In the Beginning, there was...

Okay, so I'm feeling a bit lazy selecting routes this month. But that's no reason to be blasé when you're running them. If anything, now is the time to focus on your base miles or even speedwork. The routes below are out-and-back routes, which are perfect for working on negative splits/finish fast workouts. And if you had a busy weekend at the races, get in some recovery miles. Keep the legs moving!

January 4 and 18: Pier 39/Aquatic Park

• Start at the adidas Sport Performance store
• Right on Market Street
• Left on Embarcadero

o Turnaround at Pier 39 (Embarcadero @ Bay St.) for 4 mile run
o Turnaround at Jefferson/Hyde for 6 mile run

• Return onto Embarcadero
• Right on Market Street
• Finish at the adidas Sport Performance store


January 11 and 25: ROUTE - AT&T Park (4.8 miles)

-Start at the adidas Sport Performance store
-Right on Market Street
-Right on The Embarcadero (later King Street)
-Turn around at the corner of King and 3rd Street (Willie Mays statue at the AT&T Park)
-Left on Market Street
-Finish at the adidas Sport Performance store
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1141173

Finally, the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon is coming up on February 7th. For more information including Saturday morning training runs, see the flyer at http://bit.ly/81sFi4 (PDF). Many of our runners will be there running various distances and pacing different groups. And as always, Pacific Coast Trail Runs is giving all adidas Urban Run members a 10% discount for all 2010 events; details are on our Facebook page. Make this the perfect opportunity to focus on improving yourself!

Happy New YOU!

Thank you everyone for supporting us all these years! Can you believe that it’s been three years already? Well, it’s time to look forward and build on your progress. Are you satisfied with where you are and where you want to be? In 2010, the adidas Urban Run wishes a year of fulfillment and happiness and goal-oriented success! The adidas Urban Run continues to thrive with the support of all of our runners; as it is essentially YOUR running club, we value your input on how we can further improve our Monday nights, including where you want to run.

First, I hope to bring a stronger community. The emphasis will surely be built around running, but I would also continue to have people discuss other social issues, questions, and concerns that they may have running or not running related. Despite the short time dedicated to know everyone on a name-to-name basis, our group usually has dinner following the runs. It’s a great way to meet new people and extend your network. I also hope to have community charitable events in the near future!

Second, the adidas Urban Run is held on most Monday evenings, rain or shine. Some runners show up to have fun. But instead of being lackadaisical about it, how about structuring a training plan so that our run can meet your needs. For example, it could be your recovery or tempo run. We are more than happy to assist you on getting that new PR, running your first 5K, qualifying for the Boston Marathon, or increasing your weekly mileage.

Finally, the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon is coming up on February 7th. For more information including Saturday morning training runs, see the flyer at http://bit.ly/81sFi4 (PDF). Many of our runners will be there running various distances and pacing different groups. And as always, Pacific Coast Trail Runs is giving all adidas Urban Run members a 10% discount; details are on our Facebook page. Make this the perfect opportunity to focus on improving yourself!

It’s going to be an exciting year and with some more special events planned for 2010 so keep your eyes and ears open!

Let this year be YOUR year!

Not a Dull December

We are going to have a couple of special events in December.

First, for those who have already signed up for the adidas miCoach testing, please arrive before 6:15PM on December 7th for instructions from our guest panel. Registration has been capped at 35 members and is full.

Second, on December 14, our run will end at EA Sports Active Center on 39 Stockton (it used to be the Hello Kitty store years ago). It is a one-hour fitness party between 7-8PM. As a reminder, the party will take place indoors at their pop-up shop. Each person will be invited to participate in the EA SPORTS Active fitness program, which is a DVD that has been created to be played on the Nintendo Wii.

Note - You may store your clothes/bags at the adidas store, but please remember to pick up your belongings no later than 8:30PM!


Below are the remaining routes for 2009:

November 30: Over and Under 3.5 Mile and SHOE RAFFLE
-Start at adidas Sport Performance Store
-Left on Drumm Street
-Left on California Street
-Right on Larkin Street
-Right on Clay Street
-Right on Stockton Street
-Right on Market Street
-Finish at adidas Sport Performance Store
Course map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2558155

December 7: Embarcadero 4, 6, 8 Mile - adidas miCoach Testing

• Start at the adidas Sport Performance store
• Right on Market Street
• Left on Embarcadero

o Turnaround at Pier 39 (Embarcadero @ Bay St.) for 4 mile run
o Turnaround at Jefferson/Hyde for 6 mile run
o Turnaround at Marina/Fillmore for 8 mile run

• Return onto Embarcadero
• Right on Market Street
• Finish at the adidas Sport Performance store

· It's strongly recommended that you leave no later than 6:20PM, ONLY if you choose to do the 8 mile run.
Course Map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1678599

December 10: Birthday Doughnut Mile
Please sign up on our Facebook page. Limited to 10 entrants.

UPDATE (12/11/2009): Thanks to everyone who celebrated my birthday with the truly sadistic doughnut mile. And special thanks to Chikara for being unofficial timing/scorekeeper. As winner with a clear lead in the event, Jin Daikoku won a $10 gift card to In-N-Out Burger, courtesy of me!

Results:

Jin Daikoku: 22 (first doughnut)/66 (400m split)/27 (2nd doughnut)/72 (800m)/30 (3rd doughnut)/73 (1200m split)/35 (4th doughnut)/70 (1600m)/40 (5th doughnut)

- total = 7:15.

