There is comfort in routine. Doing the same thing every day can create a sense of security. A routine tells us our place in the world is secure, and tomorrow will be the same as today, so we can relax. Going through a daily ritual can even give us a sense of purpose and a feeling of accomplishment. Unfortunately, a routine can also bore you out of your skull.
I’ve found the latter to be true as I’ve trained for the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon. Each morning, I wake up at 5 a.m., complain to my cell phone, drag myself out of bed (which is not easy, since the bulk of a person’s weight shifts to his or her butt during sleep), and then run the same three-mile route through my neighborhood. It gives both me and my cell phone a reason to get up.
Unfortunately, my a.m. routine has already become tedious and dull, and I’m six months away from the starting gun. The other day, I stopped at the bottom of a gradual incline a quarter of a mile from my house, turned around and walked home. I didn’t want to run through the same old streets.
As I was grumbling at my cell phone the following morning, I realized that if I’m going to make it to November, I’m going to have to occasionally break out of my routine. Getting into the habit of doing something different would give me new scenery and ground to cover, which would keep my mind engaged and challenge my body in different ways.
While I enjoy jogging through downtown Chattanooga on my lunch break, it feels familiar, and I wanted to do something I’d never done before. My wife and I had hiked through Chickamauga Battlefield the day before with some friends, and the trails were a bit rugged for a good run, so that was out, too. Then I remembered someone telling me about Enterprise South Nature Park. The person had raved about nature enclave, located near Amazon and Volkswagen, so I set a course for its trails.
Getting to Enterprise South via Interstate 75 is easy, although depending on your location in the Greater Chattanooga Area, it can be a bit of a drive. The 17-mile journey from Ringgold, Ga., where my wife and I live, to the park is too long to facilitate a daily run, but ideal for breaking out of the neighborhood a few times a month.
I took the Bonny Oaks Drive exit, and in a matter of minutes, had reached Enterprise South, navigated its intimidating roundabouts, and pulled into the Visitor’s Center, which is located just past Amazon and Volkswagen. The VC is an essential stop for first-timers, as the 2,800 acre park is home to over 30 miles of different trails.
The attendant behind the counter gave me a primer, armed me with a map and sent me on my way. Walkers and runners have a choice of eight pedestrian trails of varying difficulty, while those who prefer to rack up miles on two wheels can take advantage of three regular bicycle paths and three mountain bike trails. I opted to circle the park on the vehicle-only trail to the end of what the attendant had said was the most difficult pedestrian trail - a three-mile hike called Hawk’s Ridge - and then make my way down to the heart of the park, where a boulder garden and a small lake are hidden amongst the trees.
Although it was Sunday afternoon, I encountered no other cars, and even parked and headed toward the wood without seeing a single soul. As I slipped under a canopy of tall trees and stepped onto soft mulch, the width of the path impressed me, as did its lack of roots, rocks and other debris. Eventually, I came to a paved road, which was clearly marked as reserved for bikers and pedestrians. It was as wide as a two-lane road, but safer than any street on which you’d run at home. Running down the center of the paved path was exhilarating.
One of the best features of Enterprise South Nature Park is its user-friendly design. Paths are clearly marked as pedestrian-only or otherwise, and street names are posted at the intersections of the paved roads, making it easy to figure out where you are when looking at a map. Parking areas are clearly marked, too, and if you get turned around, it will be only a matter of minutes before you come across one of the ammunition bunkers in which the Volunteer Army Plant stored TNT during its decades of operation in the previous century. Each of these is numbered and marked on the map.
Although I had initially left a trail of mental bread crumbs as I ran, I eventually started turning down random paths, just to see if I could use the map and the park’s markers to return to my car. I had no trouble finding my way back.
As you might expect, Enterprise South Nature Park is filled with scenic splendor, including a stunning overlook, where a hiker offered me her binoculars so I could see a blue heron nesting in a distant tree. That was the only wildlife I saw, although I heard more skittering about in the woods. Even more impressive was how I was only a few minutes from a major road, yet the park feels set apart from civilization. Because of this, being there is tremendously relaxing.
The most surreal moment came when I stepped off a path and found the hidden lake. Even though it’s actually a moss covered pond, it has an irresistible backwoods beauty. As I approached the water, things I’d only heard in movies set in swamps called to each other and then fell silent. While I stood at the bank, looking at the stripped down trunks of dead trees, which jut out of the water like giant splinters, all I could hear was the soft buzzing of some nearby insect.
Enterprise South Nature Park is open every day from 7 a.m. to 30 minutes before sundown. Even if you’re not training for a half-marathon, the park is a wonderful place to visit. In addition to everything I’ve mentioned here, there are picnic areas, historical exhibits and more wildlife to discover. In addition, dogs are welcome, and there are clean restrooms and regular security patrols throughout the park. You also have to love that it’s free.
I plan to train at the park three or four times a month. My stamina seemed higher there, and when I stepped onto the road outside my house the next day, I felt energized and eager to tackle the familiar streets. Breaking out of your routine can be good for you and make the daily grind less humdrum.
It won’t, however, make your wake-up call any less agonizing.
Email David Laprad at dlaprad@hamiltoncountyherald.com.