The list.
I have to admit, I'm kind of proud of my Top 3 Runs List.
1) Cape Tribulation, Au
Summer of 2000, right before the Olympics in Sydney, my friend and I traveled down to Australia to visit another high school friend. We stumbled upon Cape Tribulation (Where the Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest meet!) and stayed in a hostile in the middle of the rainforest for a few nights. I ran with the manager one early morning, intrigued that we'd run with a torch (later to find out flashlight is a torch in AU). It was about a 4 mile run through the rainforest. We stopped to drink from a fresh water stream (her watering hole) and finished up on the beach - me a little scared by the signs "Caution: watch out for crocodiles". I remember a feeling of peace as I ate the best granola ever in my life back at the hostile (under the canopy of trees!)
2) Saipan, USA
Visiting my brother and his wife in the fall of 1997 he introduced me to my first Hash Harrier's experience. If you've never participated in a Hash Run, you should. Their motto "a drinking group with a running problem" (http://www.gthhh.com/). I've run a handful of Hash Runs, but none have been as great as running in the "jungle" of Saipan and finishing for Ceremony at the beach for BBQ. Fantastic!
3) New York, USA
Out in New York for the first time, I decided I HAD to run through Central Park. My hotel was on 34th, so I ran past The Today Show and trekked to the opening of the park. Lucky for me the day was gorgeous (clear and sunny) - several people running, biking, strolling. Soon enough I was in the "heart" of the park and felt completely at peace. Knowing I had to get back to the hotel by 8am for work I planned to head back, swing by the Today Show, grab a coffee and shower. That's not exactly how it worked out - run, run, run... lost in my peaceful state I ended up in Harlem before I realized I literally "ran" out of time! I wished I had more time to complete that 6+ mile loop. Instead, I jumped in a cab and hightailed it to the hotel, barely making it in time to meet up with my coworker for a walk to work.
But why stop at 3??? I've got a few hundred I could write about... but I'll spare you the details and finish up my list with the top 10.
4) Vancouver, Ca
I LOVE Vancouver! And I had the opportunity to run Stanley Park straight out from my hotel! Out the door in Yorktown, down to the harbor, past the water taxi's and into Stanley Park in Fall. Wonderful bike path that hugs the park and enjoyed the change in seasons as displayed by the trees! Again, wished I had more time to complete the loop versus an out and back. Next time!
5) Sydney, Au
During my visit in 2000, we stayed in Sydney. My friend's boyfriend mapped out a running trail that took us through Centennial Park and along the boardwalk of Bondi Beach. It was there, I realized as a Runner you get an advantage visiting towns. Where else can you cover more ground and visit more sites??
6) Chicago, USA
I've been to Chicago several times. It's where my favorite (like a 10 out of 10 rating) Marathon is! I love visiting Chicago - the food, the shopping and the active folks that live there! The bike path that hugs the lake makes for a flat, easy trail. I enjoyed running alongside the swimmers who were in the lake for their morning workout. That's how closely the trail hugs the lake!
7) Portland, USA
Up there for work, I decided to check out the Run Course suggested by the Concierge at the hotel. I started out in the small downtown, ran towards the river and crossed over the bridge to look back on Portland. Heading back I ran past bums, protesters and someone throwing up in the street. What made the run even more monumental was receiving my Runner's World and piecing together that Lance Armstrong used the same trail to train for his first Marathon.
8) Huntington Beach, USA
Love this trail. But I'll never forget the time I ran it with my training group one summer. Pushing off from Magnolia Park we ran past a Fitness expo complete with aerobics in the Beach Parking Lot. There was a surf competition at the pier. And a sprint triathlon up north of the pier with Rudy Garcia Tolson (double amputee) racing by us! What an action packed, fun filled day!
9) San Francisco, USA
The Houlihan's to Houlihan's Race! During college one of my best friends, and roommate, invited me to her hometown to take advantage of a 12k Race in San Francisco. After a crazy night at The Clock in Los Gatos, her father woke our hungover butts up to rush out the door for the race. After (cutting in) getting in line for the shuttles, the bus drops you off Marin County's Houlihan and you run across the Golden Gate Bridge to finish at Fisherman's Wharf Houlihan. A great run despite the queasy start... but nothing a Post Race Beer (or Hair of the Dog) can't fix!
10) Lake Arrowhead, CA
One of the passages of High School Cross Country was to run around Lake Arrowhead. Your choice of distance was: anywhere from 8 to 16 miles. I chose 14 miles - my longest run (and continued to be until 1999 when I trained for my first Marathon). Cross Country Camp was a week long training session which included double days. Wake up in the morning, run. Hang out, play ping pong. Eat lunch. Run in the afternoon and then eat dinner. Our coaches wanted us to benefit from the altitude training and bond as a group. The final stage was a planned run around Lake Arrowhead. The brave would push off from camp and run the full 16 Miles. The rest would climb in the back of a truck and get dropped off along the way. I remember being so excited about my 14 Mile commitment while riding along in the truck... and then run/walking along the highway wishing the insanity would stop around Mile 9! Nowadays there is NO WAY a High School Coach would put his teenage girls through the "too many to name" safety issues... but I'm happy they did. I kind of remember the crisp cool sunny morning (wearing socks on my hands instead of gloves). But I'll never forget my very first battle scars.
Of course, this is just my Top3, er I mean, Top 10 runs. I could create a list for my Top 10 OC Trails, Top 10 Races, Top 10 Running moments, etc.
