From Coach Toby…..
Get ready for some hills and the opportunity to focus on building strength and endurance for your running.
Thousands flocked to the Haight District’s Buena Vista Park for 1967’s Summer of Love. Amidst the artists, dreamers, students and activists, you know there were some runners too! The city’s oldest park was originally known as Hill Park and provides the perfect location for today’s wildcard run.
Workout Type: Long Hill Repeats
Warm-up
Run at least 10-15 minutes beforehand and at an easy pace. This could be running to the park from your home or from Kezar Stadium via the directions below.
Workout
Start location – Frederick St and Buena Vista Ave West at the top of the steps.
You will run 2 or 3 complete laps around the perimeter of Buena Vista Park (clockwise, counterclockwise, clockwise) – each lap is approx 1.05M with 200 feet elevation gain.
I suggest running at a comfortable pace, doing your best to run the entirety of each loop. If you need to take a break, ideally you take one at the end of each loop, before you start the next.
This is not a sprint workout, but rather one to build stamina. There’s no need for speed. Slow and steady will get you there before “fast and out of gas.” If you do find you need to take walk breaks along the way, that’s absolutely fine. Note, you will be running on the sidewalk, not on the road and you may also start from any location along the perimeter of the park.
Warm Up/Cool Down
Map My Run: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/2330532064
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/28241689
Buena Vista Park Perimeter
Map My Run: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/2330533051
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/28241839
Directions:
– Exit Kezar Stadium’s west entrance and turn left
– At Frederick St, turn left
– Run to the very end of Frederick St, where it intersects with Buena Vista Ave West
– Cross street and climb the steps up to Buena Vista Park
– This is your start and finish for each loop around the perimeter of the park. clockwise, counterclockwise, and if you are running three, another clockwise
– Run each loop on the paved sidewalk that circles the park – not on the street
– After your last loop, return to Kezar Stadium the way you came, via Frederick St