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| Tiffin Route Starting Point |
Inclusion criteria:
Route must have been run on a weekly basis for at least one month
Honorable Mention:
Deer Mountain Out & Back, Estes Park, CO. This was a
favorite route while living in Estes Park, that I did throughout both the
winter and the summer. I would run up Trail Ridge Road to the Deer Mountain
Trailhead and then hop on the trail and ascend to the top and then head back
down.
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| Trail near Onion Creek Austin |
West Oaks Out & Back, Austin, TX. This out back
consists of a run down Escarpment Boulevard, a quick jog down Davis Lane, a
sudden veer to the left following the West Oak Trail. Then a cross over Beckett
Road into Dick Nichols Park, followed by a short trail run up to Convict Hill
Road. Then one last push down Woodcreek Road to William Cannon and back.
Tiffin Carnival/Hedges/Coe Road Loop. Tiffin, OH. This is a classic Tiffin run consisting of a run east on 16, followed
by a turn north on 17/15. Followed by a westward turn onto Coe Road and an
eventual run of the Tiffin Carnival cross country course. After the running of
the course, jump back on Coe Road to Spayth Street and then travel over to
State Route 100. Take 100 to Township Road 151 and take a final turn west down
County Road 16.
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| Looking West down 151 Tiffin |
Boogie with Stu. Tiffin,
OH. These two runs are Tiffin Calvert cross country originals.
- Start from Coach Behm’s house on Ranchwood and turn east onto Old Attica Road until it T bones with Route 224 then turn back (5K)
- Start from Heidelberg Track and run across Main Street down to “Hidden Valley”. Run around the practice fields, through the woods behind the YMCA, which empties in Hedges Boyer Park.
River Road/34/Sandusky River Out & Back, Tiffin,
OH. This route is a favorite of mine
starting from either Calvert High school or Columbian’s track. The start is somewhat
undulating for Tiffin, and the scenic Sandusky River is in view for nearly the
entirety of the route. I typically turn around somewhere near the canoe livery.
Golf Course Run, Tiffin,
OH. Keep this one on the down-low; A
favorite early, early morning run from the house following each hole at Mohawk.
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| Beaver Meadows; RMNP |
10. RMNP
Loop (Through Park housing, up High Drive and around Beaver Meadows, into
Moraine Park, then across Bear Lake Road. Then behind the visitors center,
along Eagle Cliff, back to Park housing). Estes
Park, CO. This run follows some
winding trails in Upper Beaver Meadows, eventually reaching a wooded section of
Ponderosa Pines (where I had my first face-to-face encounter with a black
bear), then a steep section of trail skirting along Eagle Cliff Mountain.
Finally, the trail passes RMNP’s “bone yard”, and winds up back at park
housing.
9. Estes Park Downtown Out & Back (South down 36,
around lake), Estes Park, CO. This was the first route that I did upon
first moving to Estes Park. For much of the winter I would run into downtown
Estes Park, and loop around the 3.7 mile trail at Lake Estes a few times and
head back to my apartment on Sundance Circle.
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| Homestead at McKinney Falls |
8. McKinney Falls Loop/Out & Back. Austin TX. I ran this route for my first run upon moving to Austin. It consisted
of a jog from Will & G’s house across William Cannon into McKinney Falls
State Park. Then I followed the trail along Onion Creek until I reached the
interpretive trail that emptied out near the Lower Falls. I jumped from Rock
out cropping to rock out cropping over the falls to a network of looped trails
around the old homestead and grist mill. For a longer run I would add a loop of
the asphalt trail before heading back. Additionally, I would run along McKinney
Parkway in the evenings to tack on some more miles.
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| Trail near Slaughter Creek |
7. Slaughter Creek/1826 Loop/Out & Back. Austin, TX. I have run this out & back loop more than any other in Austin thus
far. It consists of a run down Dalgreen Avenue, a turn at La Crosse, followed
by a turn onto the Austral Loop, and finally a merge onto the trail by the
catch basin. Once on the trail I head under Mopac taking a trail that skirts
along Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. I turn back, head under Mopac then
take the gravel trail, go under Esparpment into Circle C Metroparks. Then I
take a trail along Slaughter Lane to 1826 and continue to follow the trail to
the Slaugther Creek Preserve Trail. Finally, I Loop the trail and head back.
