by ajacobs12345 | Mar 29, 2014 | running
This is a nice country route near Landisville. Not extremely hilly, but it does dip steeply in to some creek bottoms.
Get to it by parking at the Hempfield Rec Center. I don’t know if the rec center’s bathrooms are available, but it would be worth a try.
Out of the parking lot, take a right, staying on the grass, and then the first right on Snapper Dam road. Then follow the map.
The first half mile is through suburbs, but the rest is through farm country. You’ll see many idyllic rural scenes along the way. I mapped a 6.7 mile route, but there are lots of optons to make this course shorter or longer.
There are no restrooms or water along the way. The roads don’t have much shoulder, but cars are infrequent enough that they can give you wide berth.
My mom used to buy raw milk from one of the farmers along this route, so hence the name “The Milk Route.”
This is one of my favorites.
http://www.endomondo.com/routes/315327283
by ajacobs12345 | Mar 22, 2014 | running
If you are looking for races in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, you should sign up for the newsletter at Pretzel City Sports. They keep a good calender.
by ajacobs12345 | Mar 22, 2014 | running
This is one of my favorite runs these days: Lancaster Junction Trail and Auction Road.
Start from the trail head, which is the Salunga Park and Ride, near Spooky Nook Sports. There is a public restroom there, but only open during the summer.
Head down the trail, and at the first road crossing, turn left off the trail and get on Shenck Road. Follow that to the covered Bridge. Go through the covered bridge, then turn right onto Auction Road. Follow this the whole way around (slight jog at Colebrook, just keep going the same direction) until the railroad tracks, which is the other end of the trail. Get back on the trail and bring it home.
The route has all kinds of nice attributes:
1. Convenient parking and restroom.
2. Scenery includes a creek, covered bridge, Amish farms.
3. In Strawberry season there is a pick-your-own strawberry farm.
Today I saw spring flowers in the woods! Yay!
The run has a couple of negatives:
1. Many people walking dogs on the trail.
2. Shoulders on the roads are not always great, but cars are infrequent.
3. The route is difficult to shorten or lengthen.
But all things considered, this is my go-to run these days. If you’re in Lancaster, you should give it a try.