Perhaps the point of this post (beside just rambling on about nonsense) is:
Take a break from your usual Running Route, and always travel with your Running Shoes.
1) Cape Tribulation, Au
Summer of 2000, right before the Olympics in Sydney, my friend and I traveled down to Australia to visit another high school friend. We stumbled upon Cape Tribulation (Where the Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest meet!) and stayed in a hostile in the middle of the rainforest for a few nights. I ran with the manager one early morning, intrigued that we'd run with a torch (later to find out flashlight is a torch in AU). It was about a 4 mile run through the rainforest. We stopped to drink from a fresh water stream (her watering hole) and finished up on the beach - me a little scared by the signs "Caution: watch out for crocodiles". I remember a feeling of peace as I ate the best granola ever in my life back at the hostile (under the canopy of trees!)
2) Saipan, USA
Visiting my brother and his wife in the fall of 1997 he introduced me to my first Hash Harrier's experience. If you've never participated in a Hash Run, you should. Their motto "a drinking group with a running problem" (http://www.gthhh.com/). I've run a handful of Hash Runs, but none have been as great as running in the "jungle" of Saipan and finishing for Ceremony at the beach for BBQ. Fantastic!
3) New York, USA
Out in New York for the first time, I decided I HAD to run through Central Park. My hotel was on 34th, so I ran past The Today Show and trekked to the opening of the park. Lucky for me the day was gorgeous (clear and sunny) - several people running, biking, strolling. Soon enough I was in the "heart" of the park and felt completely at peace. Knowing I had to get back to the hotel by 8am for work I planned to head back, swing by the Today Show, grab a coffee and shower. That's not exactly how it worked out - run, run, run... lost in my peaceful state I ended up in Harlem before I realized I literally "ran" out of time! I wished I had more time to complete that 6+ mile loop. Instead, I jumped in a cab and hightailed it to the hotel, barely making it in time to meet up with my coworker for a walk to work.
But why stop at 3??? I've got a few hundred I could write about... but I'll spare you the details and finish up my list with the top 10.
4) Vancouver, Ca
I LOVE Vancouver! And I had the opportunity to run Stanley Park straight out from my hotel! Out the door in Yorktown, down to the harbor, past the water taxi's and into Stanley Park in Fall. Wonderful bike path that hugs the park and enjoyed the change in seasons as displayed by the trees! Again, wished I had more time to complete the loop versus an out and back. Next time!
5) Sydney, Au
During my visit in 2000, we stayed in Sydney. My friend's boyfriend mapped out a running trail that took us through Centennial Park and along the boardwalk of Bondi Beach. It was there, I realized as a Runner you get an advantage visiting towns. Where else can you cover more ground and visit more sites??
6) Chicago, USA
I've been to Chicago several times. It's where my favorite (like a 10 out of 10 rating) Marathon is! I love visiting Chicago - the food, the shopping and the active folks that live there! The bike path that hugs the lake makes for a flat, easy trail. I enjoyed running alongside the swimmers who were in the lake for their morning workout. That's how closely the trail hugs the lake!
7) Portland, USA
Up there for work, I decided to check out the Run Course suggested by the Concierge at the hotel. I started out in the small downtown, ran towards the river and crossed over the bridge to look back on Portland. Heading back I ran past bums, protesters and someone throwing up in the street. What made the run even more monumental was receiving my Runner's World and piecing together that Lance Armstrong used the same trail to train for his first Marathon.
8) Huntington Beach, USA
Love this trail. But I'll never forget the time I ran it with my training group one summer. Pushing off from Magnolia Park we ran past a Fitness expo complete with aerobics in the Beach Parking Lot. There was a surf competition at the pier. And a sprint triathlon up north of the pier with Rudy Garcia Tolson (double amputee) racing by us! What an action packed, fun filled day!
9) San Francisco, USA
The Houlihan's to Houlihan's Race! During college one of my best friends, and roommate, invited me to her hometown to take advantage of a 12k Race in San Francisco. After a crazy night at The Clock in Los Gatos, her father woke our hungover butts up to rush out the door for the race. After (cutting in) getting in line for the shuttles, the bus drops you off Marin County's Houlihan and you run across the Golden Gate Bridge to finish at Fisherman's Wharf Houlihan. A great run despite the queasy start... but nothing a Post Race Beer (or Hair of the Dog) can't fix!
10) Lake Arrowhead, CA
One of the passages of High School Cross Country was to run around Lake Arrowhead. Your choice of distance was: anywhere from 8 to 16 miles. I chose 14 miles - my longest run (and continued to be until 1999 when I trained for my first Marathon). Cross Country Camp was a week long training session which included double days. Wake up in the morning, run. Hang out, play ping pong. Eat lunch. Run in the afternoon and then eat dinner. Our coaches wanted us to benefit from the altitude training and bond as a group. The final stage was a planned run around Lake Arrowhead. The brave would push off from camp and run the full 16 Miles. The rest would climb in the back of a truck and get dropped off along the way. I remember being so excited about my 14 Mile commitment while riding along in the truck... and then run/walking along the highway wishing the insanity would stop around Mile 9! Nowadays there is NO WAY a High School Coach would put his teenage girls through the "too many to name" safety issues... but I'm happy they did. I kind of remember the crisp cool sunny morning (wearing socks on my hands instead of gloves). But I'll never forget my very first battle scars.
Of course, this is just my Top
Perhaps the point of this post (beside just rambling on about nonsense) is:
Take a break from your usual Running Route, and always travel with your Running Shoes.
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