I don't know if it's the endorphins, the adrenaline, the peace and quiet or the fact that I'm in a good mood because no one has tried to run over me and my bike while they're texting and driving yet- but I see the most beautiful things on my morning runs. And I never have a camera with me. Of course, no camera can capture all the beauty- especially when what you see is influenced by your state of mind [see the comments about endorphins and adrenaline above]. But just the same, I took my phone with me on a run last week and snapped a few of my favorite spots. I never run with anything other than a watch, so it was a little annoying to have my phone clunking around in my pocket. Ok! Onto the run.
I don't start my runs from home. Rather, I bike to the gym, which is only a few blocks from work, and start my runs from there. I do that mostly because in the summer I don't like running, then showering, then biking to work and getting re-sweaty. Or biking up hills when my legs are tired from a run. Also, some days I work out at the gym, so it keeps me on the same routine. I run 3-4 week days and one long weekend run of 10-12 miles. Someday I will take my camera on a long run up the Charles River. The birds! The trees!
Anyway, keep in mind all of these pictures were taken within Boston City Limits. And Boston is a small city area-wise. Very small. And yet there is beauty and wildlife all around. The first image is taken from the Fenway- the marshy belt of land that surrounds the Muddy River flowing into Boston. It's at about 5 minutes into the run.
Just about the two mile mark there is a creek to jump over. Thankfully, the rocks are obliging. In slippery conditions I run on the paved trail- but there are lots of bike commuters and other runners there, so I usually try to stick to the paths and trails that are semi-hidden in the small clumps of forest.
Up some stairs! Almost at mile 2.5.
Jamaica Pond. At approximately 1.5 miles around, I usually run around once to bring the total run to 6.5 miles. Sometimes I run around twice. If I just stop here and turn back, it's just over 5 miles. So there are options.
You can't hardly tell, but those are hooded mergansers. Waterfowl has really made a comeback on the pond. Of course there's the usual Canada geese and mallards, but now Coots, Loons and lots of swans. The coots are my favorites. I'm constantly on the lookout for new birds.
And there we have it. The halfway point of the 6.5 mile run. The tire tracks in the picture are from the police car that circles the pond in the morning. He makes it safe. And the girl in the right hand side of the photo is often there, meditating or journaling or just sitting. I see many of the same people every day and we wave. But now it's 6am, which means in 20 minutes I gotta hop on my bike and get to the gym and start my run. Only 5 miles today. And no pictures.











