In the past, I have always run through a neighborhood, and I've always loved that. Everyone in Livermore talks about "Sycamore Grove Park", which is just down the street from us. I didn't go for months, because at first we were too busy settling in, and I had the difficult school runs. One other thing put me off of it. Everyone talked about how beautiful it is.....and the rattlesnakes. I have ZERO desire to see a rattlesnake up close. ZERO. No matter how congested the parking lot (testifying that people do, indeed, love Sycamore Grove Park), or how many stories I heard about people who had "seen one" and come away unscathed, I remained steadfast in my ZERO desire to come anywhere near a live (or even a dead) rattlesnake.
Time passed. The school routine improved, and we were settled in. I REALLY wanted to start running again. The weather is so conducive to it here. I mapped out a route in our neighborhood, but our neighborhood is a fraction of the size of our Austin neighborhood. I would have to go in circles 3 times to get the distance I wanted.
One day I caved, and I tried running to and in Sycamore Grove park. I loved it. The paths were big and wide and it seemed pretty easy to spot a snake. For the last month, I've been 3 times/week and I have yet to see anything more wild than a squirrel. WHEW! I still look carefully when I run under a small patch of trees, but in general, I've found the park a WONDERFUL place to run.....and so far, there have always been people around.
Here are pictures of my route. I start here, in our neighborhood.
At the end of our street is this nice bicycle path, that leads to the park. Those are grape trees in the picture.
This is just after the entrance to the park.
This is shortly after the entrance. There is a little wooden bridge over a stream that I cross, and then this.
See the wide path? If there were a snake across it, I would turn around.
I've never NOT seen someone else on the path. Usually, there are a few people.
There are about 3 patches of shade on the path.
I always think twice before going under the trees, but I think I'm the only one who does that!
This is on the way back.
It's uphill on the way back. That's the only part I'd change!
Overall, it's a great running path. I think everyone except Kathryn as accompanied me at one run or another. Kathryn is still worried about the snakes. I don't blame her, but so far, it's been terrific!
