10 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
JUST START
RUNNING
GETTING OUT THE DOOR IS THE HARDEST PART, BUT HEALTH BENEFITS, BEAUTIFUL SCENERY AND NEW FRIENDS AWAIT.
STORY BY ELI STILLMAN
PHOTOS BY DANNY MILLER
‘IT’S LIKE A MINI VACATION
FOR AN HOUR. I LOVE THAT
YOU CAN FIND PLACES
TO REALLY RUN FAST OR
PLACES TO JUST STRETCH
OUT AND GET LOST.’
Members of the Astoria Social Running Club go for an afternoon run along the Astoria Riverwalk in downtown.
S
ummiting a mountain trail on a leg of a
198-mile relay might be a dream for some,
but to many, it’s an intimidating nightmare.
The beneits of running are countless but
so are the number of excuses people make
for themselves not to run. Fortunately,
Clatsop County is one of the best places to
start putting one foot in front of the other.
Getting out the door is the hardest part —
but with beautiful parks, gung-ho running
partners and one of the best climates around, there’s
no reason to not start your own personalized training
regimen today.
Before you use the weather as an excuse, appreci-
ate that the North Coast carries pretty mellow condi-
tions. While locals might complain that 78 degrees is
too hot, remember that Portland temperatures can be
near triple digits this time of year. Having to choose
between a light sweatshirt or long sleeves means that
the chances of getting heat exhaustion or caught in a
torrential downpour are slim around here.
A major deterrent that keeps people from running
is the misconception that you need a track or tread-
mill to get moving. You were not given complex
cartilage and leg muscles to just move back and
forth while staring at a television. While treadmills
do have their uses in the case of injuries or extreme
weather, running outdoors allows you to enjoy fresh
air and nature — and the scenic views of the North
Coast are something you shouldn’t pass up.
If counting laps on the track is your thing, then by
all means, head to Astoria High School. However,
with a surplus of trails and sights to see, a short drive
can bring you to many different running locations to
break up monotony. To keep track of your distance
and time consider using a free app on your smart
phone; there are also a lot of reasonably priced GPS
watches that work the same way. Seeing mileage
add up and times drop will help you visualize
personal progress and keep up your motivation.
The Astoria Riverwalk is a straight shot along the
beautiful Columbia River. Barring the occasional aro-
ma of ish guts or heckling from a sea lion, the Riv-
erwalk provides a nice running path with a constant