LAKE
MURRAY WORKOUT
LAKE
MURRAY WORKOUTSome runners may remember Lake Murray as a bleak and half-empty reservoir plagued with a hydrilla problem and with a rutted and potholed perimeter road, locked auto gates and few amenities to entice anyone. Well, over the last five years Lake Murray and the surrounding area has been gradually transformed into a pleasant and attractive addition to the San Diego park system. It is ideally suited to the needs of runners and is here highly recommended.
Lake Murray is located in the Del Cerro/San Carlos/Lake Murray area of San Diego and adjacent La Mesa. The main entrance is reached via Kiowa Drive off Lake Murray Boulevard and a second (ballpark) entrance is off Murray Park Drive (same street as Madra Avenue and Golfcrest Drive). Ample parking is available at both entrances, either inside the park or outside. One note of caution: the park auto gates are closed from sunset to sunrise, so park outside the park if you're going to run beyond sunset. The pedestrian gates are open at all times.
The lake perimeter road was repaved about three years ago and the smooth surface is ideally suited to running, biking and skating. A runner can begin at the Kiowa Street gate, proceed along the lake shore to a chainlink fence and return for an out-and-back run of slightly under seven miles. The road is mostly flat with some short hills (50 yards or so). The roadway has several sharp corners, but none impair vision. A slight slant to the road in some stretches may induce sore ankles in certain runners. Alas, nothing is perfect.
Running at Lake Murray is about 10 degrees cooler than running out on the city streets, or at least it seems that way. Ten outhouse-style rest rooms are located along the course as are three drinking fountains (main entrance, main parking lot, ballparks). A Boy scout project provides reasonably accurate mileage indicators every half-mile (4"x4"x4' posts at the road's edge) and a variety of exercise stations for those so inclined.
Runners wanting a good cross-country workout will find ample gravel and dirt roads and pathways along the eastern and southeastern edges of the park between the perimeter road and the surrounding residential area. By switching back and forth, a runner can put together a reasonably tough hilly trail run of about five miles length.
The roadway is virtually without motor traffic. A minor exception is the appearance of the Lake Patrol and on rare occasions a maintenance vehicle. The patrol is friendly and helpful.
While running at Lake Murray, a runner may expect to see up to several hundred people on the roadway depending on the time of day. Most are walkers and joggers from the nearby residential districts. Runners training at below a 7:30 pace are rare, but run that pace and you'll be passed now and then. The people are friendly and if you put in a regular appearance you'll acquire a number of "hi" friends.
Bikers and skaters have discovered the excellent roadway and are gradually becoming ever more common. Some constitute a hazard. The road has a center stripe and signs advise all traffic to keep to the right. The speed is posted at 10 mph. Most people comply with these rules and problems are avoided. A small number of renegade bikers, however, travel at 25-35 mph. Rumor has it that one was ticketed for speeding, but the word hasn't spread to all and a runner should stay alert.
The annual La Mesa Parks and Recreation Turkey Trot 10K/3K and Senior Olympic 5K are held at the park and several high school and junior college cross-country meets utilize the dirt paths as well as the main roadway. Why aren't more races held here? It's nearly ideal for small races of up to 10K length. Why don't more runners train at Lake Murray? Try it; you'll like it.
April 1991
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