START TIMES
Choose your own time between 5:30-6:30am. We are NOT meeting as a group at The Loop, and they will not be open early as usual, so plan your bathroom strategy accordingly. GZLs HQ will remain closed before and after the runs, although the Loop does open on 10:00am Saturdays.
THE ROUTES
Water stations pretty much normal this week. Hand sanitizer will be affixed to the water barrels to do a quick clean of your water button pushing hands. Feel free to refill your own water bottles as needed. You may want to carry your own water still, depending on any gaps with the water stations, concerns about the water fountains on the trail or boardwalk, or your own ad libbing on route variations.
3 Miles: Your map is here. This is a clockwise Pfluger footbridge to Mopac trail loop.
4 Miles: Your map is here. This is a clockwise First St. bridge to Mopac trail loop.
5 Miles: Your map is here. This is a clockwise Congress bridge to Mopac trail loop.
7.5 Miles: Your map is here. GZLs HQ to north side trail, east out to Longhorn Dam. Cross dam to south side trail and boardwalk back to Pfluger bridge. Cross over LB Lake at Pfluger bridge, back to GZLs HQ.
8.2 Miles: Your map is here. GZLs HQ to north side trail, east out to Longhorn Dam. Cross to south side of dam, to south side trail and boardwalk back to Pfluger bridge. Cross over LB Lake at Pfluger bridge, and exit to north side trail. Take trail towards Mopac, and exit trail at metal A frame bathroom sculptures, crossing under Cesar Chavez on trail path to north side of Cesar Chavez and bike path. Take bike path back to GZLs HQ.
10 Miles: Your map is here. (Longhorn Dam to Mopac trail loop) GZLs HQ to north side trail, east out to Longhorn Dam. Cross the dam to south side trail, and boardwalk back to Mopac. Across the lake to north side trail and back to GZLs HQ.
12 Miles: Your map is here. (Longhorn Dam to Mopac trail loop plus an out-and-back on LA Blvd.) GZLs HQ to north side trail, east out to Longhorn Dam. Cross the dam to south side trail and boardwalk back to Mopac. Across the lake to Veterans, left up to Lake Austin Blvd. LA Blvd out to Exposition. Turn around at Exposition, and return LA Blvd, to Veterans, to north side trail and back to GZLs HQ.
14 Miles: Your map is here. (Longhorn Dam to Mopac trail loop plus Scenic and Exposition.) GZLs HQ to north side trail, east out to Longhorn Dam. Cross the dam to south side trail and boardwalk back to Mopac. Across the lake to Veterans, left up to Lake Austin Blvd. LA Blvd out to Enfield (Mozart's). Right on Enfield back over to Exposition. Right on Expo down to LA Blvd back to Mopac. From Mopac, stay on north side trail and back to HQ.
16 Miles: Your map is here. GZLs HQ to north side trail, east out to Longhorn Dam. Cross over the dam, and curl to your right to go under the Dam through tunnel to softball complex on east side of the dam. Follow around the perimeter of the park, and join the trail that goes along the creek there towards Riverside. As you run on this trail, in the wooded area, when it splits the first time, stay left. You will exit the trail at Elmont Drive. Take Elmont a short way to Pleasant Valley Drive, and turn around there, returning on Elmont to trail, back around softball park, through the tunnel, and back to south side trail. Take south side trail and boardwalk back to Mopac. Across the lake to Veterans and left up to Lake Austin Blvd. LA Blvd out to Exposition. Right on Expo up to Enfield, where you will turn around, and return Expo down to LA Blvd, then LA Blvd back to Mopac. Stay on Veterans around the track and curl under Cesar Chavez onto bike path on north side of Cesar Chavez back to HQ.
18 Miles: Your map is here. GZLs HQ to north side trail, east out to Longhorn Dam. Cross over the dam, and curl to you right to go under the Dam through tunnel to softball complex on east side of the dam. Follow around the perimeter of the park, and join the trail that goes along the creek there towards Riverside. As you run on this trail, in the wooded area, when it splits the first time, stay left. You will exit the trail at Elmont Drive. Take Elmont a short way to Pleasant Valley Drive, and turn around there, returning on Elmont to trail, back around softball park, through the tunnel, and back to south side trail. Take south side trail and boardwalk back to Mopac. Across the lake to Veterans and left up to Lake Austin Blvd. LA Blvd out to Enfield (Mozart's). Right on Enfield back over to Exposition. Right on Expo down to LA Blvd, then LA Blvd back to Mopac. From Mopac, cross to south side. Take Stratford up to Barton Springs Road, and take a left on BS Road back over to Sterzing Street, between the condos on your left. Sterzing to Toomey, right on Toomey to Lamar, Lamar back to Pfluger bridge and back to HQ.
WATER STOPS
Trail water fountains
Trail near south end of Longhorn Dam at trail junction (the longest runners will visit this stop twice, coming and going from east side mileage add-on)
I-35 Boardwalk water fountains
Auditorium Shores water fountains
Mopac water fountains
LA Blvd @ Exposition (south side of LA Blvd by traffic light)
RACE SPECIFIC WORKOUTS
September 5th (Patagonia Marathon): Taper madness Week 2. 12-16 miles, with last 6 @ MGP. Please use legit MGP, and not a dream state pace. Start super relaxed, and finish in style.
September 13th (Boston Virtual Marathon): Taper madness begins. 18 miles, with last 10 @ MGP. Please use legit MGP, and not a dream state pace. Start super relaxed, and finish in style.
October 25th (Marine Corps): 12-14 mile recovery run. Back off from last week.
December 6th (CIM): 10-12 mile recovery run. Back off from last week.
December 6th (San Antonio Half): 6-10 miles. Add 1-2 miles to your last longer long run, up to that 10 mile max.
IF YOUR RACE IS CANCELED, KEEP YOUR FITNESS BY ALTERNATING A LONGER LONG RUN AND A RECOVERY LONG RUN ON SUCCESSIVE WEEKENDS, DEPENDING ON YOUR CURRENT TRAINING LEVELS. (Ex: Alternate a 10-12 mile run with an 8-10 mile run).