I will be traveling to the SD/Del Mar soon and staying at the Marriott Del Mar: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sandm-san-diego-marriott-del-mar/
I’m in the midst of 70.3 training and I’d like to do a few 8 mile runs. Only looks to be a mile or so from the ocean but I would have to cross a major highway to get to the ocean. I assume there’s some side road that will get me there. Are there sidewalks to run on along the beach?
Super long time since I’ve run there (15 years), however for you, you can go straight down Carmel Valley road until you come to the beach parking. Go into the beach parking lot, under the freeway through the tunnel, and then hop up onto the trails above the beach. They run north pretty far. We did all of our training runs along the beach in the summers in high school. That route would be ideal for you, and then you can stop at many of the great breakfast spots in that area as well post run. Hope this helps.
Easy to get under I5 and over to the coast, just take Carmel Valley Road as noted above.
The stuff in blue on the milermeter map linked below (zoom out) is readily available from where you are staying, these are just some examples - the 56 bike path goes on further to the east, you can keep going north on the coast, you can get trails at Torrey Pines, both the main park and the annex which the bit in the middle of Del Mar, there’s a track up at UCSD, gobs of people run up and down the coast. You’ll have no problem getting any number of 8 mile runs from that site.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6915538
The beach does not usually have sidewalks per se in this area, the roads are generally on bluffs higher up, but running along the coast highway you can certainly see the ocean in many spots, and you’re right alongside it in the estuary areas. Where there aren’t sidewalks you can run against traffic, but watch for bikes as there are as many riders as runners trying to share that space.
I’d recommend one run out the 56 path if you want somewhere to do a steady tempo, and one taking in all of torrey pines for some hilly trails (gets crowded on weekend mornings). If you have a car you could also easily get over to Penasquitos Canyon for flat trail (or hilly if you go up the sides), or to Rancho Santa Fe for horse trails around golf course, but really you have everything you need right outside the hotel door.
Your 1/4 mile from 56BIke path which takes you inland (UP). But you go under freeway (safe) on Carmel Mtn Road to coast than up or down coast! Plenty of good running close by! Just expand the view on your phone MAP app, easy!
As others have mentioned, no problem getting under the 5 on Carmel Valley Rd… The 56 is fine for steady state tempo stuff, but if you’re here, I’d hit the coast. Nothing all that special about the bike path other than there are no cars. Some sections do have a dirt trail that runs alongside of the paved road.
If heading to the coast on Carmel Valley: When you get to the corner of McGonigle / Del Mar Scenic, make a left onto the parking lot access road and go to the back of the lot, behind the bathrooms. You’ll cross under the PCH and up on the other side.
South takes you towards Torrey Pines with the steep “inside” road climb up to the top where the trails system is.
North up the coast you’ll head through Del Mar towards Solana Beach. They’re doing construction on the Southbound lanes up past the bridge, so it’s a bit dodgy getting north for about 100yds against traffic, but once you do, there’s a trail that heads off to the left, just past the green screened area. Take the little trail for about 30-40yds and it will dump you out on the back streets in Del Mar. From there, it’s a straight shot with hardly any traffic along Stratford Ct., then just one little jog on Pacific Ln. / 13th / Ocean and you’ll hit Powerhouse Park, with bathrooms and drinking fountains. Probably a good place to turn around.
You can see all of this (including the little access trail) on the Hotel map on the page you linked.
Thanks for the tips. I will take a look more closely at a map to get a better sense of what you all have described.
torrey pines hill climb. 'nuff said!