Leandra Jacobson 4/20

This past weekend I went on a walk/run on the Noland Trail. I run the trail every weekend and wish I could more often but work, class, and living off campus interfere with doing so. I usually have a solid routine of how to work the 5 miles, by running the first three, walking as I reach the Lion’s Gate Bridge for 0.5, then running the remaining mile and a half. I would like to run without stopping but it is irresistible to go cool down on the beach, walking alone on the sand while by heart’s still racing and blood is furiously pumping through my veins. I always feel a little dizzy when I stop suddenly, but actually prefer the feeling when sitting on the beach. It is always so windy right by the water, with various birds diving or squawking around the water’s edge. There generally are lovers walking by if I sit there long enough, and depending on the day I’ll cool down for 5 minutes to sometimes a half hour of observation. This time alone is just as therapeutic as running, clearing my mind from the problems of the day that I try to trail behind me. I don’t run to get skinny, I am confident in my body and believe to be in shape and a healthy weight. I run to clear my mind, to untangle, and to release the frustrations of life. I have found that the Noland Trail is the best place to do this, the perfect distance of 5 miles, a long run that is challenging but achievable. The cool down at the 3 mile marker may be my favorite part, the relaxation I find hard to do in my busily scheduled week. I have become familiar with different parts of the path and the beach, making it less of a beautiful “landscape” and more like the familiar “countryside” as described in Tender Carnivore.