Pacific Striders Weekend Run

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Mar 7, 8:45, Lone Oak

2010-03-06T10:16:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
My calf has decided it won't be running this weekend, so Jess will be the standard bearer. Widlcat Canyon is probably the best trail for avoiding mud.
Have a Good Weekend,
Mike

DIRECTIONS: To reach the start, take the Albany/Buchanan Ave. exit from I-80. From the east, turn left at the stop sign which will put you on a road that you follow for about .25 miles where it curves around a bit and puts you on Buchanan. From the west, a right at the stop light puts you on Buchanan. Once on Buchanan, your head toward the hills. After crossing San Pablo, Buchanan becomes Marin Ave. Stay on Marin. At one point you will hit a traffic circle. Go half way around and turn up the hill to stay on Marin. Turn left on Spruce and continue until the stop sign at the intersection with Grizzley Peak Rd. Go straight through the intersection and take an immediate left onto Canon Dr. Right a the stop sign onto Central Park Dr. then left onto Lone Oak.

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Feb 27, 8:45, Couples Relay or Inspiration Point

2010-02-27T10:07:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone,
The Couples Relay at Lake Merritt is the official weekend run. Jessica
and I will be there to defend our somewhere in the middle of the pack
status. The good news is we move up in age group this year (runners
are perverse)! The bad news is that the majority team contributor to
this change in status is feeling his age! For those of you who prefer
the traditional Sunday Run, Inspiration Point is a safe bet in this
rainy period. Information for both runs is below.
Have a good weekend,
Mike

COUPLES RELAY

LOCATION
The race will begin at the Sailboat House, 568 Bellevue Ave. in
Oakland. Enter the park at the intersection of Grand Ave. & Bellevue
Ave. The Sailboat House is about 1/2 mile from the entrance. There
is a $5 charge to enter the park. You can also enter the park at
Perkins St. & Grand Ave. to avoid the charge. It is a 2-3 block walk
to the starting line. More detailed directions can be found on the
registration brochure.

WHERE TO PICK UP YOUR BIB NUMBERS
You can pick-up your team bib numbers and goody bag (one per team for
the first 150 teams) on race morning at the "Pre-Registered Runners"
table from 8:00 a.m. until the start of the race at 9:00 a.m. PLEASE
NOTE: The bib numbers for both runners on your team will be filed under
the FEMALE RUNNER'S LAST NAME. If your team is an all-female or
all-male then the bib number will be filed under the name of the person
who registered the team. Each team will receive two great reusable
ChicoBags plus donated items from sponsors including Divine Chocolates,
Innersports, Pop Chips, Attune, Transports, and Body Mechanix. Goody
bags are only guaranteed to be available for the first 150 teams that
registered.

WARM UP, FOOD, PRIZES & MORE!
Body Mechanix trainers will be conducting a complimentary group warm up
starting at 8:30 a.m. The group warmup is designed to maximize runners'
performance as well as prevent injuries. Snacks and drinks will be
available after the race from Whole Foods, Farmer Joe's Market and
Honest Tea. The awards ceremony will take place around 10:15 a.m. so
stick around. Great prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in
each age division plus every team has a chance to win great raffle
prizes (must be present to claim your prize) from sponsors including
Sports Basement, Total Ice Therapy, Road ID, See Jane Run, and
Lululemon.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
There is major construction going on all around the lake. We will have
volunteers on the course to help you navigate the tight spots, but
please be courteous to other runners as well as pedestrians enjoying
the lake. In addition, there will be a bonsai exhibit at the Garden
Center which may cause additional traffic on Bellevue Avenue so as you
head toward the finish line watch out for cars and pedestrians.

INSPIRATION POINT DIRECTIONS:

From downtown Oakland and points West: go thru the Caldecott tunnel on Hwy 24 to the Orinda/Moraga exit. Turn left at the stoplight onto Camino Pablo, which will turn into San Pablo Dam Rd. Proceed about 2 miles to the traffic light at Wildcat Canyon and Bear Creek Roads. Turn left onto Wildcat Canyon Rd. Go uphill 2.5 miles to the parking lot at the top of the ridge.

From Walnut Creek and points east: Head East on Hwy 24 take the Orinda/Moraga exit and stay right toward Orinda Village. Once on Camino Pablo, proceed as above.

