Thursday, January 22, 2009

Four Mile/Sunshine Loop - Boulder, CO

When we start out on long rides our group usually coalesces behind me, letting me lead out the first couple of miles or so. I always thought that this was because I set a decent pace, until I overheard Max one day;

"Riding behind him is like riding behind three people."

And Craig; "I feel like I'm in a vacuum."

And Kristian; "I don't even feel like I'm working. My legs are going to be so fresh for the climbs."

And me; (Silent tears. And craving for another Twinkie. And more tears).

For rides like the Four Mile/Sunshine Loop, saving energy in the early stages is key, as this ride is long, full of climbing with a lot of dirt riding thrown in to mix things up. Approachable from either the Four Mile ride or the Sunshine Canyon ride, the route forms a loop that essentially starts and ends in downtown Boulder; making it one of the most accessible long rides in town. However you start, the loop involves a lot of climbing, and some long descent stretches on dirt. Starting the loop by going up Sunshine is the most climbing intensive way, while the Four Mile start allows you to climb to the top of the loop more gradually. For the most part, the dirt is smooth and decent for riding.

However, there are sections that are pretty bumped out; so watch your speed and hold on to your bars as wrecking on dirt does some awesome damage to the spandex (and the Twinkie stash). The views on the higher sections of the ride are some of our favorite in the Boulder area; the Rockies to the West, and the Foothills and Front Range to the North and South. It makes the fact that you can no longer feel your legs less daunting.

This ride is also a good one for celebrating spotting. The last time we were up there we spotted Tyler Hamilton. He doesn't look like he enjoys Twinkies.

Distance: 23 miles roundtrip

Directions: You can ride the loop by either taking Four Mile or Sunshine. From Four Mile, continue past where the pavement ends and continue on Gold Run Road as it climbs up to the town of Gold Hill, where the road will become Boulder Street. Once in town, take a right on Horsfal Street which will turn into Sunshine Canyon Drive.

If heading up through Sunshine Canyon, continue past the end of the pavement and continue climbing until the road ends in the town of Gold Hill. Take a left on Boulder Street which turns into Gold Run Road.


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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Boulder Reservoir - Boulder, CO

One of the basic tenets to keep in mind when running in Boulder is that no matter how many races you've done (or even won), or how many miles you have logged this year in training, there is always going to be some member of some national team that is going to run past you and make you feel obese (Boulder + South Korean woman's national cross country team + running + me = resurfacing of childhood trauma).

The Boulder Reservoir is a great place to get in a run and spot some elite level athletes. A great dirt option without the trail running obstacles, the reservoir provides a mix of well beaten trails and dirt roads that wind around the water and the neighborhoods surrounding it. The area around the reservoir is mostly flat, with a few rolling hills. The reservoir is also home to a number of Boulder's big races, including the Boulder Triathlon Series and the Boulder Backroads Marathon and Half-Marathon. The views of the Flatirons from the run are outstanding, especially when the sun is rising and lighting up those things brighter than a fat kid's smile when he spots cake.

Our map below shows the main loop around the reservoir that we usually run and an extension that adds 3/4 of a mile. There are a number of other loops possible, we hope ours provide a good starting point for your own exploring. We always park at the parking lot before the gate to the reservoir, in order to avoid the day use fee.

Distance: 5.25 miles (main loop) 6.05 miles (extended loop)

Directions
: From downtown Boulder (9th St. and Pearl St.), take 9th St. south to Canyon, take a left on Canyon and head to 28th St. Take a left on 28th and head up to Jay Road where you will take a right. Take a left on 51st St and continue north until you hit Reservoir Road. Park at the lot before the gate to the reservoir.


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Sunday, January 11, 2009

Downtown/University of Portland Loop - Portland, OR

Remember in college when you were surrounded by pretty people and it took everything in your power to keep your neck from snapping in half as you tried to take it all in? Imagine that, but add in high speed cycling, your ass encased in spandex, and traffic, and you have our favorite part of this ride: the University of Portland campus on hot spring day (note: the students get creeped out when you circle numerous times around the soccer fields, so just try and make one pass).

