Running Destinations: Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield

Windsor Castle Park by The N. Pham - The Virginian Pilot

Very often, the joy of running is an extension of where you run. This is true whether you are talking about a marathon or a long run. Boring is almost never good.

Over the past couple of years when I started running seriously, I have run a lot of miles in a lot of different places. One of the best places I have found to run is Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield. It provides excellent trail running and challenges you with a few hills. The trails are well maintained and wide in most places, so it's easier to run out there with a group.

Windsor Castle Park by The N. Pham - The Virginian Pilot

Our Cornerstone group generally meets at the parking lot across from Smithfield Station off of Church Street. You have to be careful, because if someone plugs "Windsor Castle Park" into their GPS, nine times out of ten, then will be directed to the parking lot at the dog park.  An outer loop around the park is just under 3 miles (not including some of the dead end side trails), so it's perfect for a group where some runners want to drop out and others want to rack up more mileage. For longer runs, we often divert out of the park onto Jericho Road and into the Town of Smithfield. You may encounter a few cars, but nothing heavy.

Windsor Castle Park by The N. Pham - The Virginian Pilot

Like some of the other regional parks in Hampton Roads, Windsor Castle has nice foot bridges and signs to direct you around the property. Also, in the summer and early fall, there is a bonus. Smithfield has a terrific farmers' market. We often finish our runs and head over there to reclaim some of those burned calories in the form of all kinds of treats. Not a bad incentive to finish off your miles.

As you can imagine, Windsor Castle Park has lots of fans in the form of runners and walkers. We usually start early in the morning, but still encounter our share of others enjoying it. If you are looking for a good side trip for a run, check out Windsor Castle Park. You won't be disappointed.

Running in New Orleans

Jackson Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans

Whenever I travel, whether on business or for pleasure, I never forget to take along my running gear. While I enjoy running locally, it can get a bit stale and I always welcome the opportunity to try a new route.

French Quarter of New Orleans

Recently, I was in New Orleans for a conference and made a point of running there. Even though it was November, it was still plenty humid. My first run was down along the Mississippi River from Canal Street up toward the French Quarter and then back up the river to the facility where they store all of the Mardi Gras floats.

Streetcars Run Along St. Charles Avenue

My second run was the next morning and I decided to try a run up St. Charles Avenue toward the campus of Tulane University. This is a beautiful part of the city and the avenue is lined with stately homes that remind me of the houses along Monument Avenue in my hometown of Richmond. Running the sidewalk was difficult, because many of the large live oak trees that line the street have pushed up the sidewalks making for lots of tripping hazards. On my way back, I noticed that a lot of runners used the streetcar path. I decided to adopt that strategy and found it made for a much easier run. Just had to watch of the occasional oncoming streetcar.

New Orleans was a great city to run in. Based on my experience in the fall, I would not want to be running there in July or August.

Running the Colonial 200 Relay - Part 6 - Bringing It Home

 

Amy enjoys cookies baked by Jeff's wife

 



As Saturday morning grew into afternoon, the end of our journey was close. Although we were all exhausted and not just a little punchy, it was hard to believe that we had very nearly accomplished our goal of running from west of Charlottesville through the heart of Virginia to Jamestown. When we started at 9:00am on Friday morning, the finish line had seemed so remote. Now it was within our grasp.

 

Kevin on Leg 33 running along a
busy Route 5 in Charles City County


 

The final miles of a relay are difficult. As a runner, you are operating on little sleep and less than ideal food. And yet, the spirit of the team and the need to see the thing to its end, pushed us along.



Amy, Kathleen and Andrea take a break at the
Small Country Campground on Leg 11

While the objective of the Relay was clearly to complete the mileage, it was more than that. It was to grow together as a team. We did that. And we enjoyed the journey. Perhaps that was simply shared adversity. Whatever it was, by the final leg, we were pulling together and holding nothing back.


Jeff crosses the Chickahominy River at
the end of Leg 35


Mike runs Leg 36 to the finish line
at Jamestown Beach Park

Almost before we knew it, we were waiting for the final handoff at the Chickahominy Riverfront Park. Jeff crested the Chickahominy River bridge and began the long downhill descent to Leg 36, where Mike was ready for the final leg. We had covered over 200 miles in just over 29 hours. As Mike came into view, our team gathered to run him to the finish.

The Cornerstone Century Team at the
finish line

In the end, we finished ninth out of a field of 24 teams that finished the 200 with a time of 29:32 and a team pace of 8:31 minutes per mile. Not too shabby! I think most of us would sign up again. Almost before we had unpacked and washed all of the smelly running gear, the team conversation on Facebook was about when we were going to run our next 200 mile relay. Whenever and wherever that might be.......I'm in!