From Berkeley/Albany, Wildcat Canyon Road can be accessed from Grizzly Peak Blvd. via South Park Dr. (closed for newts November 1 - April 1) or Shasta Rd.

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Feb 20, 8:45, Skyline Gate

2010-02-20T13:15:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
I'm holding out on declaring a trail until the rain situation plays out, I'm leaning toward East Ridge if the rain holds off. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Mike

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate can be reached from the Park Blvd. exit off Highway 13 in Oakland. Heading north on 13, turn left at the stop sign at the end of the ramp onto Mountain Blvd. Turn right at the third light onto Snake Rd. Heading south on 13, take a left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp onto Park Blvd., a left at the light onto Mountain Blvd., and a right onto Snake Rd. Proceed on Snake Rd. and go straight onto Shepherd Canyon Rd. where Snake takes a sharp left. Proceed up Shepherd Canyon (watch for the sharp hairpin right) until you reach a five way intersection at which you have a stop sign. Turn right onto Skyline Blvd. and look for the Skyline Gate parking lot 0.5 miles on your left.

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Feb 14, 8:45, Lone Oak, Wildcat Canyon

2010-02-13T10:15:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
I'm rolling the dice, this week. Desperate to do something different, I'm committing to Wildcat Canyon, which should be passable. If not, I can get creative. See you Sunday.
Mike

DIRECTIONS: To reach the start, take the Albany/Buchanan Ave. exit from I-80. From the east, turn left at the stop sign which will put you on a road that you follow for about .25 miles where it curves around a bit and puts you on Buchanan. From the west, a right at the stop light puts you on Buchanan. Once on Buchanan, your head toward the hills. After crossing San Pablo, Buchanan becomes Marin Ave. Stay on Marin. At one point you will hit a traffic circle. Go half way around and turn up the hill to stay on Marin. Turn left on Spruce and continue until the stop sign at the intersection with Grizzley Peak Rd. Go straight through the intersection and take an immediate left onto Canon Dr. Right a the stop sign onto Central Park Dr. then left onto Lone Oak.

Pac Striders Weekend run, Sun Feb 7, 8:45, Skyline Gate West Ridge/Bayview

2010-02-06T12:57:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone,
Sorry for the late notice, it has been an eventful week. We're excited to welcome a new member of the household, Peanut the cockatiel. Our "first born" toy poodle is depressed!
The events will continue through tomorrow, as we are hosting a sleepover. So please enjoy an uncoordinated run (aren't they all?). I highly recommend West Ridge/Bayview, which should be OK unless we get heavy rains some time before the run.
Have a good weekend,
Mike

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate can be reached from the Park Blvd. exit off Highway 13 in Oakland. Heading north on 13, turn left at the stop sign at the end of the ramp onto Mountain Blvd. Turn right at the third light onto Snake Rd. Heading south on 13, take a left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp onto Park Blvd., a left at the light onto Mountain Blvd., and a right onto Snake Rd. Proceed on Snake Rd. and go straight onto Shepherd Canyon Rd. where Snake takes a sharp left. Proceed up Shepherd Canyon (watch for the sharp hairpin right) until you reach a five way intersection at which you have a stop sign. Turn right onto Skyline Blvd. and look for the Skyline Gate parking lot 0.5 miles on your left.

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Jan 31, 8:45, Skyline Gate

2010-01-28T21:31:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
We're bouncing back and forth between Inspiration Point and West Ridge / Bayview, it must be winter. West Ridge should be OK, or we'll just pretend it is.

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate can be reached from the Park Blvd. exit off Highway 13 in Oakland. Heading north on 13, turn left at the stop sign at the end of the ramp onto Mountain Blvd. Turn right at the third light onto Snake Rd. Heading south on 13, take a left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp onto Park Blvd., a left at the light onto Mountain Blvd., and a right onto Snake Rd. Proceed on Snake Rd. and go straight onto Shepherd Canyon Rd. where Snake takes a sharp left. Proceed up Shepherd Canyon (watch for the sharp hairpin right) until you reach a five way intersection at which you have a stop sign. Turn right onto Skyline Blvd. and look for the Skyline Gate parking lot 0.5 miles on your left.

