Tempo Back From Stevens Canyon–the start
I’m already getting fired up about MVXC16, and have been doing some thinking about how to continuous improve the team and what we do…no matter how good we are, we can be even better! So…
Anna Hsiao, Anjali Thontakudi and I mapped out a new tempo route today. We need a longer route for some of our beastly runners!
The Traditional Stevens Canyon Tempo Route starts at the base of the bunny hill before the dam, and heads back to McClellan Road, runs through McClellan Ranch and hops back out to Byrne when we get to Blackberry Farm, and then returns to the MV track. This route is 2.75 miles, three miles when we add a lap around the track. We will still use this route, the Traditional route is useful. However, as our athletes continue to get stronger, this is too short for many varsity athletes–we end up adding a lot of laps around the track. Anna, Anjali and I set out to map an extended route.
What we did was begin in the same way–we start at the base of the little bunny hill on the way out to Matadors, come back down McClellan Road the long way around (NOT the steps), and head through McClellan Ranch. At Blackberry Farm we continue to follow the concrete path as it winds all the way to Stevens Creek Road. When we get there, turn right, and at the first right (Orange) run right again. Another immediate right on Granada, then a left on Byrne, and back to school. We then head directly to the track, loop once around the track, and then around the track again and end at the 800m break line for 4.0 miles.
There is a screen shot of the route from my GPS below. You can also ask Anna or Anjali to guide you if you are confused at all. You might try running this route on the way back from Matadors Point one day to get the feel for it–you will probably be running this route a couple times come Fall! You do NOT have to run this at tempo pace this summer, and definitely not now–it’s early in the summer still–simply extend your Matadors’ Point run to see what I’m talking about and you won’t be surprised come Fall.
By the way…I am open to a name for this route that is cooler than ‘tempo back from Stevens Canyon’. Do you have a suggestion? Email me!
Happy Trails everyone! I hope that your summer is going great!
~Coach
Overview of the Extended Tempo from Stevens Canyon route. The numbers shown are the half mile split points. If you are curious…there is a total climb of 165 feet and a decline of 295 feet, for a net loss of 130 feet (sweet!).
Closer view of the modified section of the route. When you get to the track, stop the second time you come to the 800m break line and you will have a four mile run!
Altitude Profile (it’s pretty tame!)