Fall and spring are beautiful times of the year to run, especially trail running.

Fall and spring are beautiful times of the year to run, especially trail running.

By Kevin Dayhoff, October 20, 2013 Westminster Maryland Online, www.kevindayhoff.org

http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2013/10/fall-and-spring-are-beautiful-times-of.html

Labels: Dayhoff running, Dayhoff writing essays, Dayhoff writing essays running, Seasons Fall, Sports Running, Sports Running Wakefield Valley Trail - See more at: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2013/10/fall-and-spring-are-beautiful-times-of.html#sthash.k7LzXMEK.dpuf

There is nothing like the warmth of a spring run after shivering through long gray days on the road throughout the winter. And of course, the spring flowers and budding lime-green leaves are a welcome relief to long dreary cold winter runs.

However, what can be better than the sights, sounds and smells of autumn leaves. The symphony of the smells and sounds of the rustle of leaves. The kaleidoscope of colors are a welcome distraction to the constant timpani of footsteps.

On a drive through the Carroll County countryside the other day, WTTR was playing “The Mamas and the Papas” 1966 hit song “All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray” on the truck radio; but outside along the road, Mother Nature did not get the memo and was still dabbling with yellows, oranges and brilliant reds in the trees.

This year, the autumnal equinox, the first day of fall, began on September 22, at 4:44 p.m. That’s when the sun is aligned with the equator making days and nights equal in length.

The arrival of fall is a storied event in American history, folklore and tradition; however, one of the more interesting musings comes from Tom Robbins, the author of “Still Life with Woodpecker.”

Robbins wrote, “It was autumn, the springtime of death…”

Okay, well anyway; as old man winter approaches, there is arguably no prettier season in Carroll County than the vibrant tree leaves of fall. This is when, for a short period of time, trees are allowed to act-out and show some additional passion with a dazzling wardrobe of color. Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-eagle-archives-20131008,0,5094609.story

I have always preferred running on trails and linear parks as opposed to running along the roads. I have always felt nervous running anywhere near vehicles weighing several tons whizzing and growling by me at fifty miles an hour. In recent years, it only takes a moment of distraction provided by a cell phone or texting behind the wheel and you are flirting with disaster.

I was a friend of the late "Terry" Burk, 48, owner of the family candy business Treat Shop, which was located across the street from the Carroll movie theatre for many years. Burk was killed while running in 1995 with several Westminster Road Runner Club friends on Route 97 at Kalten Road when a car struck him and fellow jogger David W. Herlocker. According to media reports, “Police said the 19-year-old man who was driving the car apparently fell asleep while coming home from work.”

Outside of Carroll County, one of my many favorite places to run is the Queen Anne's Co. Cross Kent Island Trail, which was dedicated Sept. 8 2001 - See more at: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2013/06/queen-annes-co-cross-kent-island-trail.html#sthash.pBEWkBYO.dpuf

Or the St. Michaels Talbot County Nature Trail, also on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Running, hiking or riding a bicycle on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal trail is always a special occasion anytime of the year.

Locally, in Carroll County, for unpaved trails that meander through the woods, Hashawha may have the best trails. Find more information here: http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/recpark/hashawha/.

I have also enjoyed the Union Bridge walking trail, Charlotte's Quest, in Manchester, Maryland, near the Fire Hall & Pool, http://www.charlottesquestnaturecenter.com/, and the Washington Road Community Trail, http://www.wrctrail.org/, that treks around the Westminster High School, Carroll Community College campus just south of Westminster.

In the eastern-half of the county in the Finksburg area, Sandymount Park also has a nice trail. Closer to Reisterstown, in Baltimore County, there is Soldier's Delight, http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/soldiers.html

For a paved linear-park trail, I really like the Wakefield Valley Trail. Planning for the trail had begun in 1994, a year before Burk was killed. The trail was dedicated and developed, in part, as a legacy to Burk.  

Meanwhile, according to the Westminster Recreation and Parks website for the trail, “This trail features a 2.1 Mile paved walking trail from Long Valley Road to Uniontown Road. This scenic trail snakes through the pristine Carroll County Countryside offering the chance to view abundant wildlife and scenic overlooks right inside Westminster City! There is parking at Tahoma Farm Boulder Park. The parking lot has 22 spots and 2 handicap spots.

“Be on the lookout for the Wakefield Valley Trail Extension coming soon! It will extend from Uniontown Road to West Main Street, connecting the Trail form Long Valley Road all the way to Downtown Westminster! Location: Long Valley to Uniontown Road Click here for a PDF map of the trail, http://www.westgov.com/recreation/Wakefield_Trail_8.5x11.pdf. News: Wakefield Valley Trail Receives Generous Donation.”

Best place to park is on Tahoma Farm Road, off of Rte. 31, New Windsor Road, west of Westminster, over by the Tahoma Farm Boulder Park, http://www.westgov.com/recreation/rec_parks_tahoma.html, near the Lime Kiln, http://www.westgov.com/recreation/rec_parks_lime.html

For the latest news on the Lime Kiln, go here for a good story by Brett Lake for the Westminster Advocate: http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/advocate_of_westminster/news/westminster-no-plans-to-repair-lime-kiln/article_312ed0be-9107-11e0-a026-001cc4c03286.html

For more information on running, where to run, and upcoming running events go the Westminster Road Runners Club website, at https://sites.google.com/site/wrrclub/links

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Walking Running or riding a bicycle

“19990512 runners KED2” Kevin Dayhoff, May 12, 1999

Westminster Road Runners Club https://sites.google.com/site/wrrclub/links

Wakefield Valley Terry Burk Community Trail http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/search/label/Sports%20Running%20Wakefield%20Valley%20Trail

Running http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/search/label/Sports%20Running

Dayhoff running http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/search/label/Dayhoff%20running

St Michaels Talbot County nature Trail http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/search/label/Sports%20Running%20St%20Michaels%20Nature%20Trail

http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/1999/05/walking-running-or-riding-bicycle.html

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/1999/05/walking-running-or-riding-bicycle.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16U48TUjSB8

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Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Patuxent Publishing Co., The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.com: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO
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