Have a good weekend,
Mike

Pac Striders Weekend Run, sun, Jan 24, 8:45, Inspiration Point

2010-01-20T22:39:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
The rain we've already had this week pretty much limits us to the most waterproof runs. Inspiration Point will offer the advantages of asphalt while still enjoying a park trail blessed with nature's beauty.

Bathrooms at the start, but no water that doesn't fall from the sky..

Directions:

From downtown Oakland and points West: go thru the Caldecott tunnel on Hwy 24 to the Orinda/Moraga exit. Turn left at the stoplight onto Camino Pablo, which will turn into San Pablo Dam Rd. Proceed about 2 miles to the traffic light at Wildcat Canyon and Bear Creek Roads. Turn left onto Wildcat Canyon Rd. Go uphill 2.5 miles to the parking lot at the top of the ridge.

From Walnut Creek and points east: Head East on Hwy 24 take the Orinda/Moraga exit and stay right toward Orinda Village. Once on Camino Pablo, proceed as above.

From Berkeley/Albany, Wildcat Canyon Road can be accessed from Grizzly Peak Blvd. via South Park Dr. (closed for newts November 1 - April 1) or Shasta Rd.

Have a good weekend,

Mike

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Jan 17, 8:45, Skyline Gate

2010-01-15T21:56:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
I'm going to say it's East Ridge/Bayview trail, in case the predicted showers decide to dump on Redwood Park. As always, we can adjust our plans at the start.

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate can be reached from the Park Ave. exit off Highway 13 in Oakland. Heading north on 13, turn left at the stop sign at the end of the ramp onto Mountain Blvd. Turn right at the third light onto Snake Rd. Heading south on 13, take a left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp onto Park Blvd., a left at the light onto Mountain Blvd., and a right onto Snake Rd. Proceed on Snake Rd. and go straight onto Shepherd Canyon Rd. where Snake takes a sharp left. Proceed up Shepherd Canyon (watch for the sharp hairpin right) until you reach a five way intersection at which you have a stop sign. Turn right onto Skyline Blvd. and look for the Skyline Gate parking lot 0.5 miles on your left.

Have a good weekend,
Mike

Pac Striders Weekend Run, joining the Golden Bay Runners at 9:00 Sunday, Jan 10, at Lake Chabot

2010-01-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
We will interrupt our regular rotation for my favorite Sunday run special event, courtesy of the Golden Bay Runners at Lake Chabot. This starts at a picnic area on East Shore trail near the marina and the parking lot.

Join the Golden Bay Runners for our annual January fun run at Lake Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley. No entry fee, no shirts, no water stops, no bibs, no timing (but an abundance of good times), and plenty of challenge. Run all or part of the famous Trail Challenge Half Marathon course - you can choose the route and distance if ours doesn't appeal to you. Lake Chabot offers a wide variety of choices. Expect cold, mud, possible rain, a steep hill or two and some of the finest downhill views in the East Bay. And all this is followed by our epic potluck breakfast, designed to drive winter away. Just bring a dish or drinks to share and you're in! We meet near the boathouse on the Lake Chabot marina - look for a group of runners (and walkers) ready to defy the elements or follow the aroma of hot chocolate. We start precisely at 9 a.m. After all, we are in a hurry to get to the breakfast. Directions: Take the 150th exit from 580, head East up Fairmont Drive and over and down the hill. Lake Chabot lies at the bottom of that hill near where Lake Chabot Road intersects Fairmont Drive. For more information, call Michael Raffee (408) 209-8680 or Will and Julie Uher (510) 278-0451

Have a good Weekend,
Mike

Pac Striders Weekend run, Sun Jan 3, 8:45, Skyline Gate

2010-01-01T09:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!
I wanted to start with a big thank you to Amy for her many years of service to the run. I am looking forward to many more runs where she will be participating as a civilian.
We will start the new year having the usual debate about which Skyline Gate trail to take, unless the rain decides to choose for us!

By the way, the Pacific Striders and the Strawberry Canyon Track Club are now officially merged. I am going to continue with the Pac Striders subject line for a while and mention the name change in the e-mail to avoid confusion.

