THE NATIONAL ROAD

Part 48 of You Never Know What’s Right Outside Your Door:

As I checked into my hotel in Frostburg, Maryland, a few weeks back, I asked the desk clerk about the local bike trail as a running destination. 

“It’s great,” he said. “Just go down two lights, take a left then a right at the Fat Boy’s Pizza. You can’t miss it.” He made it sound like it was just a short walk away.

I should have known better.

I headed out down a busy two-lane highway with no shoulder. A mile later--all downhill-- I turned left then ½ mile later I took the right, went down 98 stairs and hit the trail head, a steep switch-backed section which had these wonderful sculptures at each turn.

Then I learned I was about to run on the National Road. Google it. It was our first national highway, built in 1811. I headed down the tree covered road open only to bikers, hikers, runners and horse riders. It eventually became part of Highway 40, then alternate 40. What a pleasant discovery at the end of the day. Though I was planning a 3-mile run, it turned into a 6-mile run/fast walk.

Or when it came to those 98 stairs back up, a slow walk.