Believe in Magic...

I identify as agnostic. But, I absolutely believe there are beings out there that are much bigger and more powerful than we can possibly imagine. I think we’re probably ants or microbes to them.

We barely show up on their radar. I don’t think our silent pleas to the universe are heard by them in any substantive way. They’ve got much bigger fish to fry...like making black holes, altering the space/time continuum, or giving birth to stars.

BUT...I do think these beings take a day off, enjoy screwing around, or just get bored. On these all too infrequent moments, I suspect these beings fuck around with the weird microbes on the blue and green rock...just for shits and giggles.

The result of this are those bizarre, surreal, and completely implausible moments that you will always remember in vivid detail. These are the experiences that tattoo your cerebral cortex. Those seconds where time froze.

There’s no logical explanation. There’s no scientific explanation. This is what I call magic.

The list of reasons why I run can encompass more than a single book. It’s a staggering list that not even I fully understand. I run to maintain my sanity. I run to slow the aging process. I run to quiet my mind. 

But, there’s ONE reason that stands head and shoulders above all the rest. It’s because RUNNING IS MAGIC.

Yes, running can be drudgery. It can be awful. There are days when it is nothing but an exercise in futility.

But, there are few activities that provide a catalyst for magic quite like running. I’ve had moments that I can barely explain to anyone.

I’ve seen incredible things I never would have seen had I not run. I’ve inexplicably endured things that defy reason because of running.

I’ve had moments where I have clearly been blessed (or cursed) by beings much larger and greater than me for reasons I can never fully grasp.

RUNNING IS MAGIC. Read on for one such illustrative moment.

An Open Invitation to Calamity…

I thought I was passionate about running. I thought I lived and breathed running. I thought I was devout.

Then I spent some time rubbing elbows with a few ultrarunners. I felt like a poser in the presence of these remarkable creatures who ran distances that most humans don’t drive in a week.

I already indulged in selfless self-flagellation regularly; 70 miles a week of it. But, the ultra world was a whole different kind of pain that was completely foreign to me. 

I was intrigued. Curiosity caught hold. Maybe I was suited to this kind of thing and just didn't  know it.  

I spent some time running with these fascinating ultra runners, but I wasn’t one of them. I’d never ventured beyond 26.2. I was a hack. I was a pretender.

But, logging a few miles with them planted the seed. You spend enough time with the infected and it's almost inevitable that you become infected yourself. Could I swing more than 26.2 miles?

The seed germinated when I had the great (mis)fortune to see JB Benna’s incredible documentary ‘Unbreakable’. I should restate that.

I saw the world premier of a phenomenal, inspiring documentary with most of the stars of the film in attendance, 300+ passionate trail runners in attendance, right next the Marin Headlands, on the eve of the North Face Endurance Challenge Championship. This night alone was MAGIC.

While I had been a bit skeptical about the whole ‘ultra’ scene, skepticism became inspiration after feeling a bit of the magic that seems to accompany this scene. There’s also more than a little bit of crazy going on in the ultra scene.

But, crazy was not uncharted territory for me. So, I went with it. I embraced the crazy (a bit more than usual).

I pulled the trigger on a 50K and a 50 miler. I had no idea what I was doing. So, I did what most fools do, I tried to figure it out on my own.

To be continued….

Trail Run 7ish Miles (04/03/16)

We'll get things rolling with an easy 1/2 mile warmup run to Julius Kahn Park from A Runner's Mind (3575 Sacramento St).

We'll do some range of motion drills in the park before starting the run.

 
Here's a link to the course map....
 
Sunday Trail Run Course Map

Here's a description of said course...