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate can be reached from the Park Ave. exit off Highway 13 in Oakland. Heading north on 13, turn left at the stop sign at the end of the ramp onto Mountain Blvd. Turn right at the third light onto Snake Rd. Heading south on 13, take a left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp onto Park Ave., a left at the light onto Mountain Blvd., and a right onto Snake Rd. Proceed on Snake Rd. and go straight onto Shepherd Canyon Rd. where Snake takes a sharp left. Proceed up Shepherd Canyon (watch for the sharp hairpin right) until you reach a five way intersection at which you have a stop sign. Turn right onto Skyline Blvd. and look for the Skyline Gate parking lot 0.5 miles on your left.

Have a good weekend,
Mike

Pac Striders Dec. 27, 8:45am - Inspiration Point & brunch

2009-12-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! We hope you can join us for our last run of 2009. We're doing a repeat of Inspiration Point due to the threat of rain, and also so that we can be within striking distance of Saul's for brunch afterwards.

For other news, the new year will mark our transition into a new club. If you haven't heard yet, Pacific Striders is merging with Strawberry Canyon Track Club (read about it here).

I will also be stepping down as "Official Weekend Run Coordinator"; since I moved to the Peninsula last year, the commute to the East Bay has been taking its toll (literally!), so I've been looking to cut back on some driving. However, Mike will continue on as Weekend Run Coordinator for the new club next year, and for now the Sunday run schedule will stay the same.

It's been a pleasure to serve as co-coordinator for the past 5? 6? years (wow, can't even remember exactly), working with Mike to tinker with the runs. I plan to remain a semi-regular for the runs, so I hope to see you all on the trails.

Don't forget we still have a run this Sunday! Here are the directions:

DIRECTIONS TO INSPIRATION POINT & POST-RUN BRUNCH:
From Oakland/Berkeley, go thru the Caldecott Tunnel on Hwy 24 to the Orinda/Moraga exit. Turn left (north) onto Camino Pablo, and go 2 miles to the traffic light at Wildcat Canyon Rd. Turn left and go uphill 2.5 miles to the parking lot at the top of the ridge.

Saul's Deli is at 1475 Shattuck Ave in Berkeley. We'll give directions and caravan from the run, or you can search the address online.

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun, Dec 20, 8:45, Skyline Gate

2009-12-18T13:05:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
Sunday number 3, we're back at Skyline. We may choose to run West Ridge/Bayview to avoid the mud potential of the other trails. But I'm really afraid of commitment, so let's decide there.

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate can be reached from the Park Ave. exit off Highway 13 in Oakland. Heading north on 13, turn left at the stop sign at the end of the ramp onto Mountain Blvd. Turn right at the third light onto Snake Rd. Heading south on 13, take a left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp onto Park Ave., a left at the light onto Mountain Blvd., and a right onto Snake Rd. Proceed on Snake Rd. and go straight onto Shepherd Canyon Rd. where Snake takes a sharp left. Proceed up Shepherd Canyon (watch for the sharp hairpin right) until you reach a five way intersection at which you have a stop sign. Turn right onto Skyline Blvd. and look for the Skyline Gate parking lot 0.5 miles on your left.

Have a good weekend,
Mike

Pac Striders Dec. 13, 8:45am - Inspiration Point

2009-12-11T15:28:00.000-08:00

The wet weather will be with us through the weekend, so we'll start from the Inspiration Point area of Tilden. This is a simple out and back along the Nimitz Trail. Going all the way to the end of the asphalt yields an 8 mi run roundtrip. Bathrooms at the start, but no water, so bring some if you plan to drink more than raindrops.

DIRECTIONS: From Oakland/Berkeley, go thru the Caldecott Tunnel on Hwy 24 to the Orinda/Moraga exit. Turn left (north) onto Camino Pablo, and go 2 miles to the traffic light at Wildcat Canyon Rd. Turn left and go uphill 2.5 miles to the parking lot at the top of the ridge.

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Dec 6, 8:45, Skyline Gate

2009-12-04T16:05:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
We've started another month, so there is no need for your coordinators to strain their brains picking a staging area. At Skyline, we do need to pick a trail. Right now, the weather prediction is clear, so perhaps we can enjoy the views from East Ridge and save West Ridge/Bayview for the wet weather to come. Let's put off the choice till we meet.

