Oakland Marathon - March 28th!

With my long runs on the weekend, I started thinking about running a marathon in March.  Soon (hopefully, I'll have time tonight) I'll post about my 17 mile run this past Sat.  After the 17 mile run, I was quite sure that I could do a marathon in March.  I wanted to do the LA Marathon (I'm from So. Cal). However, that weekend was not good for me.

So, I signed up for the Oakland marathon.  It is close.

With the newborn, I am not going to plan a time.  I'm just going to go out there and have fun.  I'm going to run the marathon because I want to run it and enjoy it.  I'm very excited!!!!

Rancho and Hidden Villa Run

I was not sure if I was going to make it for our Sat long run.  Before I left work on Friday night I started feeling under the weather.  My throat was sore and I was feeling very hot.  I got home and just felt worse.  I generally watch baby Brooklyn at night after work so that my wife can go to bed early and get some sleep from about 9pm until 1/2am (I do a 11pm or so bottle feeding). Friday night I felt horrible so had to go to bed early (before 9pm).

Our running group planned to meet at 7:13am at Rancho so I questioned whether I would make it.  However, I woke up early (about 5 am) and felt okay.  I tried to get another hour in and felt better when I finally got out of bed after 6am.  So I decided to go on the run.

We started at Rancho Santonio and started early to make sure we got parking.  If you go there on the weekend, it seems you have to get there early otherwise parking can be a problem.  The lower lot was already filled and the upper parking lots were getting filled. From Rancho we were running to Hidden Villa in order to see new baby cows that were born (not my idea) and then we would make our way back. 

It was a beautiful day.  There were strong chances of rain but we stayed dry the entire time.  The clouds even cleared out for part of the run.  There were lots of hills; some of them very steep. Getting out to Hidden Villa took about 6 miles with some tough hills.  After seeing some animals we took the Hostel Trail back (very steep parts).  I felt good the whole way.  It was tough at times and some hills I had to walk for short periods (too tough), but it was great being outside.  We had a large group today (8 of us).  I generally stayed with the front of the pack . . . which is great because you get to rest at the top of the hill when we regroup!  I love regrouping.  It makes me want to run faster up the hills so I have more time to rest at the top.  :)  At mile 13 we hit a trail that could take us back if we go left or go longer if we go right.  Some wanted to run longer; while others wanted to head back.  I ended up heading back with the majority of the runners.  The run ended up being 15.1 miles (I was very glad I headed back at mile 13).

The only negative factor was that about mile 14, I sprained my left ankle.  I looked back to make sure we were not leaving a runner too far behind and ended up landing on something.  My ankle was (and still is) sore.  I have iced it and it seems to be getting better.  I'm not sure if I can run on Monday, but I'm hoping it will allow me a short run on Tuesday.  So it does not feel that bad.  Fingers crossed.

Here are some pictures with some notes (sorry about the quality of my pictures, I take them with my iphone):

We are still at Rancho in the above picture and going up

one of the first Hills.  The sun was coming out,

but it was very cold at first.

My fingers (even with gloves on) were freezing.

A picture of some of the runners heading up a hill (great day)

A look at the silicon valley:

At Hidden Villa (about 6/7 miles into the run) - one of the animals we saw:

The Mother cow and, trust me, the baby cow is in the hay behind mother cow (if you click on the picture and look very, very close you can see the top of the baby cow)

Up the Hostel Trail:

We ran to the historic windmill (no windmill anymore, just a sign of where it used to be):

A view from the route back:

Shorleine Run

With a new baby it is tough to update this blog as often as I would like.  However, I'm still getting runs in.  I thought I better post about last Saturday's run before I go out for this Saturday's run.

On the 9th, we had a flat run at Shoreline Park in Mountain View.  This route is close to my house (maybe 10-15 mins away).  I generally start at Stevens Creek Trial and run to Shoreline Park.  This time we started at shoreline and ran towards and in the wetlands.

A few people I run with were running a race on Sunday (the Angel Island run).  I considered signing up, but it was already sold out by the time I decided I might run it.  I was not completely committed so I did not feel bad about missing.  Since most of the runners had a race on Sunday, the run was only going to be 6 miles.  3 miles out and then back.  I planned to run 10 miles.

This was the spot of the horrible half marathon I ran last August.  I ran the Sankara iwalk.  The race started last and it was very, very hot.  After a few miles I had to start walking.  Someone that I normally run with also ran the race and ended up passing out.  This past Sat, unlike last August, the weather was nice and cool.  Just how I like it.

We ran out through the wetlands and enjoyed the views.  The 6 miles went really fast.  It is a major difference running a flat short course than many miles on hills.  It is nice to give your body a little break while still getting out there on a trail and enjoy nature.  Shoreline is more crowded than some of the other trails in this area but the paths are wide enough that you have plenty of room even if another group of runners are around.

