Exercise - Greenways/Trails

In preparation for the upcoming E3 XC Challenge, I decided to make it a theme week! Namely, the posts this week will be related to the three pillars of E3 (now doesn't that sound zen) - Exercise, Education, and Environment. In my opinion, the triangle-area is pretty active as a whole. I attribute this in part to the number of great places to run, ride a bike, etc.

• Capital Area Greenway System: This network of public paths/trails snakes its way throughout Raleigh. The concept began in the early 70's to conserve "green space" in the face of rapid growth and urbanization. The plan has developed into a 69-mile, 3700-acre system and continues to grow. More information, including maps of current/plan greenways can be found here. My favorite section of the greenway is the one by the Art Museum because: (1) it has cool stuff to look at along the way, (2) I laugh every time I read the "reduce speed" signs painted on the greenway in the wrong order (I start at the top line and read down because that is the way I'm used to), and (3) it is conveniently located near my favorite coffee shop. However, it is kind of hilly, so my favorite "less rolling" option is the "Shelly Lake greenway" (which is conveniently marked in quarter- to half-mile intervals). Here's a little tip - if you get board running in 2-mile circles, you can always try looking for the "loch ness monster" that lives in Shelly Lake... at least this is what I do because if I were a fresh-water dwelling cryptid, that's totally where I'd live!
• Umstead Park: Pat Price pretty much summarized running in Umstead in this post. My favorite section of Umstead is about a half-mile stretch of the Bridle Trail where it takes a bend between the Old Reedy Creek Road gate and the water fountain. Why? It's one of the few flat spots in Umstead and there aren't as many big trees, so the sun peaks through. If I were going to take a "rave run" picture of Umstead, this is where I'd take it... in fact, I pretend I'm a Runner's World photographer every time I get to that one section.
• American Tobacco Trail: The ATT is part of a national effort to utilize old railroad corridors for "alternative transportation" and recreation... why waste perfectly flat, cleared trails?!? Eventually, the trail will span 23 miles from New Hill, through Chatham County, and ending in downtown Durham. Currently, Wake County has 6.5 miles open, Chatham County has 4.7 miles open, and Durham has 7.4 miles open (totaling a little over 18.5 miles - map). The ATT is mostly flat (although it looks slightly uphill to me no matter which way I run), and the surface is mostly packed dirt, with some paved sections. Most of it is conveniently marked in mile to 1/2-mile increments (making it convenient for tempo runs), and there are three main trailheads. My favorite part of the ATT trail is by the "swamp" close to the 1-mile marker because I think it looks prehistoric and I like to either pretend that I'm an archeologist (if it's an easy run) or that dinosaurs are chasing me (if it's a tempo run).
• Dorothea Dix Campus: I would be remiss if I didn't include the site of the upcoming E3 XC race in this discussion! And, Dorothea Dix is a nice place to run because there isn't a lot of traffic, there are a variety of surface options (road, field, etc.), and you can kill a lot of time taking random roads. However, it does kind of have that Shutter Island feel to me.  

So, in conclusion, the triangle-area has a lot of great greenways and trails to run on... and I pretend a lot of random things when I run :-)