It isn’t a new years resolution or quick trend, I’m simply trying to regain the exercise routine I had a few years ago. 

Having finally moved into a house, I’m able to run up and down the street and around cute suburban blocks where the sidewalks are straight and even.  Actually, to tell you the truth, it’s boring.

Monty, my dog, goes with me and although he’s very happy to run by my side, I get bored.  I’ve begun to understand why so many people jog with music; it keeps their mind happy.  I don’t have music with me so I’m forced to focus on the curbs and cracks and, of course, traffic.

The one downside of jogging in neighborhoods is traffic. Not only do I have to stop for cars as I cross roads or traffic, they put out an insane amount of air pollution.  I’ve begun to realize just how gas-guzzling this country is. 

Running a couple miles breathing fumes makes me sick.  Literally.  I’ve been nauseous after running if there’s a lot of traffic and my lungs feel like I’ve been smoking.  So, not only is it boring, running in my neighborhood is hazardous to my health.

So I started running somewhere else.  It might sound strange but I load up my dog and I drive, about a mile, to a nearby wooded park that’s popular with dirt bikes.  There’s probably close to 20 miles of trails, most in the woods which provides me with rejuvenating oxygen as well as shade.

The trails meander up and down through the woods and over creeks, making my mind work as hard as my ankles to keep me steady and Monty is allowed off-leash so he’s free to run ahead and scout for possible cyclists. 

Where a half hour running around the house used to exhaust me, after an hour in the woods I feel more alive than ever.  I love nature.