courtesy of www.fairmountpark.org
When it’s time for a long run, my long distance friends and I head out to Philadelphia: Kelly Drive and the Wissahickon Park. We start out at Lloyd Hall on Kelly Drive. At 6:20 am, there is usually free parking nearby. Lloyd Hall is located on the east side of the Schuylkill River, next to stately Victorian boathouses. We pass grand sculptures (Saint-Gaudens and Frederick Remington are represented), blooming cherry trees in the spring and old stone bridges. Regattas, races and triathlons are a welcome distraction.
After Kelly Drive ends, about 4 ½ miles later, we cross Ridge Avenue into the verdant Wissahickon Valley Park, part of Fairmont Park (one of the largest city parks in the world, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted also created Central Park, NY and the Emerald Necklace parks of Boston). The Wissahickon Creek runs through the park’s entire 7 miles length. At the fork in the park, bear left onto the Forbidden Drive.
The Forbidden Drive is fairly quiet and easy on the feet. The trees provide the respite of deep shade against those muggy Philadelphia mornings. The light is quite lovely. Often, we see fly fisherman toiling away in the creek.
Midway through the park is the Valley Green Inn. We stop here for a drink and GU. There is an excellent buzz; running clubs and spirited friends begin and end their runs at the Inn. Depending on the length of the run, we continue on to a covered bridge or to the stables. We bide away the miles debating if the park ends at the road or at the stables down yonder. I don’t think we truly want to know.
We run back out the same way that we came in. Distance running brings out my latent OCD tendencies. I inevitably stop at the same place each time for a drink. I tell myself to avoid the mile markers on Kelly Drive and then end up reading each and every one of them. The numbers are rarely comforting.
On Kelly Drive, near the rowing grandstands, is a bronze sculpture, The Rower, in honor of triple Olympic gold medal winner John B Kelly, Sr, father of John B Kelly Jr, a 4 time Olympian oarsman and Philadelphia councilman (hence Kelly Drive) as well as Grace Kelly, Oscar winning actress and princess of Monaco.
Once we pass the Playing Angels statues, another Saturday in the park with friends has just about come to an end.,
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