Camille Schwartz
Contributing Writer
As the crisp smell of autumn fills the air and vibrant leaves begin to cover the trees, it’s the perfect time to break away from boring treadmill routines and get outside. Running outdoors is the perfect way to exert yourself physically and clear your mind from mid-term stress.
If you have never run off campus or experimented with different running trails before, the task of finding a new running route may seem challenging. Need some help getting creative? Track and field runners Bailey Connor ’15 and Devin Johns ’14 share their insight about the best running trails near the College of Wooster campus.
Bailey’s Beginner Running Route
Total Distance – 2.5 Miles
Begin running north up Beall Ave., past Bell Stores gas station, and to the intersection where Cleveland Rd. runs into Beall Ave. At the intersection, take a left onto Blair St. For this stretch of the run, you’ll enjoy a quiet street lined with charming little houses. The road will curve a bit and lead you back onto Burbank St. where you can enjoy the euphoric feeling of running down hill for about a mile.
“The road is newly paved and oh-so-wonderful,” Connor elaborates.
Keep running until you come to the intersection of Burbank St., Cleveland Rd. and Quinby St. Keep straight on Burbank St., then turn left onto Wayne Ave., and you’ll see Andrews Hall. Finally, give yourself a pat on the back for finishing your workout and navigating new terrain.
Devin’s Expert Running Route
Total Distance – 4 miles
Start out by going north on Beall Ave. until you hit Wayne Ave. Take a left onto Wayne Ave. and continue to move in this direction past the stop light. You will head down a steep hill before climbing back up the incline.
Once you see the Wooster Country Club golf course, turn right to head north on Christmas Run Rd.
“It’s a nice suburban neighborhood feeling, kind of like being at home. You can also be certain of running into at least one of your professors walking a dog or driving along the road,” explains Johns.
The length of the road through the neighborhood is a little over a mile and very hilly. At the end of Christmas Run Rd., take a right onto Highland Ave. Congrats! You’ve reached the three mile point.
Across the street on your left, you’ll see a small park with some walking paths and soccer fields. Run along Highland Ave. until coming to the traffic light, and then turn right onto Burbank St. For the last mile you’ll be running down hill. When you see the College of Wooster sign at Wayne Ave., turn left and run back up the last hill on the way back to Beall Ave.
If you’re looking to break more of a sweat, head back to the Scot Center and do a 10 minute abdominal circuit. Don’t forget to stretch your body in order to prevent injury and muscle soreness.
When you change the setting of your workout space you will likely find yourself more engaged in what you’re doing. Now that you have some ideas for where you can go to run off campus, it’s time to lace up your sneakers and start running.