Fort Snelling

As many of you now know, I just recently moved to St. Paul Highland Park area. I'm actually about 3 blocks from where St. Paul's "Highlands" begin, but I think I'm still considered to be in Highland Park.

Regardless, I live practically right across the river from Fort Snelling. I can go for a run and be going across a bridge that will take me to Fort Snelling in less than 5 minutes. I'm already viewing this as a blessing. Not solely because this terrific Minnesota Historical Site is so close, but because I can go for a great run next to the Mighty Mississippi without having to finish my run going up a painfully long uphill stretch (as I did last summer when I lived about 50 yards from the highest point in St. Paul). Of course, if I do choose to run by the river I will have to run some sort of hill to get back to my apartment, but these are minor compared to what I had to do last summer.

I've only lived here for two weeks and have already marveled at the mystery that is Fort Snelling and the Mississippi Floodplain down below. In a way, it almost reminds me of running Wildcat (a run in the deeper part of Saint John's forest for all of you unfamiliar with the SJU Cross Country lingo) at Saint John's. Not only do you have that ever so slight freeway noise in the background, but you have trails upon trails, many of which are nothing more than sand or trampled grass. There are of course some asphalt trails, but I don't seem to find myself staying on these too long.

I've always had that underlying desire to explore when I run and I feel this area will only cause me to follow this pull even more (especially because I have no immediate racing plans). I've already found a few caves, stumbled upon a few deer with fawns, some angry wild turkeys, a marker showing the various flood levels through the years, and been able to explore Fort Snelling itself for a little bit. Certainly nothing dangerous (nor is that what I'm looking for), but the idea that I can very easily discover something new on every run does have me pretty excited about getting out the door everyday (well...most days).

I have no doubt I'll post more about my discoveries running around here in the future, but right now I'm convinced I'm living right next to one of the best running and training spots in all of the Metro (I'll admit, I may be biased). I have Fort Snelling and the Fort Snelling Park, Crosby Farm, Hidden Falls and the entire Minnesota River Boulevard at my disposal. It really is something else. I guess it's one of the perks about being a runner!