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate can be reached from the Park Ave. exit off Highway 13 in Oakland. Heading north on 13, turn left at the stop sign at the end of the ramp onto Mountain Blvd. Turn right at the third light onto Snake Rd. Heading south on 13, take a left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp onto Park Ave., a left at the light onto Mountain Blvd., and a right onto Snake Rd. Proceed on Snake Rd. and go straight onto Shepherd Canyon Rd. where Snake takes a sharp left. Proceed up Shepherd Canyon (watch for the sharp hairpin right) until you reach a five way intersection at which you have a stop sign. Turn right onto Skyline Blvd. and look for the Skyline Gate parking lot 0.5 miles on your left.

Cheers,
Mike

Pac Striders Nov 29 - Lake Chabot Marina

2009-11-27T14:03:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. For those of you in town looking to run off some turkey, we'll be at Lake Chabot Marina at 8:45am for a jaunt around the lake. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Directions:
*I-580 East (Oakland/Berkeley) Exit Fairmont Avenue. Drive East to park entrance on the left.
*I-580 West (Livermore/Dublin) Exit Strobridge Avenue. Turn right on Strobridge. Turn right on Castro Valley Blvd. Turn left on Lake Chabot Road to park entrance on right.
*I-680 South (Walnut Creek) Take I-680 South to I-580 West. Follow directions above for 1-580 West.
*1-880 North (Fremont/San Jose) I-880 North to Hwy. 238 East. Exit Castro Valley. Left on Castro Valley Blvd. Left on Lake Chabot Road to park entrance on right.

There is a fee to park in the lot, but you can park along Lake Chabot Road outside the entrance for free.

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Nov 22, 8:45, Top of Strawberry Canyon

2009-11-20T22:59:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
We're doing it upside down again. We will meet at the staging area on Golf Course Road, near the intersection of Golf Course Rd, Grizzly Peak Blvd, and Centennial Drive. The directions are the same, just keep driving up from campus past the Lawrence Hall of Science to the intersection with Grizzly Peak Blvd. When you cross Grizzly, the road becomes Golf Course Drive and the parking area comes up quickly on your right. It's all down hill from there! In the fine tradition of Strawberry Runs, there's no water or bathroom. But the golf course clubhouse is about a half mile up the road, so actually, we're better off than on campus.

DIRECTIONS: Access to Strawberry Canyon is off Centennial Rd., east of UC Berkeley main campus, in the hills just behind the campus.

From I-80, exit at University Avenue. Proceed east on University Avenue then turn left on Oxford. Turn right on Hearst and go up the hill, then turn right on Gayley. Turn left at the stop sign onto Stadium Way. and left again on Centennial Dr., which proceeds
eastward up the hill from the back side of the stadium. Continue driving up from campus past the Lawrence Hall of Science to the intersection with Grizzly Peak Blvd. When you cross Grizzly, the road becomes Golf Course Drive and the parking area comes up quickly on your right.

From Hwy. 13, exit at Ashby Ave. Proceed on Ashby, then turn right on College. Turn right onto Dwight Way, go up the hill and turn left onto Prospect. Proceed around the stadium (to your left) to the first stop sign. Turn right onto Centennial Drive, continue driving up from campus past the Lawrence Hall of Science to the intersection with Grizzly Peak Blvd. When you cross Grizzly, the road becomes Golf Course Drive and the parking area comes up quickly on your right.

From Hwy. 24 heading west, take Fish Ranch Rd. and turn right up the hill. At the top, turn right onto Grizzly Peak Blvd and go for about three miles to the stop sign at Golf Course Drive. Turn right and the parking area comes up quickly on your right.

Have a good weekend,
Mike

Pac Striders Nov 15 - Skyline Gate

2009-11-13T16:24:00.000-08:00

It's back to Skyline Gate this Sunday...I'll be out at the parking lot by 8:45 for anyone who wants to hit the trails. Have a nice weekend,
Amy

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate is located off of Hwy. 13. This highway is accessible via I-580 and Hwy. 24. From I-580 or Oakland, take Hwy. 13 North. Exit at Park Street.Turn left at Mountain Blvd. Turn right on Snake Rd. Continue straight onto Shepard Canyon Rd. Turn right on Skyline Blvd., and drive straight to the Skyline Gate parking lot on the left.

