You step outside and immediately the air feels so humid you could swim in it. You put your headphones in to distract you from the suffocating heat and you’re off on the same monotonous concrete pavement that runs along the outskirts of UF’s campus. Hopefully you don’t bump into anyone you know.
Although a part of the freedom of running is the ability to walk out your door, immediately put one foot in front of the other and take off in whatever direction your heart desires, a lack of variety can be detrimental to the joy of pounding the pavement everyday.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a mindless go-to route, but if your regular trek around town just isn’t cutting it, there is hope. Gainesville has some pretty nifty trails nearby so runners and walkers alike can rejoice.
Barr Hammock Reserve
This trail is a fifteen minute drive from the University of Florida’s campus and boasts a 6.5 mile loop of nature views, dirt and wildlife. The path is lightly shaded and is overwhelmingly saturated with nature, animals and beauty. I will say this spot is not for the faint of heart. “Danger: venomous snakes” is posted on a big sign right before the trail begins. So if snakes, bugs and the occasional alligator aren’t your thing, I wouldn’t recommend this place to you.
Disclaimer: Mountain bikers are allowed and present on the trail, so watch out if you are wearing headphones and lose total awareness of your surroundings easily.
University Gardens
So maybe you love running around campus and you aren’t looking to trek through dense nature for 6 point something miles. The University Gardens are just for you. It’s the perfect trail for a beginner or someone running on campus that just wants to get off the concrete path. It’s tucked into the side of the road across from frat row and just before Lake Alice.
La Chua Trail
This out-and-back trip is an open trail where you can see lots of alligators, the occasional bison or horse and the endlessness of Paynes Prairie. Around 3 miles total, this is a great spot for hitting the trail early in the morning or later in the afternoon (unless you enjoy sweating profusely during the midday scorching sun). When the trail ends and it’s time to turn around, there is a lookout deck where you can observe the prairie from an elevated perspective. Pets are not welcome here because the alligator population is thriving, so leave Fido at home for this trip.
Sweetwater Park
A 3.5 mile trail with boardwalks, crushed gravel paths and neat lookout spots for when you feel like your legs are going to fall off and need an excuse to stop running.
This place is pretty sweet. It’s home to many species of butterflies and birds. You can run and bird watch at the same time! This park also does not allow pets for wildlife reasons. The really cool thing about Sweetwater is that it was created to improve the water quality of wetlands in Paynes Prairie. So by visiting, you’re helping protect the environment.
If you don’t mind hopping in your car, getting some dirt in your shoes and participating in intense wildlife sightings, then go exploring. All of the locations have soft surfaces which are great for running and offer fresh new paths through the great outdoors. If concrete doesn’t sound appealing for today’s run, then check out your local parks to spice things up and become one with nature.