The Downtown/U of P loop is an abbreviation of the Skyline to Rock Creek Road Loop, dropping the long out and back and adding in one of the best descents in Portland. Starting in downtown Portland, the ride heads up the Lovejoy/Cornell corridor and on to Skyline, where it winds north through the West Hills before dropping down Germantown Road and crossing into North Portland and back into downtown. Along the way you get to see the venerable St. John's Bridge, the University of Portland campus and the Adidas U.S. headquarter's campus before crossing back into downtown via the Broadway Bridge.

A couple of things to watch out for: crossing the St. John's Bridge can be a bit scary, as the sidewalk on the bridge really isn't wide enough to ride on. We usually just stay on the road; which is two lanes in each direction so not too bad. Also, traffic merges onto Greeley on your right a little bit after the Adidas campus; they have a yield sign but pay attention. Finally, the transition from Greeley to Interstate Ave. is a bit dicey, requiring you to cross a lane of traffic, so keep your head up.

Apart from the undergrads, we love this ride because its a great way to see a lot of Portland and has some amazing views of the Cascades, especially coming over St. John's Bridge where, on a clear day, Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood are all visible. The Germantown Road descent is one of the best, and fastest, in Portland; a great way to get used to cornering at higher speeds. The highlight of this ride for me is coming back into downtown Portland and riding down Broadway during the late afternoon, around sunset. Crossing the Broadway Bridge when the Willamette below is lit in reds and pinks is an amazing way to finish a workout. This is the ride that I do when I'm feeling unsure of Portland; it reaffirms my love of both the Northwest and this city.

Distance: 23 miles roundtrip

Directions: Starting at the Salmon Street Fountain at Tom McCall Waterfront Park; take the paved path north, making a slight left by the Steel Bridge and crossing the railroad tracks. Continue north on Naito Parkway to NW 9th Ave, and take a left. NW 9th will intersect with NW Lovejoy. From there, take the first part of the Lovejoy Loop (Lovejoy to Cornell, right on 53rd, right again on Thompson) to get up to Skyline, where you will take a right. Take Skyline for about 3.8 miles until it intersects with NW Germantown Road. Take a right on Germantown and descend to the bottom, where the road will intersect with NW Bridge Ave. Take a right and head to the intersection of NW Bridge Ave. and NW St. John's Bridge. Take a left at the intersection on to the St. John's Bridge.

After crossing the bridge, take a right on to N. Syracuse Street (it's the first right that you can make. Be careful; it's a sharp right on to a pot-holed road) which will dead end on to N Burlington Road. Take a right here and then your first left on to N Willamette Blvd. Stay on N Willamette for about 3 miles, past the U of P campus, where it will take a sharp right that bikes, but not cars, are allowed to turn at. Stay on the road until it intersects with N Greeley Ave, where you want to take a right. This road will take you past the Adidas campus and to N Interstate Ave. This is where the transition gets tricky: you have to move from the right lane over to the left, crossing the on ramp for I-5. Make sure NOT to go up the on ramp, but down towards Interstate, where you want to take a right on to the bike lane.

Once on Interstate, take a right (the light rail tracks should be on your left) and head south towards downtown, passing by the Widmer Brewery. After the intersection of Interstate and N Tillamook Street you want to bear right, on to N Larrabee Ave, which will bring you to the intersection of Larrabee and N Broadway St. Take a right on N Broadway and cross the Broadway Bridge into downtown. To ride down Broadway, and through Downtown, take a left on Broadway St., cross Burnside, and enjoy the people watching and downtown. To get back to Tom McCall Park, take a left on Salmon Street.



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Saturday, January 10, 2009

Boulder Peak (Bike) Course - Boulder, CO

I have not yet attempted a triathlon; I fear that my overly heavy body would either drown or explode through my skin. Instead, I cruise sections of triathlon courses and tell myself "one day", and then eat another twinkie.

