River Region Runners

I'll be in Texas this week. Should pull into San Antonio this evening with my 6-year-old after two days of post-Christmas driving.

I'm here to run some new courses -- someone else's backyard. I'm picking a place in the Hill Country, San Antonio's downtown streets, and possibly might see what the roads have to offer at Texas State University, my alma mater in San Marcos. Of course, there's always the track for this week's intervals. Sigh.

Oh, I'm also in San Antonio to visit family. But if you know me, you know I planned my runs before I bought them Christmas presents.

I've touched on the benefits before of running while away from home. What I haven't talked about before is taking advantage of what's right here in the River Region.

I'm offering up some of my favorite places to run in the area: Pintlala; rural places through Prattville; downtown Montgomery.

During the week, I have no choice but to stick to my subdivision. On Sundays, though, I get in the car and head out to remote places where I can run longer, and without much interference from cars.

Here are four of them. Check them out if you have time, and encourage yourself to try something new. Decrease the mileage if you don't run this far -- or increase it if you run farther. And if you have routes you would like to share, please e-mail them to me: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Pintlala

Map link: http://bit.ly/4uy5N6

• Start out at Pintlala Baptist Church at the intersection of Mobile Highway (U.S. 31) and Federal Road (County Road 24).

   

• Cross the Street and head east on Old Hayneville Road. Follow for 3.4 miles.

   

• Turn right onto Butler Mill Road (County Road 23) and follow it south for 1 mile.

   

• Turn right onto Liberty Church Road and follow it south for 3.1 miles.

• Turn right onto Pettus Road (County Road 19) and follow it northwest for 0.9 miles.

• Turn right onto Mobile Highway and follow it north for 0.15 miles.

• Make a slight left turn onto Pintlala Old Road and follow it north 1 mile.

• Start at White Pond Baptist Church located at 1898 County Road 21 North, Prattville (White City)

   

• Run south on County Road 21 North

• Continue to intersection with County Road 40 and turn around
• Head north on County Road 21 North

• Park at the Train Shed on Water Street

• Start run on Commerce Street near the entrance tunnel to Riverfront Park

• Turn left at Tallapoosa Street

• Continue onto Columbus Street

• Continue onto Upper Wetumpka Road

• Slight right at Yancey Avenue

• Turn right at North Panama Street

• Turn right at Winona Avenue

• Turn left at North Capitol Pkwy

• Turn right onto Madison Avenue

• Stay right at the fork onto Bibb Street

• Take Alabama 14 west from Prattville toward Autaugaville

• Turn left onto Autauga County Road 21 just before entering Autaugaville city limits

• Turn right into the Swift Creek Park parking lot

• Start run heading south on County Road 21