After two years in Columbia and falsely moving once already, I finally resolved to make better use of the extensive trails that wind, well-maintained, through our beautiful city. This morning I jumped out of bed early, convinced Jacob to stay upstairs with mom, a task considering he'd been trying to get me out of bed since 5:45, and took off for a run along the Bear Creek Trail in the northern regions of the city. I chose the trail carefully because as a runner I'm in an awkward place. You see, the short trails, all 1-2 miles are too short, and simply despise having to do laps, regardless of the size. Once I've seen a site, it's nigh impossible to convince me to go around to see it again. On the flip side, however, the longer trails are not loops, but connect one area of the city to another, or bridge the gap between parks, or are now long trails made of several, previously separate trails.
Bear Creek Trail one such longer trail, coming in at 4.8 miles total length, and connecting our favorite park on the East side of town with our tennis park in north central town. I decided that I would park at one end, and run/walk for half the time I'd allotted, then turn around and go back. It's one thing to have to run the same thing twice, but quite another to know you can't get home unless you go back the way you came. So, in the spirit of adventure, I laced up my new Asics (one of the best purchases of my life) and took off along the firmly laid gravel trail.
The first thing I noticed is that it was cold—57º when I left the house this morning, and the normally welcome, rich shade of the overhead canopy did little to warm up my hesitant body. The morning was fresh and dewy, and I was the only on the trail for at least a mile and a half. I only know that figure because there are mile markers along the way; mile markers for which I was very grateful as I gauged my progress against what I presumed to be my abilities. As I listened to Prince Caspian read thoughtfully and quite brilliantly by Lynn Redgrave (C.S. Lewis has become my welcome running partner—next is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader!) I marveled at the stillness of the morning and my presence, although along an established path, seemed an intrusion on the solitude of nature herself. I took in the lush greens of the foliage, the clear water in the Creek along the trail, and the occasional morning web, not yet destroyed by the breezes of midday. I reveled in the freshness of the dew as it tickled my nostrils and the frequent and surprisingly strong scent of cinnamon as I rushed along the path.
I didn't run the entire path and back, but did run the hour I had set as my goal. By the end of next month I'd like to be able to take the whole trail up and back in a single event. Today was 4.25 miles in just under 60 minutes. I could have done it in 52 or so, but I took a nice relaxing cool down on the final half mile or so. I had rushed enough, so it was time for me to take a little time to enjoy the journey a bit and let my muscles work in a different way. I'll be back again tomorrow, and I hope to enjoy every minute as I once again bask in the glory of nature and prepare to set Caspian upon the Narnian throne.