We have finally reached spring. Consistently good weather is here to stay. This means you will want to wear less clothing. However, some of you may have slacked off a bit on your exercise regimes.
The plan of going to the gym four times a week has turned into, “Well, I took the stairs instead of the elevator in Wilson Commons, so it is OK if I eat this cheeseburger.”
But now you don’t have the excuse of bad weather, so you have no choice but to get in shape.
Now, though many of you are fans of the gym and enjoy running on a treadmill where you go nowhere but become extremely sweaty and gross amid a sea of other sweaty and gross people, some of you may want something a bit more exciting. UR’s surrounding areas – when not covered in snow – provide great, scenic running paths.
Freshman Kellie Hasselwander enjoys the intensity of practicing. She is not only a part of the track team, but is also a key runner in the cross country team. Both the track and the cross country teams have been known for waking up in the early hours of the morning and beginning their practices around campus. Who better to offer insight on the different running paths around the university than those who do it on a nearly daily basis?
So, put on your sneakers and grab your iPod, iPod mini, iPod shuffle or any other conformist consumer type product and start running.
1) The River Path – A favorite route for many members of the track team, unofficially known as the canal path, offers one of the most varied scenery.
Once you cross the footbridge over the Genesee River, turn left, basically going against the current. This particular path takes you through really nice neighborhoods including Chili, busy streets and even through wilderness next to the river. After you pass the Elmwood St. bridge, you will find yourself in Genesee Valley Park. You can watch the crew team crewing it up as you run by dog walkers, couples and the occasional sketchy-looking dude. This is a flat path that is good for a runner who enjoys aesthetic surroundings. Eventually you will find a bridge to cross over onto the other side of the river. After crossing, you can easily find your way back to campus. Typically, this path will stretch six to seven miles and, with a steady pace, will last you 50 minutes.
2) The Graveyard Path – For those of you looking for a run that will get those calf muscles in shape, the graveyard run is full of hills which provide a great workout. Once on Wilson Boulevard, head toward downtown Rochester, running with the river’s flow. Turn on McLean Street for a quick run to Mt. Hope Cemetery’s entrance. During your run, you might even see the gravestones of the famous.
3) The Downtown Path – This is a path for the more cosmopolitan jogger. This time, go over the Ford Street bridge that leads you in to the city. You will see the War Memorial, the BlueCross Arena, the Rochester Public Library and all the biker dudes at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. If you wish to continue your run, head toward the scenic bridge over High Falls – you’ll be in for a grand time while admiring the historical buildings in the heart of Rochester.
Buitrago can be reached at jbuitrago@campustimes.org.
Lepore can be reached at mlepore@campustimes.org.
