Now that the fall 2018 semester has begun, temperatures are soon expected to fall while the stress levels of students have started to rise. Many students see running as a way to relieve this stress, and given NC State’s urban location, there are plenty of trails on and around campus that are great for walking or running. Between the easier, more laidback greenways on Central Campus and the more challenging, hilly trails off campus, there are many options for people who are interested in putting some shoes on and going for a walk or run.
For those who are looking for a more challenging workout, there are several trails that have hills which allow for a stimulating workout that anyone is bound to be feeling the results of after completing. Tricity Andrew, a graduate student studying mathematics and adviser for NC State’s Club Cross Country and Track teams, says that there is a hilly trail right on NC State’s Main Campus.
“If you hop on the Greenway near Carmichael Gym and go west, following that up Gorman Street over to Meredith and then towards the [North Carolina] Museum of Art,” Andrew said. “It gets pretty hilly, and it is a really good workout.”
The trail Andrew mentioned starts out as the Rocky Branch Creek trail, which runs for approximately three and a half miles and is accessible through Morrill Drive on Central Campus, and eventually turns into the Reedy Creek Trail Greenway once it reaches Meredith College. The Reedy Creek Trail Greenway is known to be a hilly route with views of the North Carolina Museum of Art and I-440. Anyone taking this route is bound to get an excellent workout.
Another conveniently located place to run near NC State’s campus is Dorothea Dix Park, which can be found on Umstead Drive near Centennial Campus. There is a loop that goes around the park that allows any runner or walker to get an effective workout that, as a bonus, does not take long to walk.
However, not everyone wants to seek out a challenging, hill-filled workout. Some people may prefer to unwind by taking relaxing, leisurely strolls along scenic routes. Carmen Davis, a fourth-year student studying chemical and textile engineering, recommends the trail found at Lake Johnson Park.
“It’s about a three-mile loop around the lake,” Davis said. “It’s really pretty, and it goes through the woods. There are some hills, but it is very relaxing.”
Lake Johnson is a short drive away from NC State and can be accessed by traveling down Avent Ferry Road. Here, walkers and joggers can enjoy beautiful views of the scenic lake and relax.
Likewise, William B. Umstead State Park also has a variety of exceptionally scenic trails. Though there is a 15 minute drive between NC State’s campus and the park, which is located along Glenwood Avenue, the views and the trails are worth the drive. The park has twenty miles of trails for people to enjoy, and walkers and runners alike can enjoy the natural environments of Crabtree Creek and Sycamore Creek.
This time of year can certainly be stressful for students, so it is important that they have exercise as an option for stress relief. Having several places to run on or near campus is beneficial in more ways than one, as Davis mentioned.
“It’s very easy for you to get outside and just go for a walk or a jog,” Davis said. “It’s a great stress reliever. If you have a long day or a lot of homework, you can just lace up your shoes and just get outside onto one of these trails nearby and just run.”
