American on a Runner's High IV: Days 6-7

Cedar Rapids runner Chris Wolfe is off on his fourth running vacation, blogging every day at http://runnershighheartland.wordpress.com/

Here is an excerpt from his weekend stops:?

Day 7

It's only natural that horses come to mind when thinking of Lexington, Kentucky. Kentuckians have many things to be proud of and horses rank right up towards the top … if not at number 1.  After all, they are home to the biggest race in North America – the Kentucky Derby.

No, I did not race a horse while in Lexington but I did enjoy a great run through the countryside.

Staying at the Kentucky Horse Park Campground had three advantages. One being that it was far cheaper than a hotel. Another was that it is conveniently located next door the park itself. The third advantage was unexpected.

When checking for a running route, I asked the campground check-in kid if there was a highway that I could run on that went by horse farms. I figured that there had to be but he didn't know of any … close by, anyway. The horse park was a possibility but that would have been short. He suggested the Legacy Trail, which starts (or ends, depending) at the entrance to the campground and runs for 7 miles into downtown Lexington. Perfect!

Day 6

Marion, Iowa has a population somewhere around 30,000. Frankfort, the State Capital of Kentucky, has a population that is less than 30,000. It's not the smallest in the United States but it certainly sits pretty high on the list. In no way does this diminish its importance or attractiveness. And it is a perfect size to explore while on a long run.

I arrived in Frankfort a little late and that was a good thing. The morning brought rain and cold; the afternoon brought sun and cool…perfect for a run.

I stopped by the Visitor Information Center for some … well…information. I caught myself saying “y'all.”

My hotel turned out to be about 4 miles from downtown which I thought to be great. With the additional mileage that I would be adding on, I figured my run would end up being about an 11 miler. I checked into my room, laced up, and headed out.

My first strides felt great and I knew that this was going to be a quality run. I eased out of the hotel parking lot, slipped by the Albany State University bus, and onto Lawrenceburg Road (aka Highway 127.)

The traffic was fairly thick being it a Friday afternoon. There is no sidewalk but the shoulder is wide and clear…with the exception of one hubcap. I was cruising downhill at a comfortable pace.

I came to an intersection where a man was waiting to cross the highway. I passed and said hello and he let out an, “I wish I could do that!” I felt lucky and fortunate.

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http://runnershighheartland.wordpress.com/