Discussion: A liitle light jogging

I'm passing thru the San Francisco area next week (Feb 12-17) - does anyone live there who might want to accompany an ex-DVOA Englishman on a little weekend jogging?

Graeme Ackland (email me at gjackland@ed.ac.uk)

I don't live in San Franciso but it'd be nice to be able to. If you don't hook-up with any orienteers, there's lots of room to run just within Golden Gate Park.

If you were to venture further, you could start in Haight Asbury, run the lenghth of Golden Gate Park then test yourself on the hills by going north when you hit the ocean. Follow the coastline going NE on foot trails to the Golden Gate Bridge. Head back south to the park going through the Presidio. Take a map and you have yourself some street-o.

Another option I enjoyed a lot (if you have the time and pay the entry fee) is to go to Muir Woods. Run north through the Redwoods for about a mile before turning left on a trail up the steep hill to a ridge trail that's part of a long distance San Francisco circuit route. Turn left on the ridge trail and follow it back down to the parking lot. The views of the ocean and Golden Gate Bridge from the ridge are great! It's hard to get lost and I think only about 3 miles.

I've also noticed runners going through the streets near The Embarcadero. I guess they were in clubs and headed toward the Aquatic Park.

Enjoy. Your making me jealous already,

BAOC has a night street-O in Redwood City on Saturday, February 12.
See http://www.baoc.org/sched/s05/s050212.php for details. Redwood
city is about 20 minutes south of the City.

Whatever you do, don't do it! Graeme will only kick your butt! Every time I've run with him, he has totally kicked ass!

For all you BAOCers: ff you act quickly, there is still time to book a flight and vacation in Cancun during Feb 12-17!

Hey, Graeme--too bad you won't be passing through Laramie instead. I could design a running loop that would pass by at least 23 attack badgers.

I was going to mention the night (well twilight really) street-O too, but Tapio beat me to it. I'm sure someone could pick you up if you are interested in attending. (And it's a vampire-O, which in my experience means that the fastest runners get hunted down and taken out at the very end--especially a foreign interloper :-)

If this won't work for you, any of Nadim's suggestions are good ones. We have actual orienteering maps of both Golden Gate Park and the Presidio, which we could get to you with a little advance notice.

And in response to Nadim's other remark, yes, we were enjoying life as we orienteered at a local meet in 67 degree weather yesterday. But when I return to my tiny apartment, knowing that on a schoolteacher's salary it will be difficult for me to ever afford a home here (at least one not requiring a 4 hour roundtrip commute to work every day), I do start to wonder if it's worth it...

I'll be around Thursday night - I live close to Embarcadero although I'd be happy to drive somewhere with less pavement.

GG Bridge to Mt. Tam is a perennial favorite. ("and back" for the strong. About 6 hours, 55 km, ~3 km climb.) See you Sunday, Graeme...

Thanks for the replies - I think I'll head over to the vampire-O on Saturday (can you get there by public transport?). And a run in Mt Tam on Sunday to get out of the fog would be great :) - I hiked Muir Woods to Sausalito Ferry last time I was in SF, but couldn't run much on account of carrying a two year old...

No definite plans yet, so any offers of lifts, transport or even floorspace gratefully received.

Graeme

PS... Orienteering free from badger danger, see
http://www.scottish6days.com/2005/2005index.htm

There is no easy public transport to the event on Saturday. (By the way, you can do a regular freestyle course in the afternoon instead of, or in addition to, the evening Vampire-O). If you want, I (this is Terry, tfarrah@mindspring.com, writing under Eric's name) can post a request for a ride on the BAOC email list. Email me directly if you'd like that. (I can also post your request for training partners and floor space.)

You can take Caltrain to Redwood City, but then it is about 3 miles uphill to the event, I think.

-- Terry

If you do both events you won't receive a score for the Vampire-O... but you'll get to do more orienteering! :)

Thanks to BAOC for a nice weekend and arranging some sunshine on Saturday (only).

Especial thanks to Vladimir for letting me stay on his floor, and compromising his run on Sunday ... when I wasn't
sure I could manage the four hour run he kindly agreed to
do the route in three and a half!

At least, I assume that was kindness ;)

Graeme