Since moving to the Raleigh/Durham area in January of 1994, I have run at Umstead thousands of time. A conservative estimate of 200 times per year times 16 years gets me up to 3200 visits. I have gone there many, many times twice per day. Add in all the hiking, biking, canoeing and dog walking and it probably is up to 4000 at least. Why the devotion? It takes consistency and a love of outdoors. I love being outside and Umstead is close to where I live. Others area I have run over the years have been McAlpine Greenway park in Charlotte, Duke Forest in Durham and the American Tobacco Trail in Apex. Even when my muse Umstead has hurt me through falls, heat, ticks and rainy cold, I still go in search of the inspiration. The muse has sustained me through inury, divorce, self doubt and confusion, adding clarity and peace through the connection. Some days my motivation wanes or life gets too busy but, I always go in search and Umstead never fails to help me find myself again.
We are a-mused.
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