After the 6 miles I continued along.  We ran back to the car and then I headed off from there.  I planned to go two miles towards Stevens Creek Trail.  About mile 7, I started having the urge to use the restroom!  I hate it when that occurs.  I decided that I should turn back because the nearest restroom was near my car (a mile away).  The problem with the Shoreline trail is that it is too crowed and you can't go behind a bush.  I started running back, but had to go very slow because my bladder wanted to explode.  I made it to mile 8 (it took a while to get there) where the restroom was located.  I then ran 1 mile in the direction I started and turned around to finish my 10 miles.  The last two miles I finished strong.  Overall, it was a nice run save for mile 7.

Here are a few pictures, as you can see it is very flat.

Here is a picture I took while running of the group:

First long run of 2010 - Done!

I was able to get out this Sat. for a long run.

I meet up with a couple of people for a run in Huddart Park and the Phleger Estate (in Woodside).

This run was going to be a 12 mile run.  We borrowed a run from the Palo Alto run club.  We met at a school about two miles away from the Park.  A few people wanted to run the two miles to the park.  Since the SV marathon in late Oct., I had not run greater than 8/9 miles so I was not keen on adding on another 4 miles (2 both ways).  We decided to drive to the park and those who wanted to run back to the cars could.

It was another great day for running.  At least for me, I like when it's nice and cool outside.  The first 6 miles were tough.  A lot of hills.  I believe the top was at 2100 feet.  Yet, the trial was great.  We ran into only a few other people out there.  There was one hiker that was rolling.  It took use a while to pull away from him.  Every though hill he seemed to catchup.  About mile 7 we had trouble finding the Loney Trial which would lead us back.  That added a little bit of mileage to our run.  A couple of hikers helped us find our way, otherwise the run might have turned out be significantly longer. We ended up running (some walking) about 12.5 miles.

My legs held up.  The first 6 miles I felt good and strong.  I was getting tired the second half.  Downhills tend to be harder on my knees.  Plus, it had been a while since I ran this far.  At the end, I was glad I drove into the park.  A few people ran the two miles back, while I gave a ride to another person. Overall, I'm very happy I was able to get out there.  It was a great run.  There are many trials and its easy to do shorter or longer runs.

Some general thoughts on the run:

1. Great trials.  The footing was solid and you have a lot of room to your selves.  The trails are well marked and with a map you can easily manage a long run without getting lost.  We had trouble finding 1 trail however, but I think that was more to use going from the Huddart Park and the Phleger Estate (two different parks).
2. There are a lot of trees which helps keep the rain the a min and also keep the trial shaded.
3. It does cost $5 to park, but you can park 2 miles away and get in an extra 4 miles.
4. It feels great to just run without having any race scheduled.  Getting out there and doing a long run just because you want to run makes the run very enjoyable.  You are not really worred about how far you go or time.  You are just running because you want to run.
5. I did think about Brooklyn alot during the run.

Here are some pictures:

Most of the trail was dirt, this part had some gravel.  It was very misty, but at times the sun shined through the trees.

This is me.  The phone is a bit blury.   This was about mile 5 (had just ran up another hill).

Another picture of the trial. Very isolated.

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a great new year and I wish you all the best in 2010!


Tomorrow Brooklyn will be two weeks old. It is an adjustment . . . living with a newborn. But, it is great. My New Year goal is simply to keep up running to some extent while I adjust to Brooklyn’s schedule and routine.

Getting running in is much harder. I have found that during the week shorter runs work best. I’ve tried to get about 3 runs in during the week between 3 and 4 miles each. I’ve mixed up the runs between the outdoors and the treadmill.

Last Sat., I was able to get out to Picchetti Open Space Preserve for a run. We started at Picchetti and then went onto the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve. I had to take Brooklyn to her first doctor’s appointment (well-visit) so I could only run for about an hour and a half. The rest of the group was going to run about 3 hours. I started with them and after 45 minutes turned around. It was great to be outside and enjoy two nice trial runs. The weather was great, it was nice and cool. A bit overcast. The main issue was making sure I did not get lost on the way back . . . one wrong turn and I’m late to Brooklyn’s appointment. Since the car seat is in my car, that means my wife would be very upset. Going out I was very careful to make sure I knew what trial I was on and each major turn we made.  I made it back in time without getting lost or being too slow on the turn trip.  Here are a few pictures.

This Friday, on New Years Day I was able to get out and run the Los Altos 5K run/walk. I had a PR with a time under 22 minutes. They did not have numbers, but they did have a clock. It was a very informal run. No numbers. No fees. It was four ½ laps in, near and around Los Altos Downtown. There were many walkers, which made it a fun family event. Yet, there were a number of serious and fast runners. I started with the lead pack but they were going at a 5/6 min pace and I had to fall off quickly. I ran it in a 7.22 pace. For a time of 21 minutes and 26 seconds. The problem is that my Garmin showed only 2.91 miles at the finish. I ran and kept pace until Garmin read 3 miles for a time of 22.05. Yet start to finish was 21 minutes and 26 seconds. I think the reason for the 2.91 miles is that runners stayed on the left and since there were a lot of walkers, we were on the far left. With just left turns (big loop), that cut off the distance . . . I think. So now I have to decide if this counts as a PR. I think so since it was a 5K and the time and distance was what they were. It was a great way to start the year.