From Berkeley or Hwy. 24, take Hwy. 13 South. Exit at Moraga Ave/Montclair District. Moraga Ave. becomes Mountain Blvd. Turn left on Snake Rd. Continue straight onto Shepard Canyon Rd. Turn right on Skyline Blvd., and drive straight to the Skyline Gate parking lot on the left.

Pac Striders Nov. 1 - Skyline Gate (plus, set your clocks back)

2009-10-30T16:09:00.000-07:00

A new month begins this Sunday, so we're starting anew with a Skyline Gate run. November 1st is also the end of Daylight Savings, so be sure to set your clocks back 1 hour. We'll be at the parking lot by 8:45am (which will seem like 9:45, if you forget about the clock thing).

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate is located off of Hwy. 13. This highway is accessible via I-580 and Hwy. 24. From I-580 or Oakland, take Hwy. 13 North. Exit at Park Street.Turn left at Mountain Blvd. Turn right on Snake Rd. Continue straight onto Shepard Canyon Rd. Turn right on Skyline Blvd., and drive straight to the Skyline Gate parking lot on the left.

From Berkeley or Hwy. 24, take Hwy. 13 South. Exit at Moraga Ave/Montclair District. Moraga Ave. becomes Mountain Blvd. Turn left on Snake Rd. Continue straight onto Shepard Canyon Rd. Turn right on Skyline Blvd., and drive straight to the Skyline Gate parking lot on the left.

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Oct 25,8:45, Lake Chabot Marina and please volunteer...

2009-10-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Lake Chabot Marina will be first official featured Sunday run. I hope it features me running, 'cause my back ia little wonky right now. Gather near the snack bar and bathrooms at the Marina at 8:45. There is water at the start and many bathroom opportunities in the first couple of miles. The parking fee for the marina lot is $5.00, however, free parking is available nearby on Lake Chabot Rd. Directions are at the bottom of this e-mail.

But first, our own Christine Chapon has taken on the admirable, but daunting task of coordinating volunteers for the Northface Endurance Challenge. Please consider helping out.

> VOLUNTEER  at
>   The North Face Endurance
> Challenge , Saturday December 5th, 10K,
> Half-Marathon, 50K Races and 50M Championship,
>
>
> Marin
> Headlands Golden Gate National Recreational Area
>
>
> Fort Barry, Sausalito
>

> http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/races/2009/ca/index.html
>
>
>  We still need about 50
> volunteers:
> Course marshals, aid station  volunteers, parking
> monitors,
> clean-up crew, 2 drivers to pick up bags and runners.>


>  Volunteer benefits
> are offered
> to every volunteer!

>
> Free The North Face crew t-shirt,
> $25 The North Face gift card for regular volunteer and
> $75 The North Face gift card for Aid
> station captains,
> Free post-race hot meal
> The personal satisfaction of helping the runners to
> achieve their
> goals.
>
>
>
> Volunteer sign-up:
>
>
> http://www.doitsports.com/volunteer2/jobs-by-date.tcl?event_id=199490
>

>
> Full description of the volunteer positions:
>
>
> http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/volunteers.html
>
>
> We sincerely appreciate the
> time, effort
> and sacrifice from the hundreds of people that help make
> The North
> Face Endurance Challenge a series of world-class events. Do
> not
> hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Many
> thanks!
>
>
>
>
>
> Christine Chapon
>
>
> North Face Endurance Challenge
> SF
> Volunteer Coordinator
>
>
> christinechapon@yahoo.com
>
>
> (510) 325-3261
>
>
> North Face Endurance Challenge
> Races
> Dec 5th: Volunteer opportunities!

Directions

To reach the marina entrance from points east, take I-580 westbound to the Strobridge Avenue exit in Castro Valley. Turn right on Strobridge, right on Castro Valley Boulevard, and left on Lake Chabot Road. The Lake Chabot Marina is about two miles ahead on the right.

From I-880 take I-238 eastbound to I-580 eastbound, exit at Redwood Road in Castro Valley and go left, go left at Castro Valley Boulevard, and right at Lake Chabot Road. The Lake Chabot Marina is about two miles ahead on the right.

