Nature Journal- A Run on the Trinity

I didn’t discover all the Trinity River had to offer Fort Worth until this past year. Now, every chance I get, I make use of Trinity Trails. One of my favorite things to do is drive to the Woodshed trailhead and run up the river to Clearfork and back. The river may not seem like much, it’s dark, murky, and winding. But upon closer inspection, there is so much more to it that you might miss the first time around. Down on the banks, a silent crane is standing watch, just waiting for its chance to catch a fish. In the water, a fish jumps on the surface, disrupting the once still and calm water. Turtles sun bath on the banks, attempting to keep themselves warm. You have to look quick to see them because the second you run by, they slide off the rock and into the water. Running allows me to lose myself in my thoughts and observe my surroundings without judgment. I love to run without headphones because it forces me to be conscious in what I’m doing, rather than zoning out and “just getting it over with”. I have turned to running outside as a way to really soak in nature, with the added benefit of exercise, rather than purely doing it for the latter. Once I reach my destination of Clearfork, I turn around and head back the way I came. Even though I just ran these exact steps in reverse, everything looks completely different. The crane is now on the opposite side of the bank. The fish are jumping in new areas. I notice trees that I didn’t the first time and the path itself almost seems different. Careful observation of my surroundings has made me truly learn to love running outside and I have the Trinity river to thank for that.