know. It's a big deal for most. You won't be alone.' I replied.
'The last time I was on the Golden Gate Bridge, they had to pull me off,' she stated matter of factly.
Her face turned dark and tears welled up in her eyes. She stifled a sob. I did my best to maintain a poker face. Fortunately, I had my hat and my sunglasses on. After a pregnant pause that seemed to last an eternity, I finally thought of something to say.
'Well...think of this as a cathartic experience....a cleansing experience. What we're doing today will be profoundly life affirming'.
Not perfect, but it was the best I could do.
She smiled a bit behind her tears and nodded quietly. Five minutes prior, I knew nothing of her. Now, I knew more about her than I needed to know and perhaps more than a lot of people knew about her.
I knew she was deeply troubled. I knew she had dealt with many dark nights of the soul. I knew she tried to take her own life. But, why she chose to share this part of herself with me I don't really know.
Maybe she could tell I battled demons of my own. Maybe she knew I had a few dark nights of the soul as well. Maybe she knew I would understand her and wouldn't judge her.
Mercifully, a few more of my runners arrived breaking the tension. My assistant coach arrived and I quickly pulled him aside.
Without going into exhaustive detail, I told him what she had disclosed and asked him to keep an eye on her when we traveled across the bridge. As we headed towards the bridge, I reflected on my past.
I'd suffered from depression multiple times. I'd never been suicidal, but I'd definitely thought about not being around. I'd been on medication. I'd sought counseling. Did she smell it? Did I say something inadvertently that tipped her off?
The run proceeded uneventfully and I was relieved to see her smiling at the end of the run chatting with some fellow runners. I wondered if she would tell any of them what she told me. I also wondered if I would see her again.
Fortunately, I would see her again. While she didn't revisit what she'd disclosed previously, she told me more about herself. She used to be obese. She'd lost a ton of weight. She was looking forward to running a half marathon. She also had plans to go skydiving. She smiled frequently that day.
I couldn't help but feel that in some small way, her time with me was acting as a catalyst of sorts. Whether it was the natural anti-depressants secreted while running, the contact with other people, the knowledge that I was in her corner, or some combination of the aforementioned, I don't know.
She was happy when she ran and after a few weeks I nearly forgot about her words prior to our journey across the Golden Gate Bridge. I clung to the hope that she was turning the corner and the simple act of running was a big part of this change. One step at a time, one mile at a time she was pulling herself out of the dark abyss that she was trapped in.
As the season progressed the darkness I saw in her that first day seemed to wane as the number of miles she logged waxed. My darkest periods have often been associated with not running, so it was no surprise to me to see her become lighter as her mileage increased.
She eventually traveled to Europe to complete her first half marathon in Dublin. I was thrilled to see her post a picture of herself on Facebook smiling proudly with her race shirt. She had come so far in such a short period of time.
Months passed and I didn't see her. As with many people I work with, they come and go. I assumed life had simply taken her in a different direction. I hoped it was a positive one that still included running in some way, shape, or form as it clearly had helped her a great deal.
I don't know exactly what inspired me to look at her facebook page months later. I suppose I missed her. I was worried about her. Was she still running? Was she still moving in the right direction?
I found the following on her page, 'Our wonderful daughter is no longer tormented and is finally at peace.'
While I didn't really know her or the demons she battled for so long, I was crestfallen. Should I have done something else? Could I have done something else?
After the fog of grief had lifted a bit, I realized there was very little I could have done. I don't know if there's anything anyone could have done.
I struggle to understand what happened despite my own personal dalliances with the dark side. I've never found myself in a place as dark as she did. I just can't know how dark things got with her.
The only thing I do know is that she was happy when she ran. In one of our last exchanges she told me, 'The lands end trail always inspires me. I love all the twists, turns, ups and downs through bushes and trees. I feel like a carefree kid again. I always find myself laughing as if I just took a carnival ride.'
I know she's running now like a carefree kid, laughing as if she just took a carnival ride. I know how she feels. I run because it makes her happy....and me too.
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