I Trail Run For Fun

The first map shows the entire three-mile route. The second and third maps are closeups of the first map.

************I'm running again, not from the law, not from a pursuer and "for no particular reason." Of course you all remember Forrest Gump. I'm running for the same reason he did only on a much smaller scale.

The facility where I workout, NorthPointe Health and Wellness Campus, has trails that run through the many acres of property that surround it and the adjacent assisted living facility. The map above shows the layout of the paths. (It's a bit crumpled since I carried it with me a few times until I learned the three-mile route).

Now that the weather is pleasant, I'm ready and willing to take my exercising outside whenever possible.

The running/walking path surface is mainly asphalt with a few sections of crushed limestone. I like running outside on these trails which meander through sloping wooded areas teeming with violet and white wildflowers. The route I run takes me past a pond fed by a mini-waterfall and lined with attractive dark brown metal benches for those who wish to sit and relax by the water.

After I run, I change into my swimsuit and swim fourteen lengths of the pool. Running contracts my leg muscles, whereas, swimming lengthens them. A run followed by a swim works well for me and the combination leaves me relaxed and refreshed.

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(Read about "Blooming Tea" in my previous blog post).