From I-580 in Oakland, proceed east and exit at 150th Ave. / Fairmont Drive. Go straight at the first stoplight at the end of the off-ramp and turn left at the second stoplight to proceed east on Fairmont (uphill). Keep going straight where Fairmont merges into Lake Chabot Rd. and the Marina entrance will be on your left.

Enjoy your weekend,
Mike

Pac Striders Oct. 18 - Skyline Gate, Redwood Regional Park

2009-10-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

The next run on our newly-minted schedule is our favorite starting point of Skyline Gate, which we like so much that we feature it twice a month. With Halloween coming up, if anyone has the stamina to lead a Big Trees Loop run, nicknamed the "Blair Witch" loop for ambience reasons, feel free. FYI I'm solo coordinating this weekend starting at 8:45am, as Mike/Jess & co. are out of town.

Editor's note: The Blair Witch loop may be a variation of the Big Trees loop, although I've never been able to get it straight whether they were the same or not. —Amy

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate is located off of Hwy. 13. This highway is accessible via I-580 and Hwy. 24. From I-580 or Oakland, take Hwy. 13 North. Exit at Park Street.Turn left at Mountain Blvd. Turn right on Snake Rd. Continue straight onto Shepard Canyon Rd. Turn right on Skyline Blvd., and drive straight to the Skyline Gate parking lot on the left.

From Berkeley or Hwy. 24, take Hwy. 13 South. Exit at Moraga Ave/Montclair District. Moraga Ave. becomes Mountain Blvd. Turn left on Snake Rd. Continue straight onto Shepard Canyon Rd. Turn right on Skyline Blvd., and drive straight to the Skyline Gate parking lot on the left.

Map at pacificstriders.org

Pac Striders - New run schedule, plus Oct. 11 run

2009-10-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

I'd like to announce some minor changes to the weekend run that were recently made. To simplify the run selection process, we've decided to implement a regular rotation schedule for the runs. Essentially, we're formalizing what we've been doing already; we regularly visit Skyline Gate and Tilden Park because of the multiple trail choices at those locations. So we'll visit those locations on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sundays. 4th and 5th Sundays will be reserved for a random location such as Chabot, MacDonald Gate, Strawberry Canyon, and so forth.

The schedule is posted in the sidebar of our blog at pacificstriders.blogspot.com (which also has some minor updates). We will still email and post the run of the week on our blog. The schedule is subject to change depending on unforeseen conditions, and we'll announce any changes via blog and email. However, if you're not sure where we'll be, chances are we're at the regular location for that week.

Here's the schedule:

1st Sunday: Skyline Gate at Redwood

2nd Sunday: Lone Oak or Inspiration Point at Tilden

(Lone Oak is the default location, except with wet weather)

3rd Sunday: Skyline Gate at Redwood

4th & 5th Sundays: Featured run(s) of the month

Now for this Sunday's run . . . since it's the 2nd Sunday, we're going to be at Tilden Park, we'll meet up at Lone Oak. As usual, we'll meet at 8:45am, and decide then which direction to go. Last time we went the direction of Wildcat Canyon, so we're open to either sticking to that or going up the Curran Trail to Inspiration Point. (That's why we like it here, multiple trail choices!) Water and bathrooms are at the start.

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Oct 4, 8:45, Skyline Gate

2009-10-02T22:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
Let's enjoy the abundant trails, water, and bathrooms of Redwood Park.We can pick the route when we get there!

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate can be reached from the Park Ave. exit off Highway 13 in Oakland. Heading north on 13, turn left at the stop sign at the end of the ramp onto Mountain Blvd. Turn right at the third light onto Snake Rd. Heading south on 13, take a left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp onto Park Ave., a left at the light onto Mountain Blvd., and a right onto Snake Rd. Proceed on Snake Rd. and go straight onto Shepherd Canyon Rd. where Snake takes a sharp left. Proceed up Shepherd Canyon (watch for the sharp hairpin right) until you reach a five way intersection at which you have a stop sign. Turn right onto Skyline Blvd. and look for the Skyline Gate parking lot 0.5 miles on your left.

