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Tech which makes Sense

Many exercisers run for cardio on treadmills and / or hard pavement outside. It’s amazing that they are exercising and improving their health. Why not make this experience even better by heading out to a state park with trails?

The best time to run is early in the morning when the animals are moving, the temperature is cooler, and the sky is lit with the rising sun. The dew from the ferns and grass send signals to my body that there is still fresh air. As I run down the trails, the leaves flutter as the squirrels run to the nearest tree to gain safety. I have to laugh to myself because I know I would never do them any harm. Around the next corner there is a big hill that I have to improve. My arms pump when I lose my connection to nature and my focus is on energizing my body up the hill.

My arms pump, my heart beats faster, my breathing quickens, and my legs start to burn. This hill is not a joke! The roots are everywhere and require my constant attention to avoid rolling an ankle, the beach sand starts in the middle and my shoes sink into the dirt and slide a little more than the normal dirt road. As I get closer to the top, I see a couple of deer to my right. They run, they jump, they jump between the trees without making noise. A graceful animal at that, I could never keep up with them, but their energy gives me energy for a burst of speed to get to the top of the hill.

The trail narrows and I have to slow down a bit on the crest of the hill. I can see both sides of the dune. Something catches my attention and I pause even more to focus and distinguish what kind of bird it is. It swoops through the trees gracefully, spinning, without a flapping of its wings. It slides over the length of a soccer field and lands on another tree. At this point I have come to the conclusion that it is an owl. Another jolt of energy seeing this spectacular bird fly, now I am approaching a hill moving faster than a second ago. I start my descent and I realize that I am almost on the beach, bummer, I love to see and be close to the wildlife in the forest.

I run down the hill, around some corners, and start to climb a small hill towards the beautiful view of Lake Michigan. Excited again, I push myself through the soft sand to the beach. Once there, I do some leg and arm movements, take off my shoes and shirt, and drop them on the sand. I start running down the beach without shoes and shirtless to feel the breeze, my feet firmer on the wet sand of the beach. It’s still early, so no one is on the beach, making for a long, quiet run. I venture in and out of the water to keep my body cool in the cool but refreshing water of Lake Michigan.

My story ends when I return to my parked car after picking up my shoes and shirt and running back down another path through the woods. I share this experience because every time I go running in the park it is something different, but each time it is very motivating. I challenge you to find a place like this to run, maybe a local park. You will find that you are more apt to run when surrounded by beauty!

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