Los Olivos resident Chris Guss moved to Irvine at the start of 2022. The marathoner and president of South Coast Roadrunners finds the trails and connectivity here key to his training, as well as an enjoyable commute. We talked to Guss about his favorite aspects of staying healthy locally.
What do you like about living in the Spectrum District?
When my wife and I moved here, the appeal of living near the beach was strong, but my priority was to keep my daily commute short. We found Los Olivos at Irvine Spectrum apartments to be the perfect solution, not only having great facilities, but it is conveniently close to shopping, restaurants, entertainment and less than a 15-minute bike ride to my work. More importantly, it is connected to the Irvine trail system via the San Diego Creek Trail, which is the starting point for my regular training runs.
Tell us about your passion for running.
I have been a runner for 27 years with a focus on marathons during the last nine years. So naturally, after moving to Irvine, I started to look for a running club. At that time, I was in pursuit of my sixth World Marathon Major to get an Abbot Six Star medal. I had done New York, Chicago, Tokyo, Berlin and London marathons, and I just needed Boston.
“Typically, I will run 50-60 miles a week, mostly on the trails through Irvine. Among my favorites are the San Diego Creek Trail, Hicks Canyon Trail and Jeffrey Open Space Trail.”
Chris Guss
What drew you to South Coast Roadrunners?
The club hosts regular evening runs and often has member-organized run vacations – notably: the Berlin Marathon; Chicago Marathon; Napa to Sonoma half. Surprisingly, it is also a great social network. We host nonrunning events for the membership, often in Irvine, in addition to the regular club meeting on the first Thursday of each month.
How do the trails near you figure into your training?
Typically, I will run 50-60 miles a week, mostly on the trails through Irvine. Among my favorites are the San Diego Creek Trail, Hicks Canyon Trail and Jeffrey Open Space Trail (JOST). Each has its own character. San Diego Creek Trail is my go-to for long runs, giving me traffic-free running all the way to Newport Beach. Hicks Canyon is great for speed work with abundant shade, gentle slope and connections to JOST. The JOST is another great trail for long runs with elevation change. I am looking forward to the new connection over Interstate 5, south toward the San Diego Creek Trail.
You just completed a running milestone?
In April 2024, I completed the Boston Marathon and received my Six Star medal. That was my 14th marathon but not my last. In August this year, my wife and I completed the Sydney Marathon in Australia. This was the first time I had run a marathon with my wife, who only started marathon running when we joined SCRR and has now completed the Chicago, New York, Berlin and Sydney events.
