I am grateful for Harvard Gulch Park and its perfect placement in the center of most places I need to be.
On a gloomy day last summer, the clouds looked as though they could explode with all the moisture they held inside. I felt a similar feeling - except it wasn't moisture (no, I didn't have to pee) - it was frustration and I needed release immediately. Without a destination in mind, I tied my trusty sneakers' laces, left Boyfriend's house, and jogged north on Logan. A couple miles later, with rain finally dropping from the sky, I crossed the street and found myself at the southwest corner of Harvard Gulch Park. Intrigued and encouraged to run more, I turned onto the trail to explore this new find. I ran next to: green grass that adorned a couple of knolls and also plenty of flat space where a picnic blanket or several could go, a playground, a chapter of CSU, a police station, a rec center, a golf course, a small baseball diamond, some beautiful and/or interesting homes surrounding... this park has more than meets the eye. I was surprised to find so many aspects to its personality when it initially appeared to be so small. It is spacious, yet intimate, with its hidden corners behind trees (during a 9pm run, I once heard a probably young couple - ahem - enjoying the intimacy I speak of not so far from the paved trail).
Anyway, it's a nice little park, for a nice little run (or a long run if you wish run several times around it, otherwise the surrounding neighborhood is just as nice to run through). Rain or shine, Harvard Gulch has been there for me during many necessary occasions which required me to reap the benefits that running provides. read more