Farewell (for now) to (some) trails
I was surprised when I wasn’t excited about the big snow storm we had a week and a half ago. I love snow! I love winter! What was my dealio?
So peaceful and quiet… what’s not to love? By the way, that’s our driveway…
At first I attributed my displeasure to the snow hampering on plans I made with my parents – the snow made it difficult (but not impossible) to get to (and around in) the city with my mom, and it completely squashed my plans for my dad to cycle with me while I ran. I had been really looking forward to showing him one of my long run routes.
So happy to have Metra as an option… even when the train home was delayed over an hour and the shelter was open to the outside… and that Amtrak train went by and blew all that snow on us… and our socks were wet… ha ha!
But we still had a great time with them, so whatevs. Then why was I still annoyed with the snow after they left?
Sigh, cause it meant instead of running routes like this:
I had to do one like this:
Loops until you lose your mind
Or this:
Run every cul-de-sac to get your mileage in…
But I did that second route Monday and didn’t hate it and was still annoyed to see all the snow covering the trails – what’s up with dat?!
Ahh, that’s it. The trails are inaccessible for running when they’re covered in snow (I mean… you can run them, but it’ll be hella slow and a bit dangerous) and I wanted to run my local trails as much as possible before moving!!! I can’t do that when they’re covered in snow!
Luckily, the snow melted, and I was able to do one of my loop routes for my Sunday long run. And sort of say “farewell” to that route. At least farewell to running it with the starting point as our home – I’ll still try to run those trails and forest preserves from time to time, after we move.
We’re so lucky that the home we live in now is right on a trail. And that the trail connects to roads and other forest preserves. It’s perfect for me – it allowed me to create many routes, and explore and become familiar with lots of areas, which I love!
The new home we’re under contract for is on a street surrounded by two (!!!) forest preserves. But it is just over two miles to get to the closest trail. And I’ll no longer be in a neighborhood, but on a dead end street, so running neighborhood loops when there is a ton of snow won’t be as… interesting. Ha ha.
The trade off for the privacy we’ll have is totally worth it. And I’m stoked to create new routes! But part of me is feeling sad to leave behind the ones I’ve become so familiar with. I’m happy I’ll get a few more runs in on them when they’re not buried in snow.
Themocracy
The snow is really pretty, but I would be chicken to run in it.
I run those crazy loops and cul-de sacs all the time lol I wish we have a trail path closer! I would miss it too if I were you. Actually, option number 1 doesn’t look bad at all 🙂
It has to be a certain type of snow to run on it… not the kind with ice hiding underneath it. And not the thick wet stuff that you get stuck in. Basically, it has to be a small layer of the fluffy kind!
Do you have any trails close by?!
Ha ha, option #1, the dog shaped route? That is my preferred style of loop that takes me all over town and doesn’t repeat itself 🙂
Aw, I know how much you love your trails!
I totally know the feeling. I was really bummed to be moving away from the Lakefront Trail and all of my favorite neighborhood routes when I left the city. But as you know, there’s lots of great trails in my new ‘hood (the awesomeness of which T and I were just talking about yesterday, while walking through the soggy trails at NS). It’s been fun to check out all the new-to-me trails, so that’ll be fun for you too! 🙂
Ha! I was wondering how soggy some of the trails would be. I ran in Grant Woods yesterday and they were actually nice and hard from the cold ground, which means less rocks in my shoes! I am happy you like checking out the new trails here 🙂 And it’s nice to be able to visit the Lakefront Trail, right?
I know I will love making new routes when we move in to our final new home 🙂 I just hope I find a few safe ones. I need variety in my routes! 🙂
Ha, I totally know the feeling of running all the cul de sacs trying to get the mileage in 🙂 The last couple Winters, we’ve had more snow than normal and it definitely leaves the trails inaccessible for running. There is at least a road around here they close to cars on weekends that is plowed so it’s a good option for Winter running.
