My love affair with running the lakes had a bit of a rocky start.
As an anxious freshman who possessed both a long list of questions and an intense fear of asking them, it took me far too many months to work up the courage to find out how to run the figure-eight route of the lakes on campus. As embarrassing as this is to admit, I am thankful every day that I broke free from my fear of looking foolish, as the lakes quickly became both my source of regular cardio and my escape from life’s many challenges.
As far as the physical aspect, the lakes provide the perfect amount of scenic views to keep your mind at ease during your workout and to make the miles fly by. It is easy to quickly lose interest when mindlessly jogging on a treadmill, and the lake route offers an attractive alternative to traditional gym equipment. Also, taking your workout outside for a change can make the experience as a whole much more rewarding, and we all know how important it is to cherish every moment of sunshine and warm weather in South Bend before the unbearable winter sets in. Paired with your go-to workout playlist, the lake loop is an ideal source of exercise and a great way to decompress after a long day of class.
Yet beyond that, I have found that lake runs offer a form of stress relief which extends beyond one’s physical health. Through my laps around the lakes, I have learned that tackling my problems head-on during a run is always better than simply running away from them. Whether I am completely overwhelmed by an eight-page research paper or feeling weighed down by last weekend’s late night Reckers pizzas, I lace up my running shoes and head out the door towards that peaceful dirt path. In this restorative space, I am able to take a step back from my stress with each step forward, sorting through my issues with a renewed sense of clarity. I have made countless life decisions while making circles around the lakes, ranging from what I want to study to whether or not I should respond to that text from the boy I met at last weekend’s dorm party.
During these lake runs, I have questioned my major, planned for my future, and grown as a person both inside and out. On countless occasions, I have stepped onto that path feeling frantic and certain that I am headed for disaster, only to come back around the bend feeling completely refreshed in my mind and my heart. And with a stunning view of the Dome from several sparkling angles, it is nearly impossible not to experience a renewed sense of confidence and to head home with an optimistic perspective on the future. I believe that this path has the power to both console and inspire; so the next time that you encounter hardships and begin to lose faith in yourself (as every college girl does at some point during her life), I wholeheartedly recommend that you take it to the lakes.
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Images: 1 and 2 provided by author, taken by Maddie Felts and Shawn Hall