Chikara Omine: 15 (first doughnut)/73 (400m)/27 (2nd doughnut)/84 (800m)/25 (3rd doughnut)/91 (1200m)/25 (4th doughnut)/84 (1600m)/60 (5th doughnut)
- total = 8:04.

Jerry Flanagan: 22 (first doughnut)/78 (400m)/35 (2nd doughnut)/89 (800m)/xx/xx/44 (4th doughnut)/95 (1600m)/63 (5th doughnut)
- total = 9:34.

Adrian Jue: 21 (first doughnut)/2:26 (400m + 2nd doughnut)/3:35 (800m + 3rd doughnut/ 2:47 (1200m +4th doughnut)/3:28 (1600m +5th doughnut)
- total = 12:40 (FAIL: did not go under 10 minutes)

December 14: Tale of Two Tunnels (Broadway and Stockton) (~ 4.3 Miles) – EA Sports Active Training Center
-Start at adidas Sport Performance Store
-Powell St
-Left on Post St.
-Right on Webster St.
-Right on Broadway --> Broadway Tunnel
-Right on Stockton --> Stockton Tunnel
-Finish at EA Sports Active, 39 Stockton Street
Course map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3347306

December 21: Grant Ave (2.8 Miles)
-Start at adidas Sport Performance Store
-Right on Market Street
-Left on The Embarcadero
-Left on Broadway Street
-Turn left on Grant Ave.
-Right on Market Street
-Finish at adidas Sport Performance Store
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2504197

December 28: Battery Street (3 Miles) and SHOE RAFFLE
-Start at the adidas Sport Performance store
-Head northeast on Market St
-Turn left on Battery St
-Turn right on Green St
-Turn right on Market St
-Finish at the adidas Sport Performance store
Course map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1337367

Thank You - 3rd Anniversary Party

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who showed up for our 3rd Anniversary Party. We all had fun as you can see in the pictures. You can view all of our other pictures on our Facebook page! If you missed out, there are $20 specials at the adidas Sport Performance Store with many other items on sale just in time for the holidays.

Tentatively, the Doughnut Mile is being planned as well as a chance to volunteer at the SF Food Bank in January/February, a time when food banks REALLY need your help (not during Thanksgiving/Christmas!). If you can think of any other social events, please join our Facebook page and leave a note!

In the meantime, have a great Thanksgiving and I'll update with routes for the remainder of this year.




Coordinators, Warren and AJ


Tom, Sanny, guy looking at the adidas Supernova Riot 2, Joe, and Jimmy


Denise, Fumi, and Kate


Richard, Steve, and Brian


Warren and the Huey Family


Patrick, Philippe, Hoa, Hiro, and Doug


Mercedes (Mom) conducts product testing.


Reena takes advantage of the anniversary 30% discount.


Fumi checking out the adidas winter apparel.

adidas Urban Run - 3rd Anniversary Party

Hi All,

You and your friends are invited to our 3rd Anniversary with a fun run, some cake, and a great discount this Monday, November 16 @6:30PM!

We always love seeing folks from the very beginning, including those that have been MIA lately. If anything, just stop by and say hi. After all, free food shouldn't really turn anyone away.

Work up an appetite with a run and celebrate with us afterward! In addition, all particpating runners will receive 30% off most items in the store. (If a product is already discounted, that 30% goes on top of that discount! No Joke!) The following is the route for this Monday:

November 16: ROUTE - Battery Street (3 miles)
Start at the adidas Sport Performance store
-Head northeast on Market St
-Turn left on Battery St
-Turn right on Green St
-Turn right on Market St
-Finish at the adidas Sport Performance store

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1337367

Hope to see everyone this Monday!

Photos from our adidas Yoga Class

Below are pictures from our yoga class on October 24th. Please join us every Thursday for free sessions! November routes for Urban Run are in our previous post.

November 2009

November 2: Levi Plaza 3.5 Mile
-Start at adidas Sport Performance Store
-Right on Market Street
-Left on Drumm Street
-Left on Jackson Street
-Right on Battery Street
-Right on The Embarcadero
-Right on Market Street
-Finish at adidas Sport Performance Store
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2522327

November 9: Pier 39/Aquatic Park
• Start at the adidas Sport Performance store
• Right on Market Street
• Left on Embarcadero

o Turnaround at Pier 39 (Embarcadero @ Bay St.) for 4 mile run
o Turnaround at Jefferson/Hyde for 6 mile run

• Return onto Embarcadero
• Right on Market Street
• Finish at the adidas Sport Performance store

November 16: ROUTE - Battery Street (3 miles)
Start at the adidas Sport Performance store
-Head northeast on Market St
-Turn left on Battery St
-Turn right on Green St
-Turn right on Market St
-Finish at the adidas Sport Performance store
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1337367

November 23: ROUTE - AT&T Park (4.8 miles)
-Start at the adidas Sport Performance store
-Right on Market Street
-Right on The Embarcadero (later King Street)
-Turn around at the corner of King and 3rd Street (Willie Mays statue at the AT&T Park)
-Left on Market Street
-Finish at the adidas Sport Performance store
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1141173

November 30: Over and Under 3.5 Mile and SHOE RAFFLE
-Start at adidas Sport Performance Store
-Left on Drumm Street
-Left on California Street
-Right on Larkin Street
-Right on Clay Street
-Right on Stockton Street
-Right on Market Street
-Finish at adidas Sport Performance Store
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2558155


We have a bunch of birthdays in December. I'm planning on another edition of the Birthday Mile and a Prune Juice Mile on Thursday, December 10 @ 6:30PM in Kezar Stadium. It's still all tentative, depending on track availability for that night and demand among participants.