Isn’t it nice to have those options? I do know of several community areas in my county where the roads are well maintained and I can drive there to run if need be! I really like running straight from the house, and not wasting the driving time. But it’s nice to have that option!
One of my least favorite parts about moving last year was how it threw off all of my running routes. I used to be SUPER close to the Lakefront Trail (like within easy walking distance of the trail), so that was the only place I’d run, and I knew exactly where all my mile markers were. I live much farther from the trail now–so far I actually rarely run on it unless I’m doing something pretty long–and while at first I wasn’t thrilled about that, I’ve really enjoyed creating new routes for myself! It’s been a good way to stay mentally engaged and, especially right after I moved, was a good way to get to know my new area.
It is SUCH an awesome way to get to know an area, and see things you might not notice if you were moving faster! It’s funny – I have a map in my head of where so much stuff is around me, but don’t necessarily know the street names. Ha ha.
It IS too bad that the trail in the city can be such a PITA to get to. Even when I go there on work lunch break it takes 10 mins and when you don’t have much time, that is a lot of time!
That snow/train picture? NO. Just no freaking way. It’s a good thing I don’t live in a snowy area because I’d never see the light of day all winter long!
Ha ha ha! Sounds like you live in the right area for you then! LOL!!! 🙂
For real!
The privacy of owning your own house will be worth it. You can always visit/drive to your old trail for nostalgic purposes once in a while. Is your old trail close enough that you will still be able to run it if you are doing a long run? Is there a way to climb a fence to get to your new trails in the forest preserves more quickly? 🙂 I live 2 miles from the LFT, but to manage to get down there twice a week on my 8+ milers.
It DEFINITELY will be! The trails near our current home will eventually connect to my new home… when Lake County finishes building it. For now, if I ran that way, I’d need a ride home (it’s a 35 minute drive from my old home). It’s quite a bit of forest, and over train tracks to sneak in to the preserve, but I may explore 😉 I like to run to trails, like you do with LFT!
Your privacy and all the quiet will be worth trading in your old trails for some new ones! I am sure it will be an adjustment to the new locale, you will grow accustomed to the new trails in no time! Sounds like a nice location to be so close to the preserves. And loads more opportunities to explore. 🙂
Yes yes yes! I can’t wait to make new routes there. Just a few months away!
Ah, the cul de sac route…I’ve ran this one many a time. When will you be moving?
We start to move to the rental this weekend. Not sure when we’ll close on the home!
How exciting!!!
Wow, I had no idea you guys got dumped on like that! I do not miss Chicago winters, that is for sure…
And I bet you’re going to find some new neat running routes close to your new home…
It’s nuts! Some areas in Chicagoland got 4″. We got 17″. It was a nusto storm.
I think so! Steven talked to the new neighbors yesterday and they like to bike and said the local roads are safe for it! (They are country streets but have nice wide shoulders. YAY!)
I’m with you. I really enjoyed the trails this summer/fall and as soon as that snow fell, I realized no mas. Very sad.
Yep. 🙁 Get it all in now before it’s too late!!!! LOL
I definitely know how you feel about trails and about moving and finding new running routes! It’s always exciting to move (congrats!), but it can be SO hard to leave the familiar routes that you know and love and know what to expect. If you want a short run, you know where to go; a run with hills, ditto….
But – Congrats on the move! That is exciting for you all!
Exactly! I have run the trails by that house before, and I hope to make some of my own road routes, too.
Thank you!
The trails by your house are so nice, I can see why you’ll miss them. Has the snow melted yet? Will you have to find new running buddies too, do you think? Or is your new place close enough that you can meet the same ones? Can you still go to your same gym? (Maybe you’ve said this and I missed it!)
The snow has melted, yay! It melted just under a week after we got it. Then it snowed this week, but only a dusting, and it’s gone. I am about to head out for one of my last local runs right now (we are moving tomorrow).
I don’t really run with anyone since Kelly moved, but I am moving really close to my friend Bobbi, so she and I can run together again. I will continue teaching at Efit. The final move adds about 10-15 mins one way to that commute 🙂