Hey Terrell, thanks so much for this post. I love your thoughts on "our places" we run and how they shape us. I had a four mile running route near my home in Oregon. This route was my escape from a high pressure real estate career, raising four children and busy volunteer life. It provided me with some much needed solace during that time.
Definitely some spots that are uh...questionable for running (like along the county jail right outside Columbia where there's no sidewalk along a four lane road). But for the most part, the trail is quiet, isolated, and amazing. It hits small towns, state parks, a national park, military bases and Greenville, Columbia and Charleston. You couldn't find a better place to get to know the state.
Im green with envy….that Chattahoochee River is gorgeous! I remember driving up that way when I left the Cruel Jewel ultra in Blue Ridge, GA and I was in awe!! I told my running buddy we needed to go there when we retire…she agreed.
As for Winston Churchill, what a great quote. What a way to apply it to life too. There’s a Winston Churchill museum in Missouri that I came across by accident driving back from Illinois, which is super cool. There’s one room towards the end of the museum that is full of his quotes. My favorite is…and I’m going to butcher this….a pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity and an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty….something like that. When I feel like the odds are against me, I think of that quote and it helps me pick myself back up and push forward again.
As for favorite places to run…Texas state parks. I miss them.. I’m trying to get back. I had a discussion with a supervisor and asked for a transfer approval. It’s looking good! The Cruel Jewel race in Georgia was absolutely beautiful too! I could run through that every day and be in heaven. As for here in Kansas, Shawnee Mission Park tops them all! When the seasons change and the leaves are falling…gorgeous!
Hi again, this time from Guam. I’m back to following your running schedule. Lots of traffic down town so I run on the navy base that I access to. Quiet, super safe. Was on a treadmill with a bunch of Japanese military guys, geez. They’re all about 0 percent fat. Darn. I’m still a lightweight at about 125 but not 0 percent. Not sure how the heck they do it. Best Byron, Santa Rita, Guam
I used to have a place for almost 20 years along the Sammamish River in Redmond, WA. I think I even posted pictures on THM. I loved that place. It changed with the seasons, it was my hideaway from the "real world." I could easily run 13.1 miles on a smooth paved trail, or all the way to Seattle if I wanted to on the Burke-Gilman Trail or do my favorite 3 mile run and look for changes and birds. Looking at the weather up that-away, it looked like snow coming in. I'm sure the pussy-willows are out and the daffodils are blooming their hearts out next to the church.
Things change, tho. I'm in Oregon now. Eugene to be exact. I have a map of the 13.1 that we will run the end of April as a group and of the 5K. I have to say that Oregon has yet to capture my heart. I can easily identify with what you express in your article, Terrell. I'm still looking for that place. . . :)
Since we moved to the edge of town, I have found one long street with nothing beside it on one side, but open desert to basically CA. I fell in love! It’s fairly flat & super quiet. It’s my fav place to run, besides the dirt paseos around my neighborhood. Those are quiet & great too. Moving was the best decision for my running & our peace of mind. I wish we’d moved years ago.
Thank you for this post, so relatable. My goto run is in a neighborhood park. Even though it’s unimaginative to run the same route frequently, it gives comfort. But on reading this I also remembered the lake around which I ran every couple days while in grad school for 5 years - never went back after finishing school, it was such a familiar and comfortable place…wonder how it might feel now to go back after 24 years later!
Thanks for this subject Terrell, my places are similar. I enjoy two parks in Paulding Co. a few miles apart from each other. One has woods trails, weaving in and out of trees for a few miles (my solitude runs, where I can just get lost in thoughts) - the other has a wonderful half-mile asphalt loop with uphill and downhill grades (where I train for an upcoming half). After a three-year break (family concerns) I'm moving back to Georgia soon to run there once again, I can't wait.
I remember my 2nd ever group night run. It was a 10k out and back run that I often take in the mornings from Gene Coulon park to the Seattle Seahawks practice facility and back. Only this night run was in the winter and at 1/3 of the way out it started to snow. At 2/3rds of the way out it was snowing so heavy on this unlit portion of the trail I could only see about 50 feet in front of me. I decided to turn around. And head back. As I entered the paved area with over hanging lights every 150 feet shining through the falling snow I just thought how beautiful, it was like a Disney movie scene. I was so isolated by the lack of vision, still coming coming across an occasional walker showing up out of no where. I loved it so
Beautiful Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, FL is my place! I e been going there to run & walk since I was a teenager (almost 6 decades😳). Florida Southern College sits on this lake, as well as several beautiful old homes. It’s home to gators, otters, ducks, bunnies & a host of birds!!! It’s about 2.75 miles of friendly folks & an ever changing array of nature, not to mention some incredible sunrises & sunsets🥰
I feel like this post and your “where is your favorite place to run” requires two answers: my “comfort run” is the 3 miles around the lake near my house. It’s a perfect 5k with a great hill is I need to get in some hill reps. My favorite is a 13 mile loop around Seattle: space needle, waterfront, fancy neighborhoods, Ballard locks, ship canal bridge, houseboats, lake union, and back to the space needle.
Hey Terrell, thanks so much for this post. I love your thoughts on "our places" we run and how they shape us. I had a four mile running route near my home in Oregon. This route was my escape from a high pressure real estate career, raising four children and busy volunteer life. It provided me with some much needed solace during that time.