Follow chalk markings indicating 'RC' with arrows on paved roads. Follow flour arrows on trail segments.
-Launch from Julius Kahn Park. Follow paved path behind Julius Kahn and descend onto dirt trail (El Polin Loop) and follow this to MacArthur Ave.
-Turn LEFT on Fernandez Street.
-Turn LEFT on Barnard Ave and veer RIGHT onto Ecology Trail head at the end of Barnard Ave. 
-Follow Ecology Trail past Inspiration Point. Veer right and uphill towards Arguello when you reach trail intersection.
-Cross Arguello and continue on Bay Area Ridge Trail (Look for signs and flour markings).  
-You'll follow Bay Area Ridge Trail across Park Avenue. Roughly a 1/4 mile later look for flour markings on your RIGHT and continue following Bay Area Ridge Trail to Rob Hill Campground (it will be on your left). 
-At Rob Hill Campground, run on the paved path for a brief stretch and turn LEFT onto Washington Boulevard towards Immigrant Point Overlook.   
-Descend the stairs at Immigrant Point Overlook and cross Lincoln. Follow flour and chalk markings towards Battery to Bluffs Trail.  
-Follow Battery to Bluffs Trail until it ends. Turn around and head back the way you came to Immigrant Point Overlook.
-Cross Washington and turn RIGHT onto trail that runs parallel to Washington.
-Follow the trail until it runs into the intersection of Washington/Compton.
-Veer RIGHT and downhill onto Battery Caufield Road. 
-Follow Battery Caufield downhill for roughly 600 meters until you encounter a pedestrian crosswalk. Turn LEFT at the pedestrian crosswalk and run through the parking lot onto the trail. 
-Run on the trail past the Merchant Marine Cemetery Vista Memorial. 
-Roughly 1/4 of a mile later you will descend a set of stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, turn LEFT and run for another 200-300 meters. 
-Veer RIGHT and DOWNHILL at the fork in the path, merge onto Mountain Lake Trail, and follow underneath overpass.
-Follow path towards Golf Course. 
-Merge back onto Ecology Trail at Arguello and head back to Julius Kahn Park.
-Run past the Julius Kahn tennis courts and continue until you run into West Pacific Ave. Turn around and head back to the start for 7ish miles!

Saturday Long Run (12/26/15)

We'll get things rolling with an easy 1/4 mile (approx) warmup run to Jordan Ave.  

We'll segue into some range of motion drills and then continue with our run towards Golden Gate Park!

 
Here's a link to the course map....
 
Saturday ARM Long Run Course Map

Here's a description of said course...

-Launch from A Runner's Mind. Turn LEFT on Cherry across California Street and continue onto Jordan Ave. Look for chalk arrows/markings.
-Continue on Jordan Ave. to Geary. Take a 'slight' left and run across Geary on Stanyan St.
-Follow Stanyan to the intersection of JFK/Stanyan (big, controlled intersection with stoplights)
-Turn RIGHT on JFK and continue running into Golden Gate Park. This is just under 1.5 miles into the run. 
-Continue running through Golden Gate Park until you run under the overpass and reach the intersection of JFK/Transverse. This is a controlled intersection (four way stop). This is 3 miles. Beginners will turn around here and head back to A Runner's Mind for SIX MILES!
-Everyone else will continue running along JFK past JFK/Transverse.
-1/2 a mile later you will reach JFK/30th Ave. Intermediate runners will turn around here and head back to A Runner's Mind for SEVEN MILES!    
-Advanced/Race level runners will continue running on JFK (move over to the LEFT side of JFK).
-1/2 a mile later you will reach the intersection of JFK/Chain of Lakes Drive East. Advanced runners will turn around here and head back to A Runner's Mind for EIGHT MILES!  
-Race level runners will run through the pedestrian crosswalk and turn RIGHT to continue on JFK (you will be on the dirt path on the LEFT of JFK) until you reach the parking lot area for the BEACH CHALET SOCCER FIELDS ON YOUR LEFT. -There is a sign here for your visual cue. Look for a 'RC 9' in chalk. This is 4.5 miles. Intermediate level runners will turn around here and head back to A Runner's Mind for 9 MILES!

Sunday Trail Run (6ish miles)-12/20/15

We'll get things rolling with an easy 1/2 mile warmup run through Arguello Gate and head towards Mountain Lake Park. We'll do some range of motion drills before starting the run.

Here's a link to the course map....

Trail Run (6ish miles) Course Map

Here's a description of said course...

Follow chalk markings indicating 'RC' with arrows on paved roads. Follow flour arrows on trail segments.

-Launch from Mountain Lake Park.

-Turn RIGHT once you crest the hill (.35 miles approx).

-Follow paved path uphill towards Presidio Golf Course. (.65 miles approx)

-Run through Golf Course via path until you run into Washington(.7 miles approx)

-Cross Washington and head towards Amatury Loop.

-Take a LEFT on Bay Area Ridge Trail at Amatury Loop.

-Cross Park Blvd on Bay Area Ridge Trail. (.78 miles approx)

-At Rob Hill Campground follow Access Road to Washington Blvd.(1.25 miles approx)

-Follow Trail Left on Washington Blvd. Turn left at crosswalk to Immigrant Point Overlook.

-At Immigrant Point Overlook take steps down to Lincoln Blvd/Battery to Bluffs Trail (1.6 miles approx)

-Cross Lincoln Blvd. Join Battery to Bluffs Trail and follow trail

-Continue onto California Coastal Trail underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. (2.6 miles approx)

-Re-Join Battery East Trail (paved pedestrian path).

