New City, New Runs

One of my favorite ways to explore Portland so far has been by running.

Back in New York, I saw countless areas of the city I'd never seen by running. Virtually, the entire perimeter of Manhattan. (In fact, the first time I saw the Statue of Liberty in person, I was on mile 12 of a 20 miler. I'll just say, I didn't stop to enjoy the view.) Fort Tyron Park and the gorgeous views of the Hudson from the Cloisters on a crisp fall day. Fort Washington Park and the George Washington Bridge. Beautiful neighborhoods of Riverdale in the Bronx. Almost every park in Harlem. All of Central Park (too many times!). I loved seeing new areas of the city, especially in the fall, and I have two years of marathon training to thank for that.

Now that we've been in the city of Portland for two weeks, I've done my fair share of exploring on foot. My first two runs were on trails in Forest Park, which is just a mile from our apartment.

I love weaving through the streets of Northwest. Some of the houses are just beautiful. In some ways, parts of Northwest remind me of neighborhoods on the West side of Buffalo. Beautiful turn-of-the-century Victorian homes. Restored Craftsmen. Tree lined streets. But, in addition to the residential nature of the neighborhood, there are pockets of restaurants, bars, coffee houses sprinkled throughout.

I'm excited to learn more about Portland's origins, because it is evident there is a lot history.

City Park Run

After two runs on dirt trails through the woods, I decided I'd explore more of the city. I began by exploring more of Northwest, then cut over to the Pearl, which is one of Portland's more affluent neighborhoods. As I ran past Bridgeport Brewery, the smell evoked memories of my childhood when my dad brewed beer in our kitchen.

The Pearl is north of downtown, and it's got much more of a "city" feel than my neighborhood. In the late 1990's and early 2000's, the area used to be occupied by warehouses, rail yards, and industry. Then, it went through some serious urban renewal, and now consists mainly of high-rise luxury condo buildings and warehouse to loft conversions. The industrial feel was definitely preserved, which I love. There are strips of restaurants, bars, boutiques, breweries, art galleries.

I ran north along the streetcar line on NW 10th ave and through Jamison Square. The park's central feature is a fountain which simulates a shallow tidal pool. Water falls from stone joints into low pools as the fountain recirculates treated water with energy efficient pumps and motors.

Jamison Square in the summer

Next, I continued running north to Tanner Springs Park, which feels to me to be the complete opposite of Jamison Park. Rather than a spot for recreation, Tanner Springs Park seems to be a place for contemplation.

The Pearl District was at one time a wetland and lake fed from streams that flowed off of the nearby hills. As the water flowed through the wooded hillsides it was cleansed naturally before reaching the Willamette River. The springs of Tanner Creek flowed into Couch Lake.

But, as the population grew in the late 1800's, the creek was rerouted through a system of underground pipes to the Willamette. The wetland and lake were filled to make space for warehouses and rail yards (which were later replaced by condos, lofts, shops and restaurants).

Tanner Springs Park attempts to recapture the area's past--the wetland and creek, as well as its industrial feel. It evokes the feel of a wetland. Streams flow through the grasses from the highest point of the park into a small pond (with fish!!). All of the rainwater that falls in the park is collected and treated within the park without using chemicals. It's touted as a modern experiment in sustainable park design and management.

The park is planted with native grasses and trees and there are walkways made from basalt Belgian Blocks that once cobbled the city's streets. One of the coolest aspects is an art wall made of 99 railroad rails that rise at least 12-15 feet out of the water.

Tanner Springs Park from above

After stopping to soak up the park's uniqueness and history, I headed home.

Waterfront Run

On another run, I ran through the Pearl and Chinatown to the Willamette, where I hopped on the Waterfront Bike Trail. As I ran south along the river, I was reminded of Pittsburgh (all those bridges!!). I ran under five bridges (and a sixth on my way back), and almost the whole way had a nice view of Mt. Hood in the pink distance.

The Hawthorne Bridge and kayakers

Marquam Bridge and Mt. Hood in the distance

View of the Waterfront and Marquam Bridge

I decided I'd continue to run to the South Waterfront, where Lindsay works at OHSU. There, you can hop on the tram and head up the hill to OHSU's main campus. On this particular day, however, I didn't have 8 bucks to shell out for the ride, so I opted to head home with the wind to my back.

South Waterfront Tram with the magnificent Mt. Hood in the distance

After a nice 7 mile run--through city, parks, and along the river--I was home.