Trail of the Week

Trail of the Week

This week I am leaving my comfort zone of Downtown/Midtown Sacramento and taking you to the beautiful Lake Tahoe area! I did this run in November 2011 after running the Four Bridges Half Marathon and in preparation for the Napa Valley Marathon. This run was 15 brutal miles- and I mean brutal. I started at the Timberlodge by Marriott (since I was staying there). This run requires a GPS watch, for your safety! Start running down highway 50 east bound until you hit the first gas station on the right. Make a quick right and run up that hill. This hill is a 6 percent grade- the hardest grade the Federal Government allows for vehicles. This is a busy street and has very little pedestrian space on the sides. DO NOT wear an Ipod- This road is very dangerous—run up that road for 4 miles. Use your GPS watch to determine distance. Be very aware of your surroundings- the traffic is intense on this road! When you hit the top turn back, 4 miles downhill. When running down the hill, right before the intersection you turned in on there will be a sign telling you to turn to hit the park- make that turn. This is a great runners park, it is all dirt and very long. Hot the trail and begin running. Run for about 4 miles, there are dozens of trails all interlinked. When you get close to your 4 miles, make your way to the bottom of the trail, there will be a school. Cross the road there and follow the road to the Lake. There is a public water fountain here, park ranger and emergency services if needed. Run through the camp ground, and back to Highway 50. Head back to the hotel. This will be 15 miles.

Did you make it? I did, barely! I spent the rest of the day drinking champagne, sitting in the hot tub and catching shows in the evening!

I am sorry I do not have a link for this run. It is too challenging, because this is a very self directed run…

FYI- Do you enjoy all the state, city, and county parks? Do you? PAY FOR PARKING and DONATE!!

Trail of the Week

Ancil Hoffman Park

Ancil Hoffman Park is a major 396-acre park located in Carmichael, California, accessible by taking the Watt Avenue exit off Highway 50. Named after a Sacramento County Supervisor and manager to the famous boxer Max Baer, the park has many ancient oaks and is bordered on two sides by the American River. Major attractions include reconstructed Maidu Native American homes, the Ancil Hoffman Golf Course and the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. Many varieties of animals can be seen in Ancil Hoffman Park including wild turkey, deer, and hawks.  This park is a runner’s paradise. It has a great dirt trail the borders the park, runs along the river, around the golf course! This multi-terrain park is good for runners of any fitness level! One full lap around the park (you can see the trail) is just over 5.4 miles, loop it a couple of times for a nice scenic run!

Watch out for rattle snakes in the summer...

http://www.mapmyrun.com/s/routes/view/run-jog-map/california/carmichael/21306628

Trail of the Week

Trail of the Week

This route starts at my home, but you can also start at South Side Park. This run is very flat with only one slight hill at the very beginning. You will run down T street until you hit the end and head north to the foot bridge. Once there you will cross the foot bridge and continue north to Old Sacramento. When you near the embassy Suites, there is a public water fountain. Cross tower bridge/Capitol Ave (make sure you look, cars pulling out of the garage never look and will run you down) to Old Sacramento. I tend to stay on the wooden side walk along the river because the rocks are too hard to run on. From Old Sac get on H Street and take that to McKinley Park- (planty of water and restrooms at McKinley Park)-one loop around the park and back! On the way back, head south on 15^th Street when it crosses H street. If you want to add more miles to your run, do multiple loops around the park. I am not a big fan of loops, but if I have to do them, McKinley park is one of the better parks (keep an eye out for a post in the near future about great loop areas in Sacramento).

You will have lower traffic, lots of stuff to look at, plenty of public water fountains and bathrooms!  

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/11014145

 

Trail of the Week

Trail of the Week

Friends- I am going to start adding a “Trail of the Week” to the blog. The trails will be my favorite run of the week (or from past weeks). Most of the trails will be in Northern California. This week’s trail, one of my all time, all season favorites. This trail starts on T street (my house) or you can start at Southside Park in downtown. The route will take T Street to the foot bridge to Old Sacramento. Get on the bike trail and take that to Sacramento State! Exit J Street and zoom back to southside park. This is a 15 mile run- very flat and very scenic. There are plenty of public restrooms and water fountains along the trail. If running this in the summer months, leave early in the morning or in the later evening.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/20578890

Marathon Training Guide

I have attached the marathon training guide that I personally use. This is the 18 week guide before a marathon. I will run another marathon July 4, 2011. To train for that. Ill repeat weeks 12-17 twice and make sure I follow week 17 and 18 the two weeks before the marathon. Please- before training for any endurance event- see a doctor. You should have a physical done to make sure you are able to run (and most people are).

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	cross	3 m run	3 m run	3 m run	rest	6	cross
2	cross	3 m run	3 m run	3 m run	rest	7	cross
3	cross	3 m run	4 m run	3 m run	rest	5	cross
4	cross	5 m run	9 m run	5 m run	rest	15	cross
5	cross	5 m run	10 m run	5 m run	rest	16	cross
6	cross	5 m run	8 m run	4 m run	rest	17	cross
7	cross	5 m run	9 m run	5 m run	rest	12	cross
8	cross	5 m run	10 m run	5 m run	rest	13	cross
9	cross	5 m run	8 m run	4 m run	rest	15	cross
10	cross	5 m run	9 m run	5 m run	rest	16	cross
11	cross	5 m run	10 m run	5 m run	rest	17	cross
12	cross	5 m run	8 m run	4 m run	rest	12	cross
13	cross	4 m run	9 m run	5 m run	rest	18	cross
14	cross	5 m run	9 m run	5 m run	rest	20	cross
15	cross	5 m run	10 m run	5 m run	rest	22	cross
16	cross	5 m run	8 m run	4 m run	rest	15	cross
17	cross	4 m run	6 m run	3 m run	rest	8	cross
18	cross	3 m run	4 m run	2 m run	rest	rest	ra

If anyone in the Sacramento area is looking for a training or workout partner, please contact me.