-Follow paved path to intersection of Lincoln/Long Ave. Look for stop signs.

-Continue on paved path through intersection to Crissy Field Overlook. Look for the 'E' with an arrow directing you to turnaround! (3.17 miles approx)

Saturday Long Run (4-7 miles), 5/28/16

We'll get things rolling with an easy 1/4 mile (approx) warmup run to Jordan Ave.  

We'll segue into some range of motion drills and then continue with our run towards Golden Gate Park!

 
Here's a link to the course map....
 
Saturday ARM Long Run Course Map

Here's a description of said course...

-Launch from A Runner's Mind. Turn LEFT on Cherry across California Street and continue onto Jordan Ave. Look for chalk arrows/markings.
-Continue on Jordan Ave. to Geary. Take a 'slight' left and run across Geary on Stanyan St.
-Follow Stanyan to the intersection of JFK/Stanyan (big, controlled intersection with stoplights)
-Turn RIGHT on JFK and continue running into Golden Gate Park. This is just under 1.5 miles into the run.
-Continue for another 1/2 mile until you reach the intersection of JFK/8th. This is a big controlled intersection (four way stop). This is 2 miles. Beginners will turn around here and head back to A Runner's Mind for FOUR MILES!
-Everyone else will continue running through Golden Gate Park via JFK. Shortly after passing DeYoung Museum you will see the Rose Garden on the right. This is 2.5 miles. Intermediate runners will turn around here and head back to A Runner's Mind for FIVE MILES!   
-Advanced and Race level runners will continue running through Golden Gate Park until you run under the overpass and reach the intersection of JFK/Transverse. This is a controlled intersection (four way stop). This is 3 miles. Advanced runners will turn around here and head back to A Runner's Mind for SIX MILES! 
-Race level runners will continue running along JFK past JFK/Transverse. 1/2 a mile later you will reach JFK/30th Ave. This is 3.5 miles. Race level runners will turn around here and head back to A Runner's Mind for SEVEN MILES!

Saturday Long Run (11/28/15, 3-6 miles)

We'll get things rolling with an easy 1/4 mile warmup run to Julius Kahn Park.  

We'll segue into some range of motion drills and then continue with our run towards the Marina/Embarcadero

 
Here's a link to the course map....
 
Saturday ARM Long Run Course Map

Here's a description of said course...

-Descend from Julius Kahn Park to MacArthur Ave. 
-Turn RIGHT on MacArthur Ave and follow to Presidio Ave.
-Veer RIGHT on Presidio Ave towards Lincoln Ave. 
-Turn LEFT on Lincoln. Run briefly along Lincoln and then turn RIGHT on Girard. 
-Follow Girard to the Marina. Girard turns into Marina Boulevard. 
-At Marina/Broderick, you will have logged 1.5 miles. Look for a RC3 in chalk. Beginners turn around here and head back to Julius Kahn for 3 MILES!
-Everyone else will continue running on Marina Blvd. Once you reach the Marina Green Monkey Bars, you will have logged 2 miles. Look for a RC4 in chalk. Intermediate runners will turn around here and head back to Julius Kahn for 4 MILES!
-Advanced runners will continue on Marina past Safeway and crest Ft. Mason Hill. Once you're adjacent to the Youth Hostel, look for a RC5 in chalk. Advanced runners will turn around here and head back to Julius Kahn for 5 MILES!
-Race level runners will descend Fort Mason Hill and run through Aquatic Park. Run until the sidewalk terminates in a cul-de-sac/roundabout. Turn around here and head back to Julius Kahn for 6 MILES!
 

Run Club Training levels

If you have never done any kind of substantive running, you have been away from running for a LONG time, and/or you are coming back from an injury it's likely you would be a good candidate for the 'Beginner' level training.

If you are relatively active and run periodically and have perhaps completed a 5K or 10K here or there, 'Intermediate' may make the most sense for you.

If you already run regularly 2-3 times/week and have been for some time, 'Advanced' may be a solid training level for you.

'Race' level is for folks who are ALREADY in the kind of shape to run 13.1 miles and are primarily interested in becoming FASTER.

Let me emphasize that there are no hard/fast rules and feel free to toggle between the various training levels.

Maybe you can only handle 'Beginner' level training the first month, but need something a bit more challenging later on. NO PROBLEM! Try tackling the 'Intermediate' or 'Advanced' level training.

Your body will let you know when you are ready for something more demanding or if you need to dial things back.