A Pretty Place To Run

The route I run begins here and soon enters a wooded area.

I love the curves in the trail and of course the shade provided by the trees.

At the fork in the trail, I turn left. The slope up to the fork is VERY steep and slows me down for sure.

Here's another uphill challenge.



I like this long downward slope more than I can say.

We're approaching the pond up ahead on the right.

When I pass this bench, I've completed the first mile of my run.

The North Pointe facility sits beyond the pond.

***********The trail has lots of these yellow flowers along its edges.

I've passed the pond and now I'm heading down the trail that leads to the facility sign at the entrance on Willowbrook Road.

At the sign, I turn around and retrace my steps back to the pond.

I run around the other side of the pond this time.

From this higher angle we can see how the water runs from this reservoir down a few levels to the pond below.

Doesn't this look inviting? It's a shame that I have never taken the time to just sit.

************At this point, the water has nearly reached its lowest level.

At what appears to be the end of the trail, I turn left and soon reach the two mile mark.

The third mile of my run takes me through the wooded area again on the same trail I used during mile one.

*************I've often considered how nice this spot would be for a picnic.












After my run, I can't wait to slip into the pool. Swimming lengths of the pool is heavenly after the long run.

**************Here's a close look at the lock laces.

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Please drop down to the narrative below.

I truly enjoy running outside at North Pointe. My favorite part of the trails that criss-cross the acres surrounding the North Pointe Health and Wellness facility weaves through the woods and is lined with wildflowers in pleasing purples and yelling yellows. I invite you to come with me on a three-mile run through the prairie landscape of Northern Illinois. Much of the recreational trail is paved with blacktop while other sections offer a firm crushed limestone surface.

To get to these trails, I drive to North Pointe. Once I'm in the locker room, I don my running clothes and shoes. I've equipped my running shoes with lace locks (available at http://www.locklaces.com/) so I don't have to tie and untie my shoe laces everytime I put them on or take them off. I simply slide my shoes on over my socks, pull up on the tongue of each shoe and I'm ready to go.

I head from the locker room up the stairs to one of the elliptical trainers where I spend a few minutes getting my arms and legs into an exercise mood. After five minutes or so, I head back downstairs and out the front door of the facility. I walk along the sidewalk that parallels the front of the building and across the parking lot to the beginning of the three-mile route. I take a deep breath, tell myself to relax and enjoy the experience and then I push off from a walk to a run.

Thanks for coming along. I hope you enjoyed the sights along the way.