Mailbag: The tricks of running in Laguna

As we move through the long days in the heart of summer, we’re also in prime running season.

I’ve enjoyed reading about the summer successes and activities of the Laguna Beach High School’s boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams. Congrats to Coaches Scott Wittkop and Steve Lalim for their hard work and pursuit of excellence.

We’re also in the middle of marathon season, with recent races in Orange County and Huntington Beach, and the upcoming Long Beach Marathon. People are out in force, running and training.

I’ve been reading about the tragedy of recent cycling deaths. To the community’s credit, many concerned residents are trying to find ways to make our streets safer. We’re trying to build bike-friendly streets and some good recent suggestions for finding new safer routes have been proposed.

Runners, like bikers, also put themselves in harm’s way while trying to find safe training routes. As a five-time marathoner, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges runners face while seeking local stretches suitable for long distance training.

Not wanting to be struck from behind, I always run on the left. Here’s what I’ve found:

• Want to run from Laguna Canyon to El Toro Road? I’ve seen many drivers texting or reading on their mobile phones.

• Want to run along Coast Highway? There are many stretches with little or no sidewalk, due to overgrowth, which, along with parked cars along the highway, force me into the street — within feet of speeding trucks. The various sidewalk-free turnoff lanes also pose threats to highway runners.

• Want to run along the beach? After less than a mile in each direction from Main Beach, the path is blocked with impassible rocks.

What to do? Besides going to Newport Beach or Crystal Cove, I found a great solution in town: running along the trails at Top of the World and Arch Beach Heights.

The only spot that’s precarious is the crumbling, steep trail entrance from Top of the World Drive to Moulton Meadows Park, which is the only access route because the street going through the Sommet du Monde neighborhood is gated and marked private.

It’s been a year since I heard that funds were earmarked to repair the trail entrance and I hope that effort continues to be a priority.

Tim Templeton

Laguna Beach

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Police need to enforce cell phone laws

As a long-time cyclist and a relatively new resident of Laguna — two years — I am shocked and saddened by the loss of cyclists’ lives. But I’m confused that so much attention is being paid to the role of the City Council and so little to the role of the local police and their enforcement — or lack thereof — of the California Vehicle code.

Specifically, I am referring to the use of cell phones on Laguna roads. Every day on my bicycle commute up the canyon I see drivers — young and old — who are speaking or texting on hand-held phones, which is dangerous and illegal.

I call upon all drivers to adhere to this law, and to the police to rigorously enforce it. Perhaps instead of mounting undercover efforts to bust cigarette smokers on the beach, the police could focus on catching drivers who are violating the law?

One other thought: We cyclists owe it to ourselves to be highly visible and to ride safely. Please ditch the all-black outfits and dress colorfully so you can be seen. And using flashing lights in front and behind makes you even more visible.

Finally, just as we expect that drivers never cross the solid white line into our cycling lanes, we need to stay in our lanes and not cross those lines — especially those riding in big packs. Let’s do our share to make the roads safe for everyone.

Brett Howser

Laguna Beach

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Giving credit where credit is due

The Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot correctly reported that I received an award from the Laguna Beach Beautification Council for the appearance of my residence.

However, kudos should be given to my lovely wife, Lori Savit, for her diligent work and remarkable creativity in the garden as well as to our professional gardener, Juan Flores, and his dedicated team.

Flores has been caring for properties on our street for more than a decade.

Lester J. Savit

Laguna Beach