The Boulder Peak Triathlon is one of the major events of the summer season, full of elite level athletes, weekend warriors and beginners; all getting their spandex fix through the foothills and back roads of Boulder. We love the Boulder Peak Triathlon for one reason (besides the free stuff Craig hooks us up with sometimes); the bike course. Running through a great climb, even better descents and long, fast straightaways, the Boulder Peak Bike Course is a ton of fun, without the pesky annoyance of having to swim and run thrown in.

Deviating a bit from the actual course, we usually start this ride in downtown Boulder, winding our way up north before hopping onto the course at the intersection of North Broadway and Lee Hill Road. From there the course heads west to the Old Stage Climb (exploding body time), and its great descent into Lefthand Canyon (watch out on the descent though; people hit bears here. That's right motherfucker. BEARS). The Lefthand Canyon section is a slightly downhill, very fast section that passes some great scenery before dumping you out onto Highway 36, where you head north and onto Nelson. Nelson is another long and fast flat section with a moderate descent that will bring you to N. 63rd Street. 63rd is a rolling road that passes numerous farms and provides great views of the mountains. It will eventually bring you to the Diagonol Highway, and then to Jay Road where the real course heads into the Boulder Resevoir area. We head back to town from here, usually taking side streets through some cool neighborhoods.

We love this course simply because it is so varied; climbs, flats and everything in between. We have yet to slam into a bear at high speeds, but here's to a New Year! And twinkies.

Distance: 28.65 miles round trip

Directions: From downtown Boulder, take 9th Street north to Pine Street and take a right. Head east and take a left on 20th Street, which will wind up a hill to a stop sign and turn into 19th Street. Take 19th Street north for 2.25 miles until it dead-ends into Yartmouth Ave., and take a left on to Yartmouth which intersects with Broadway. Take a right on Broadway and then your first left on to Lee Hill Road. Lee Hill Road turns into Old Stage Road and the biggest climb of this ride. After descending Old Stage take a right at the stop sign on to Lefthand Drive. Take Lefthand out to Highway 36 and take a left, and then your first right on to Nelson Road. Spin down Nelson until it intersects with 63rd Street where you will take a right. This road intersections with the Diaganol Highway, where you will take another right, and then a right onto Jay Road. Head down Jay and take a left on 26th Street/Folsom and then a right on to Iris Ave, which will intersect with 19th to take you back to downtown.


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Friday, January 9, 2009

Eastbank Esplanade - Portland, OR

No one likes interval training. People who tell you they "love intervals" are liars and you shouldn't be friends with them. I once went running with a girl that I liked and she told me that she loved to do intervals. I kicked her in the shin and continued my dry spell. The only good part of intervals is that they actually work. And they make beer taste better.

My solution for the monotonous punishment interval running entails is to try to do it in a great setting that provides a distraction. The East Side Esplanade is one of my favorite areas to do interval training; long, straight sections that are relatively flat, great views of Portland's skyline and easy access from downtown. The map below shows the section between the Hawthorne and Steel Bridges: a 2.5 mile loop. Because of its accessibility, the Esplanade is often full of bikers and runners. However, it rarely gets busy enough to cause much of a hassle. Watch out at night though; although lit, the Esplanade abuts some areas where Portland's street people camp out. Make sure you are prepared to kick some shins.

One of the great things about the Esplanade is that it provides a good warm up before heading into the West Hills or through the Pearl District; the Esplanade's accessibility makes it an ideal way to kick off a run through Portland. Many a night have been spent running from the Esplanade into the Pearl District. Intervals + pretty people spotting = less anger.


Distance: 2.75 mile loop between the Hawthorne and Steel Bridges

Directions: from downtown Portland (4th and Taylor St.) simply head west toward the river and the Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The path is paved all the way around, with a pedestrian bridge over the Steel Bridge and a designated bike/foot lane on the Hawthorne Bridge. To get onto the Hawthorne bridge; there are either stairs or ramps up to the bridge on both the north and south side of it.


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