The past four years of college have been accompanied by innumerable transitions and uncertainties: moving into a living community with people I’d never met. Adjusting to rigorous coursework and setting my own academic schedule. Settling on an English major after a major period of indecisiveness about my academic interests. Reading a firm email from the President of Brandeis University instructing students to leave campus because of the pandemic with a sinking stomach. Proceeding to study and learn on Zoom for my entire senior year. Lastly…starting a brand-new job in 10 days, right after my college commencement!
While a mix of tension, nervousness, exhilaration, and joy has propelled me through college, one hobby has kept me stable during chaos and has motivated me during challenges: running. No, I’m not a fast runner, but I’m a consistent one. I cherish the feeling of generating my own “wind,” with pavement rolling underneath my feet and the world speeding up around me. Even when my lungs and calves burn, the relief I feel after completing a long or rigorous run is enough to relax me for the rest of the day. Three half marathons and countless long runs/short jogs later, I feel that it’s worthwhile to reflect on some of the places I’ve explored with my sneakers on. Were it not for running, I may have remained curled up within my campus bubble indefinitely.
Amesbury, Massachusetts
When my friend first suggested running a half marathon to me, I was in the midst of a challenging—and somewhat lonely—freshman year. I was intimidated about committing myself to a major or a set of extracurricular activities, so committing to this long-term fitness project felt almost impossible at first. Nevertheless, my incredibly organized friend had a training schedule set up, so I signed on. The next few months consisted of completing gradually longer and longer runs near and around Brandeis University’s campus, even in the freezing winter weather. By the time race day came and I woke up at 5 AM to get to Amesbury, a nine or ten mile run felt doable.
I can only describe this race as extraordinary. The course was beautiful; despite the clouds, rain, and gradual uphill incline, my friend and I passed forests and farmland with sprawling fields, hay bales, and quaint picket fences. The people were even more fantastic; I realized that at any given half marathon, a massive community of enthusiastic runners materializes. Veteran runners and novices alike reveled in the excitement of zipping (or struggling) across a finish line packed with balloons.
Salisbury Beach State Reservation
My second half marathon took place at a beach reservation and consisted of three “loops” around a designated course. This was my second year of college, and I felt considerably more prepared after my first race the previous year. Of course, the major challenge accompanying any beach run is wind, and there was plenty of it—at a couple of points, I felt as though I was going to be blown off the pavement! The enthusiasm of the running community was still highly palpable, though, and since some attendees were running a full marathon—completing six loops instead of three—the group of racers was even more diverse and even more committed.
The Charles River Bike Path: Boston, MA
If you’re ever thinking about running your own half marathon in Boston, I highly recommend the Charles River Bike Path. Hugging the water, it stretches all the way from the Museum of Science in Downtown Boston to my good ol’ college hometown of Waltham, MA. In the fall of 2020, when covid was raging and races were cancelled, my friend and I decided to train separately and meet for a half marathon along this seemingly endless urban path. With just 6.5 miles out and 6.5 back, we barely scratched the surface of this vast expanse of concrete. You’ll thunder along wooden piers, swoop under archways with colorful graffiti, and pass numerous scenic bridges that provide an opportunity to turn around and loop back if necessary! Despite the isolation and uncertainty of last year, I was grateful for this opportunity to set my own path, pace, and running goal. This distance run—and my daily runs in general—gave me hope and motivation during a time when it was all too easy to shut myself in my room and feel upset at the world.
The Blue Heron Trail
Last but not least, I want to acknowledge the trail near my house that has given me a sense of peace and direction over the last 4 years. This has been my “training trail” for half marathons, but even more significantly, it’s become a familiar feature of the landscape where I can let out all of my frustrations and fears in the form of a short or long jog. I’ve gotten to know every scenic overlook, every crossroad, and every gap in the dense woodland scenery that grants me a refreshing view of the river. When I move closer to Boston this year, I’ll certainly miss having this valuable fitness outlet right near my house, but I’ll certainly be able to return to the trail or even pick it up at a different spot! After all, the elegant marble markers defining its entrances and exits are hard to miss.
Come spring, the Blue Heron Trail is absolutely majestic. Here are some photos of the buds, blossoms, and lush greenery that emerged at the end of April:
My life is about to transform again as I enter the professional world, but I take comfort in knowing that there will always be places to run. Stay tuned as I seek out new trails in the Boston area!
