Favorite East Bay Running Trails:

Lake Merritt, Oakland - Find on any decent map of Oakland. Very level course. Approx. 3.1 miles around using outside loop. Approx. 3.5 miles around using inside loop.

Lake Chabot, Hayward at http://www.ebparks.org/parks/lakechab.htm; 5 miles RT using trail to left, add 3 miles RT using trail to right, for a beautiful 8-mile run. Great for hill training, especially just after the dam! Perks include coffeeshop, water fountains, restrooms, etc.

Inspiration Point, Nimitz Way, Tilden Park, Berkeley at http://www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden.htm. Great bay views depending on weather, plus cows! Paved part of trail goes 4 miles before becoming dirt fire road. Hilly but worth it.

Strawberry Canyon, Berkeley - Total round Trip is about 7.5 miles. a) Bottom of Trail: starts at parking lot on Centennial Avenue behind UC Berkeley, between Strawberry Canyon Pool/Haas Clubhouse and the Botanical Gardens. Gradual uphill for about .7 mile, then very steep uphill (the "Separator"), then mostly level for about 3 miles, ending at Space Sciences Bldg. at corner of Centennial and Grizzly Peak. b) Top of Trail: starts at fire road gate on west (bay) side of road, next to the new Space Sciences Bldg. on Grizzly Peak Rd, just south of intersection with Centennial Ave. Top of trail is the recommended place to start if you want to "ease" into the run before doing hills. Park on Grizzly Peak Road. Alternatively, at the top of Centennial Ave, go straight and enter Tilden Park. There's a parking lot on your right. Then walk back to Grizzly Peak Road and walk south a few minutes to trail head.

Berkeley Marina & Pier at http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/baytrail/vtour/map5/access/bmarinapier/bmarinapier.html#access. Start at Radisson Hotel parking Lot. Just north is the Cesar Chavez park loop - about 1.9 miles. Do that loop twice, then run past the Hotel and Marina to Berkeley Pier and to Ladies and Lordships Restaurant and back to hotel for a total of 6+ miles. Great for early morning workouts with gorgeous Bay and Hill views! Dogs are allowed in Cesar Chavez Park but not on the Pier or in Shorebird Park.

Harbor Bay Trail, Alameda - Begin and end at Ferry Terminal with parking and bathrooms. Long, flat paved trail with great bay/SF views. If you have good directions or know a link with direction, email us!

Lafayette-Moraga Trail at http://www.ebparks.org/parks/lafmotr.htm. Recommend starting at the Valle Vista staging area parking lot off Canyon Road in Moraga. Trail goes about 7.5 miles to Lafayette, through natural and residential areas. Some restrooms and water along the route, but do bring water.

Redwood Park, Oakland at http://www.ebparks.org/parks/redwood.htm. Park at Skyline Gate off Skyline Blvd. Beautiful dirt fire trails. Hilly. Great for dogs. Some great views. Lots of variety.

Iron Horse Trail, Pleasant Hill-San Ramon at http://www.ebparks.org/parks/irontr.htm

Lafayette Reservoir at http://www.locallinks.com/lafres.htm

Alameda Creek & Coyote Hills Park Trails, Fremont at http://www.ebparks.org/parks/alameda.htm. Beautiful rolling hills and bird sanctuary next to Dumbarton Bridge. Surprisingly under-used. Try free parking at Horse stables. Cross over bridge at Union City Blvd. to other side and run to Coyote Hills Park and take the bay trails. Mostly level. Especially nice to run during evening rush hour instead of being in traffic. End your run at 7 PM and go home when the traffic dies down!

Oyster Bay/Marina Park, San Leandro at http://www.ebparks.org/parks/alameda.htm

Want to recommend other trails? Comment on above info? Email us!