National Running Day: Five Favorite Running Routes

Happy National Running Day!

For those of you who read the site regularly, you know I'm a runner. And by that I mean I ran high school track, I run two times a week (the other workouts are reserved for yoga and the climbing gym) and the longest race I'll ever do is a 10-mile race. So I wouldn't consider myself in the hardcore category.

But I love a good run outside. Also after living in the Baltimore area for six years and living with other runners, I've done a lot of routes. I 'nerd out' a little and do track my mileage and pace, but that's as far as I go.

So here's my list of five great area runs, organized by category. These don't include all the runs I've done in the past nine months by just stepping out my front door in Catonsville and just going.

1. The quick-and-dirty short run. We all have those days when we know we need to squeeze in a run and we don't have much motivation and just need a course that doesn't involve much thought. For me, that's the Trolley Trail No. 9, starting downhill to Ellicott City and going back uphill to Catonsville. I always tend to this run on those days when I don't have much motivation and always finish the run feeling better than I started. Maybe it's the dozens of runners, walkers and joggers I encounter along the way or the slightly challenging uphill back to Catonsville that make me glad I did it.

Distance: 2.8 miles is the most accurate I can calculate.

Parking: Park anywhere along Edmondson Avenue past Catonsville Middle School. 

Scenery:  The road crossings through Oella are well-marked and it's nice to see the historic houses along the way.

Variation: Take the side trail up to (intersection is marked) or a quick jaunt through old Ellicott City.

2. The waterfront run. I used to live in West Baltimore and several of my roommates and I were runners. We used to love running the piers in the Inner Harbor, as it was so scenic by the water and also a safe route even after dark. Over the years I've had some great runs with friends and some great conversations that I can even reminisce back on when I run down there now.

Distance: From Canton to the Rusty Scupper restaurant it is roughly four miles one way.

Parking: At one end, parking is free at the Canton Waterfront Park and at the other, I've found the un-regulated parking area around Digital Harbor High School off of Key Highway to be the best places to park for free. Be careful parking in Federal Hill during stadium events as it is a tow-away zone.

Scenery: My favorite piers have changed over the years as new developments have sprung up, but I've always enjoyed the view from the Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point across to the Domino Sugar sign at TidePoint.

Variation: If you have an even longer run to do, consider the run down Fort Avenue and into Fort McHenry, which would add about three miles. The loop around the fort is also a great view.

3. The urban trail run. Also in West Baltimore, the Gwynns Falls Trail is one of the hidden gems of the city. My friends and I used to run there and enjoy the varying terrain and scenery along the route (mostly dirt and pavement on this) and there are few uphills as well. I've also come across deer along the trail, among other things.

Distance: From Frederick Road to the I-70 Park-and-Ride the trail goes for about 7.5 miles. The total length of the trail is 15 miles.

Scenery: You'll travel under large road bridges, meander along the falls, bask in the shade and forget you are in Baltimore.

Parking: The quickest access point from Catonsville is the Frederick Road trailhead.

Variation: Take the spur trail to Dickeyville for a step back in time to this little hamlet with historic houses. Also once you get to Leakin Park, explore some of the side trails, but be careful because some of them are overgrown.

4. The (slightly) less urban trail run. I only say this because Patapsco Valley State Park is not in Baltimore city, but also urban in some parts with the traffic of highways pervading the woods in some places. I can remember my first trail run in Patapsco, which was with my roommates not too long after I moved to Baltimore from Connecticut. We drove out to Catonsville and parked down along Hilton Avenue and did a little more rocky of a trail run than we expected. I think we also were running out of the park at dark. But since then I've found my favorite routes, which include starting at the Park-and-Ride by I-195. The easy Soapstone trail is a good spot to access multiple trails within Patapsco.

Distance: Varies greatly, but you can do an out-and-back loop to Lost Lake that is no more than three miles. Last week I did an 8-mile loop.

Scenery: Lots of cyclists frequent Patapsco, which is probably the hardest part about the run, because when they whiz by me I feel like I'm moving at a snail's pace.

Parking: I've found the park-and-ride to be the most convenient access point.

5. The out-of-town run. While attending college at the University of Maryland at College Park, I used to love to get out and explore Washington, D.C. One of my favorite places was Hains Point in East Potomac Park. Running around the peninsula with views of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers were the D.C. views that were a little different than the monuments, but equally beautiful. Every now and then when I'm down visiting friends in the area, I'll plan to run there on the way back home just for a change in scenery.

Distance: The last loop I did all the way up to the Jefferson Memorial was six miles.

Scenery: Run on the pavement right next to the water, but just be sure you don't get hooked by a fisherman's line.

Parking: If there isn't a special event, the free parking spaces are usually plentiful.

Variation: You can access the Tidal Basin from the park to extend your route.