16 Miles in the City...A Running Route Review

Even with the rain and hail it is pretty hard to complain about the weather in central Ohio right now.  It is only mid-March but it feels like the end of April.  The daffodils are blooming and the flowering trees all have buds that gently sway in the perfect breeze.  I live for this kind of weather.

A flowering tree along the river downtown

I've been taking advantage of the weather and getting my baby outside as often as I can.  He discovered that even though he is not a fan of carrots, dirt is quite tasty.  This week we went on a family run.  I'm still getting used to the running stroller and I think it slows me down because I can't swing my arms while I move.  At least this is the excuse I gave Sam when he complained that I was running too slow.

This weekend my long run was a 16 miler.  It was definitely a doozie, but the weather made it palatable.  And to celebrate a great St. Patty's Day run I thought I'd give my readers something a little extra in this post, a review of one of my favorite running routes in the city (so far).

I started at my home in Olde Towne East and headed straight down Bryden/Towne St., through the Columbus Commons to High St.  From there I headed south to Whittier and hit the trail head at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park.  It is about three miles from my house to the park.  I ran along the river through downtown, on the Scioto Mile to the North Bank Park.  I headed north on Neil Ave. all the way to OSU campus.  I did a quick lap on the oval, a stop at the business school and then back tracked to downtown and back home.  When I say it was a 16 miler that is a white lie.  It was actually only 15.4 miles.  I just couldn't convince myself to pass my street when I got there at 15.4 miles.  If you could've done it, I need you to start training with me.  Here is my take on the route.

The view of downtown from the running path heading north from the Audubon

The Good: This route is a beautiful way to see the city.  I ran through four fantastic parks and one of the best campuses that ever existed (I might be a little biased about OSU).  But in all seriousness OSU is a great place to run, especially when it snows.  The facilities department is quick to plow the walkways  which is not always the case on sidewalks or even running trails.  Another great thing about this route is that there are a lot of runners and walkers, even on the roads. 



Downtown Columbus on
St. Patty's day...about 12 miles into my run



The Bad: Since I opted to head north on Neil Ave. rather than continue on the trail I had to stop for traffic quite a bit.  It can also get a little crowded at the Scioto Mile because of the swings and benches along the river.

The Ugly: Nothing.  I loved every step of this run.

Overall: Scenic and fun, I highly recommend this route.  If you only need a few miles start at the Audubon and head north toward downtown.  You'll be glad that you did.