This insanely long trail across South Carolina will always be my favorite: https://palmettoconservation.org/palmetto-trail/
Definitely some spots that are uh...questionable for running (like along the county jail right outside Columbia where there's no sidewalk along a four lane road). But for the most part, the trail is quiet, isolated, and amazing. It hits small towns, state parks, a national park, military bases and Greenville, Columbia and Charleston. You couldn't find a better place to get to know the state.
Im green with envy….that Chattahoochee River is gorgeous! I remember driving up that way when I left the Cruel Jewel ultra in Blue Ridge, GA and I was in awe!! I told my running buddy we needed to go there when we retire…she agreed.
As for Winston Churchill, what a great quote. What a way to apply it to life too. There’s a Winston Churchill museum in Missouri that I came across by accident driving back from Illinois, which is super cool. There’s one room towards the end of the museum that is full of his quotes. My favorite is…and I’m going to butcher this….a pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity and an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty….something like that. When I feel like the odds are against me, I think of that quote and it helps me pick myself back up and push forward again.
As for favorite places to run…Texas state parks. I miss them.. I’m trying to get back. I had a discussion with a supervisor and asked for a transfer approval. It’s looking good! The Cruel Jewel race in Georgia was absolutely beautiful too! I could run through that every day and be in heaven. As for here in Kansas, Shawnee Mission Park tops them all! When the seasons change and the leaves are falling…gorgeous!
Hi again, this time from Guam. I’m back to following your running schedule. Lots of traffic down town so I run on the navy base that I access to. Quiet, super safe. Was on a treadmill with a bunch of Japanese military guys, geez. They’re all about 0 percent fat. Darn. I’m still a lightweight at about 125 but not 0 percent. Not sure how the heck they do it. Best Byron, Santa Rita, Guam
Love this piece Terrell. Places carry special meaning and memories❤️
I used to have a place for almost 20 years along the Sammamish River in Redmond, WA. I think I even posted pictures on THM. I loved that place. It changed with the seasons, it was my hideaway from the "real world." I could easily run 13.1 miles on a smooth paved trail, or all the way to Seattle if I wanted to on the Burke-Gilman Trail or do my favorite 3 mile run and look for changes and birds. Looking at the weather up that-away, it looked like snow coming in. I'm sure the pussy-willows are out and the daffodils are blooming their hearts out next to the church.
Things change, tho. I'm in Oregon now. Eugene to be exact. I have a map of the 13.1 that we will run the end of April as a group and of the 5K. I have to say that Oregon has yet to capture my heart. I can easily identify with what you express in your article, Terrell. I'm still looking for that place. . . :)
Since we moved to the edge of town, I have found one long street with nothing beside it on one side, but open desert to basically CA. I fell in love! It’s fairly flat & super quiet. It’s my fav place to run, besides the dirt paseos around my neighborhood. Those are quiet & great too. Moving was the best decision for my running & our peace of mind. I wish we’d moved years ago.
I’ve got pictures
That's easy, Central Park. 'Nuff said.
Great post and beautiful pictures.
Thank you for this post, so relatable. My goto run is in a neighborhood park. Even though it’s unimaginative to run the same route frequently, it gives comfort. But on reading this I also remembered the lake around which I ran every couple days while in grad school for 5 years - never went back after finishing school, it was such a familiar and comfortable place…wonder how it might feel now to go back after 24 years later!
Thanks for this subject Terrell, my places are similar. I enjoy two parks in Paulding Co. a few miles apart from each other. One has woods trails, weaving in and out of trees for a few miles (my solitude runs, where I can just get lost in thoughts) - the other has a wonderful half-mile asphalt loop with uphill and downhill grades (where I train for an upcoming half). After a three-year break (family concerns) I'm moving back to Georgia soon to run there once again, I can't wait.
Hey Terrell!
I love this picture, it reminds me of one of my favorite places to run...The Erie Canal Trail. It's flat but the sights, sounds are magnificent!
Hope all is well and happy running. :)
I remember my 2nd ever group night run. It was a 10k out and back run that I often take in the mornings from Gene Coulon park to the Seattle Seahawks practice facility and back. Only this night run was in the winter and at 1/3 of the way out it started to snow. At 2/3rds of the way out it was snowing so heavy on this unlit portion of the trail I could only see about 50 feet in front of me. I decided to turn around. And head back. As I entered the paved area with over hanging lights every 150 feet shining through the falling snow I just thought how beautiful, it was like a Disney movie scene. I was so isolated by the lack of vision, still coming coming across an occasional walker showing up out of no where. I loved it so
much I can't wait to repeat it some day.
Beautiful Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, FL is my place! I e been going there to run & walk since I was a teenager (almost 6 decades😳). Florida Southern College sits on this lake, as well as several beautiful old homes. It’s home to gators, otters, ducks, bunnies & a host of birds!!! It’s about 2.75 miles of friendly folks & an ever changing array of nature, not to mention some incredible sunrises & sunsets🥰
I feel like this post and your “where is your favorite place to run” requires two answers: my “comfort run” is the 3 miles around the lake near my house. It’s a perfect 5k with a great hill is I need to get in some hill reps. My favorite is a 13 mile loop around Seattle: space needle, waterfront, fancy neighborhoods, Ballard locks, ship canal bridge, houseboats, lake union, and back to the space needle.