Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Dec 31, 8:30, Wildcat Canyon from Lone Oak

Happy New Year,
Here is your opportunity to rev up your metabolism for a night of celebration. I know that after a fine morning run and an evening glass of Champagne, I'm ready to... fall asleep before my children. Nonetheless, what could be a better punctuation mark for 2006 than a final run.

Wildcat Canyon is the chosen trail. One of our flatter runs, to conserve energy for the celebrations later, and my knee which I tweaked trying to keep up with my wife on the hills around Lake Chabot Wednesday. We will meet at the Lone Oak picnic area, which extends the full out and back run to around 9 miles.

Directions to Lone Oak: Lone Oak is on Central Park Dr. near the Nature Center at the Canon Dr. entrance to Tilden, near the intersection of Spruce St. and Grizzly Peak Blvd. in Berkeley.

From all points except Highway 24 heading west, take Interstate 80 to Albany. From Intersate 80 east take the Buchanan exit in Albany and turn right at the light at the top of the ramp onto Buchanan. From Interstate 80 west, take the Buchanan exit and turn left at the stop sign at the end of the ramp. Follow this street as it curves left, then right, and it we lead you onto Buchanan.

Proceed on Buchanan and after you cross San Pablo Ave., it will become Marin. Proceed up Marin toward the hills. When you hit a traffic circle, proceed halfway around and continue up the steep hill on Marin. The next stop sign is Spruce St., turn left. Follow Spruce to Grizzly Peak. Cross Grizzly Peak and take an immediate left onto Canon Dr. Take a right at the bottom onto Central Park Dr., then a left onto Lone Oak in about .25 miles. Park near the Lone Oak picnic area.

From Highway 24 west, take the Fish Ranch Road exit and turn right to go up the hill at the stop sign. Turn right onto Grizzley Peak and stay on it a LONG ways until the Spruce St. intersection. Right on Spruce, then take an immediate left onto Canon Dr. Take a right at the bottom onto Central Park Dr., then a left onto Lone Oak in about .25 miles. Park near the Lone Oak picnic area.

Have a good 2007,
Mike