Have a good weekend,
Mike

Pac Striders Aug 9, 8:45am, TOP of Strawberry Canyon

2009-09-25T17:22:00.000-07:00

None of us wanted to face the long hill near the bottom of Strawberry Canyon, so we decided to start from the top again. (Of course, we'll eventually have to climb back up, but whatever.) I'll quote Mike's write-up from the last time we came out here:

"We will meet at the staging area on Golf Course Road, near the intersection of Golf Course Rd, Grizzly Peak Blvd, and Centennial Drive. The directions are the same, just keep driving up from campus past the Lawrence Hall of Science to the intersection with Grizzly Peak Blvd. When you cross Grizzly, the road becomes Golf Course Drive and the parking area comes up quickly on your right. It's all down hill from there! In the fine tradition of Strawberry Runs, there's no water or bathroom. But the golf course clubhouse is about a half mile up the road, so actually, we're better off than on campus."

DIRECTIONS: Access to Strawberry Canyon is off Centennial Rd., east of UC Berkeley main campus, in the hills just behind the campus.

From I-80, exit at University Avenue. Proceed east on University Avenue then turn left on Oxford. Turn right on Hearst and go up the hill, then turn right on Gayley. Turn left at the stop sign onto Stadium Way. and left again on Centennial Dr., which proceeds
eastward up the hill from the back side of the stadium. Continue driving up from campus past the Lawrence Hall of Science to the intersection with Grizzly Peak Blvd. When you cross Grizzly, the road becomes Golf Course Drive and the parking area comes up quickly on your right.

From Hwy. 13, exit at Ashby Ave. Proceed on Ashby, then turn right on College. Turn right onto Dwight Way, go up the hill and turn left onto Prospect. Proceed around the stadium (to your left) to the first stop sign. Turn right onto Centennial Drive, continue driving up from campus past the Lawrence Hall of Science to the intersection with Grizzly Peak Blvd. When you cross Grizzly, the road becomes Golf Course Drive and the parking area comes up quickly on your right.

From Hwy. 24 heading west, take Fish Ranch Rd. and turn right up the hill. At the top, turn right onto Grizzly Peak Blvd and go for about three miles to the stop sign at Golf Course Drive. Turn right and the parking area comes up quickly on your right.

Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Sep 20, 8:45, Skyline Gate

2009-09-18T22:32:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
We'll try to hide from the heat in the Redwoods Sunday, we can debate which trail when we get there!

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate can be reached from the Park Ave. exit off Highway 13 in Oakland. Heading north on 13, turn left at the stop sign at the end of the ramp onto Mountain Blvd. Turn right at the third light onto Snake Rd. Heading south on 13, take a left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp onto Park Ave., a left at the light onto Mountain Blvd., and a right onto Snake Rd. Proceed on Snake Rd. and go straight onto Shepherd Canyon Rd. where Snake takes a sharp left. Proceed up Shepherd Canyon (watch for the sharp hairpin right) until you reach a five way intersection at which you have a stop sign. Turn right onto Skyline Blvd. and look for the Skyline Gate parking lot 0.5 miles on your left.

Have a good weekend,
Mike

Pac Striders Sept 13, 8:45am - Lone Oak, Tilden Park

2009-09-11T13:45:00.000-07:00

My most recent check of the weather report says that it will be cooling off this weekend, perfect weather for running. We'll be out this Sunday at the Lone Oak picnic area in Tilden Park. Come join us and help decide which direction we go (either right on Lone Oak to Inspiration Point, or left to the Bike Loop going towards Wildcat Canyon).

DIRECTIONS: To reach the start, take the Albany/Buchanan Ave. exit from I-80. From the east, turn left at the stop sign which will put you on a road that you follow for about .25 miles where it curves around a bit and puts you on Buchanan. From the west, a right at the stop light puts you on Buchanan. Once on Buchanan, your head toward the hills. After crossing San Pablo, Buchanan becomes Marin Ave. Stay on Marin. At one point you will hit a traffic circle. Go half way around and turn up the hill to stay on Marin. Turn left on Spruce and continue until the stop sign at the intersection with Grizzley Peak Rd. Go straight through the intersection and take an immediate left onto Canon Dr. Right a the stop sign onto Central Park Dr. then left onto Lone Oak.