connecting the dots

while out on a run this past friday, i found a new route into the preserve that backs up to our community.  the new route starts a mere half mile from my front door, versus the two mile run to the preserve and another two miles to get back to the same spot that the new route takes me.  basically, i cut 3.5 miles off of the route.  this reduction in mileage makes running through the preserve and into laguna coast wilderness (which can then be linked to el moro and aliso creek/wood canyon) completely viable for everything from short to long runs.

sunday, i decided to try out the new route for my long run.  i headed out, hopped a fence and was greeted with lush, rolling green hills.  i headed up through the preserve past barbaras lake, under the 133 and into the newly opened nix center at little sycamore canyon.  i headed up the canyon and was impressed with the improvements to the trail that the park service had made.

after two tough climbs, i was up on serano ridge and headed out toward the ocean.  the rolling ridge line provided amazing views of the county, mountains and ocean.  after a couple more moderate climbs and a drop down under the toll road, i was in el moro.  the trail i had taken plopped me right smack dab in the middle of my favorite single track. 

i only had two hours, though, so i turned around and headed back the way i'd come.  establishing this route, though, now gives me an easy way to get into all of these parks without too many miles and hardly any road running.  now i can run from home, using this route and complete the el moro loop for a long run of 22 miles, or pop over into aliso, or explore the james dilley preserve, or, or, or...the options are endless!  i'm excited about this new development and anxious to start hosting octr runs from home!