OWL-DRAGON

Fall Running

Yesterday was trail day. I headed south this day. For those of you familiar with mid Atlantic east coast institutions this is the trail that goes behind Wawa’s headquarters. This part of the trail is maintained by Middletown as part of their open space project.

I’m a big fan of headphones and usually run with them, but on my trail runs I forgo so as not to miss any of nature’s sounds.

The winds had been blowing for more than thirty hours and were still quite strong. You would hear a low roar gradually increasing until all the trees were swaying and rattling and then it would be gone and quiet again. The woods now are mostly bare and probably for that reason I saw quite a few deer. The path was only blocked in one place but it doozy – a large tree had taken down others and created quite a tangle to get thru. Other than that fall running is actually easier since the vegetation has died back (with the one exception the leaves tend to cover the wet spots and you can find yourself in deep mud without warning).

The trees are quite beautiful in their summer fullness but equally if not more so in their late fall barrenness as the branches frame the sky and you get long views into the woods.

The path goes out Darlington Road near which a memorial has been placed on a bench to remember a son who “died after battling bi-polar disease”. It is a beautiful pleasant spot – I hope it brings peace to the family and all who use it.

Today on a calm, bright morning I ran, on my usual route past Merion golf course where they are rebuilding greens – an interesting process. One of my favorite things about fall trees is seeing the squirrel nests which despite the winds seem quite secure in their high perches. The bright, clear weather makes for great running.

Next Sunday the marathon. Hope the weather stays cool.