Kevin - Morgan Run NEA. 10 miles south of routes 140 & 97 in Westminster. 1,400 acres of grass and trails. I try to run on soft surfaces as much as possible, and Morgan Run is a "Road-Free Zone." You can choose to take it easy, or you can include as many leg-numbing hills as you want. I enjoy the place whether I'm alone, running with friends or, on the trails, see the occasional horse. Hey, go there, get lost (go swimming in the creek, even) - just make sure you have fun. Questions? TrackWrtr@aol.com

 

Chris - Fort Worden (WA) State Park. To get there, take Route 140 to I-795. Follow I-795 south until you hit I-695 (Baltimore Beltway). Go south until the junction with I-195, merge left off the parkway onto I-195 and drive to BWI Airport long term parking. Board any flight to Seattle/Tacoma Int'l Airport (preferably with a pre-purchased ticket). Once you arrive at SeaTac, take SR-518 to I-5 South, follow I-5 till the junction with SR-16 North, stay on SR-16 over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and for approximately 50 miles till it becomes SR-3. Take SR-3 over the Hood Canal Bridge and for 11 miles until the junction with SR-19 (Beaver Valley Road) follow SR-19 until it becomes SR-20, take SR-20 into Port Townsend, then simply follow the signs to Fort Worden State Park. Fort Worden is an old coastal defense Army post. The park will be instantly familiar to anyone who's seen "An Officer and a Gentleman" as most of this movie was filmed there. There are numerous ancient roads winding their way throughout the park, as well as a number of well-maintained trails. Sweeping views of the Straight of Juan de Fuco and Puget Sound are available from a number of locations. For the more adventurous runner, Fort Worden has access to miles of pristine beach, though one must be careful not to twist an ankle of the occasional piece of flotsam. Car traffic is light in the park year round, and the large stands of fir and madrona trees keep the sometimes violent winds coming off the water down to a mere breeze. Hill's are a fact of life at Fort Worden, but they vary in steepness and length. It is possible to reach the main artillery bunkers at the top of the mound that make sup most of the park by either a gradual 2-3 mile long paved incline, a .25-mile semi steep trail with switchbacks, or a .3-mile long trail of torture (no switchbacks) dubbed "Killer Hill" by the local high school XC team. Perhaps Fort Worden's best quality is its vast network of routes. You can run there for months and still have new trails to take. Plus, the park gives easy access to the many back roads and trails of the surrounding area.

 

Bob - C & O Canal towpath. When I'm doing long runs, the C&O Canal towpath is the place for me. It's a relatively soft surface. There's no traffic, except for the occasional bike or horse. In the winter you can see plenty of the Potomac River. In the summer it's shaded and much cooler than the roads. At any time you might see deer, turkeys, foxes or turtles. There are mile markers, and plenty of places to stash supplies to eat or wear on your return. If you run with a friend and plan ahead, you can run point to point. It's not for everyone, but that way it's less crowded for those of us who love it. I live in Williamsport (Maryland), so I generally run between the 88 and 107 mile markers - but it's a big canal, so find a spot near you and enjoy the run.

 

Keith - Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland - I attended the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School in 1959-1960. I was a member of the cross country team. We practiced on the base. I visited there last year and found that the base has been closed down. However, a store owner in Port Deposit on the Susquehanna River said that they plan to build a golf course on the site with expensive housing. Hopefully, they will provide running paths. It was a great place to run.