Cameron Poetzscher's Sports Blog​

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Cycling
  • Running
  • Sailing

Making the Most of Palo Alto Running Trails

8/10/2016

10 Comments

 
Palo Alto Running Trail
San Franciscan locals are always looking for great new ways to enjoy the outdoors but sometimes it can be tough with the constraints of work. Working in the city or the Valley comes with an even slice of pressure. It’s important to keep active, not only for physical but also mental reasons. In fact, getting out for a run might be just what you need if you’re bogged down on a project or trying to problem solve at work. Studies have shown that increased blood flow boosts cognition in the brain. Also, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory, the hippocampus, is active during exercise sessions like running. Active people are also attributed with higher memory and thinking skills. So the "strong body, strong mind" saying does have some science behind it. 

​The heart of the Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, has a great variety of trails for walking or running that are long enough to challenge but short enough to tackle before, during or after work. 

Palo Alto Running Trail Options

The Dish
The iconic Dish is a well known landmark and a frequented hot spot for runners and walkers. The loop is around 3.5 miles and of moderate difficulty. There are some mild hills, a mixture of paved and unpaved trails, not a lot of shade cover, but great views of Stanford and the Bay from the top. 

Baylands
Baylands Nature Preserve is a flatter than Stanford Dish, around 5 miles at the shortest with mixed trails of gravel, dirt and asphalt to run on. Lots of birds make the trip a pleasure. 

Arastradero and Foothill Parks 
There is a great network of routes you can choose from and mix together to form around 2.25 miles of trails.

All of these trails are a 5 minute drive from most offices, and there are a load of campus options around Stanford, too. There really is no excuse for not getting out and keeping active in the Bay area. 
10 Comments
Michael Christopher
8/14/2016 02:18:10 am

This is a informative article. Thanks for share this.

Reply
Mona
8/14/2016 06:29:46 am

Great list of trails - have been on many of them. They are really beautiful and inspirational. This is a very good compilation.

Reply
John Willz
8/14/2016 09:29:41 am

I have a friend from silicon valley who often goes to the Dish for her daily runs. She loves it there.

Reply
Austin Kline
8/14/2016 10:22:16 am

This are such nice running trails. It really makes you thankful that there are nice trails like this in this country. I may start running just because of the idea of a nice area to be yourself and enjoy exercise and the scenery.

Reply
Montanna Slight
8/14/2016 07:55:47 pm

This is an awesome list you got here of trails. Would love to see all of them if I was able to. Love the beauty!!!

Reply
Caroline Kaugher
8/15/2016 07:19:23 am

That's crazy, I had no idea that activity boosts learning & memory! I will be making some new habits as I need all the help I can get! Thanks for sharing, wish I lived out there so I could check out the trails.

Reply
Shasta McAnally Martin
8/15/2016 08:46:56 am

This is a great list of trails. I wish I lived in San Francisco to check them out

Reply
Lina
8/15/2016 10:14:09 am

Such a great article about activity/exercise and how much it affects our bodies in a positive way! The list of trails is very helpful too!

Reply
Tim C
8/15/2016 12:32:27 pm

Awesome tips here. All of those places look great.

Reply
desiree andrews
1/23/2017 08:22:14 pm

I am so thankful for positive examples like yourself. I have never done much running but have found that the more I walk the more I can run short distances. The trails sound like heaven.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Cameron Poetzscher

    Author

    Cameron Poetzscher is a Harvard Business School graduate with extensive M&A, business strategy and operations experience.
    He is the VP of Corporate Development at Uber, and is passionate about sport.

    Categories

    All
    Cycling
    Running
    Sailing

Picture
Picture

© 2016 Cameron Poetzscher. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Cycling
  • Running
  • Sailing