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| Turquoise Lake, Leadville |
6. Leadville & Turquoise Lake Out & Back. Leadville, CO. This route is run by a couple thousand people each August. A route
that needs no description… Basically I started from Mountain Peaks Motel and
ran down 6th street to The Boulevard then up the small power line
hill, over to Turquoise Lake, along the lake to May Queen and back.
5. Tiffin Town/Country Loop. Tiffin, OH. I have probably
run this route or a variation of it more times than any other route listed
combined. Basically from County Road 16, I travel up 151/100 (Melmore St) into
Tiffin, from there I either ran to Calvert, Columbian, or Molyets, then back
down either 231 (Washington St) or 19 (Sycamore St), then back east on 16.
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| Coe Lake, Berea |
4. South into Millstream Run Reservation Bridal Trail.
Berea, OH. From the old homestead on East Grand Street, I run past Coe Lake into
the metroparks, then past Wallace Lake (800m repeat course) and beyond. The
five mile mark is Challet but for longer runs I would travel to Strongsville or
North Royalton. This was a classic long run route in Baldwin Wallace cross
country days.
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| Gem Lake, RMNP |
3. Gem Lake/McGregor Falls Out & Back. Estes Park, CO. Probably my favorite route in Estes Park, this consisted of a run from
Park housing across 36 along Riverside Drive, back on 36 in the down town, then
a turn onto MacGregor Avenue. Followed by a eastward turn onto Devils Gulch
Road. Then to the Lumpy Ridge Trail Head. From here I either did a 1.7 mile
trudge up to Gem Lake or a rolling 2.5 miler to McGregor Falls and back. This
could also turn into a run out to MacGregor Ranch followed by a run along the
Cow Creek Trail. There are plenty of options and a vast trail network in this
northeast section of RMNP. Additionally, Lumpy Ridge is full of scenic cascades
and impressive rock formations.
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| Rocky River, Berea |
2. North into Rocky River Reservation Bridal Trail. Berea, OH. During my four year stint at Baldwin Wallace College, this route was my
bread and butter. As with many other routes on my list, this was the first
route I did upon moving to Berea. From the house on East Grand, I headed down
Front Street to Bagley Road. Then I hit the all purpose trail that parallels
the road, I jumped off the all purpose trail onto the softer Bridal Trail. From
here the Bridal Trail winds along Rocky River, through the scenic reservation. As
a bonus sidetrack I used to head up a steep hill about 4 miles into this route
and was rewarded with spectacular views of the towering bluffs carved by Rocky
River. For most runs, I turned back near the nature center, but for long runs I
would take the trail all the way to Lake Erie.
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| Sandusky River from 131 |
1. Eden Township Sandusky River Loop (Start heading
east on county road 16, turn south down township road 151, turn west on county
road 6, turn south on township road 19, turn west on township road 28, head
south on trail 0028, turn west onto township road 131, turn east onto county
road 6, turn north onto township road 58, turn north onto township 19, then
head east on county road 16). Tiffin, OH.
I have lived and ran in many places
and have seen some amazing views. However, it is hard to top the memories and
emotions evoked by this particular route. This route will always hold a special
place in heart. Starting back in the latter high school years I began doing
long runs out on the old country roads near my house. I discovered the old St
John’s Hollow Concert venue, the tranquility of the Sandusky River, and the
only hills in Seneca County. Additionally, I discovered a new Sunday morning
tradition with my father. For most every long run that I do in Tiffin dad pulls
the old bike out of the shed, pumps up the tires, duct tapes his jeans so they
don’t get caught in the chain and we hit the road for an eighteen mile journey
through the best roads Eden Township has to offer. This has been a long running
tradition that has continued right up until this year and I do not expect it to
stop anytime soon. It never ceases to amaze me that dad hops on the bike for
the first time in months and easily covers the distance. At any rate, this long
run has always been a great time to discuss life, love, stress and setbacks.
This route will always epitomize to me, why I find purpose in running and for
that matter family and friends.
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| Running down Trail 0028 |
