One last run by the river

In proximity to our house, only the nearby five-lane highway has sidewalks suitable for running. Otherwise the narrow, winding and hilly roads in our area are dangerous at best. Our county has a number of nice parks, but with severely limited walking and running trails. Near our home, though, is a riverside park with access to trails which are not maintained by the county recreation department. Carved from bikes, horses and ATVs, the path runs along the river and behind several homes and subdivisions.

Alas, when it rains these rutted trails easily flood and hold water for days on end. Over the years strong storms have toppled numerous trees, clogging the trail. In that the path is not officially property of the park system, no one clears the debris. Nowadays more than half of the trail is no longer open for running, biking or anything.

Last winter proved to be colder than the norm for the south. I allowed the chilly temperatures to limit my outdoor running (weak excuse I know). The year also had more rain than usual (a fair excuse for not running outside). During the summer I went for a run for the first time in months at the river. I found the trail wildly overgrown in most places and notably washed out in others. Many trees and other obstacles lay strewn here and there. I struggled to get in a four-mile run. Regrettably, I guess that will be my last run by the river for a while. I’ll miss the beauty of the wooded trail and serenity of the water.

Tom