Girl, indeed I can run it, run it

By Anna Callaghan

Life is full of monotony.

A daily routine that entertains classes, work and responsibility.

That monotony should not crossover into the realm of exercise that often serves as an outlet, a release and an escape from the daily grind.

There is no need to imprison yourself in the endless cycle of a treadmill or the all too familiar terrain of the campus loop.

Break free from the redundancy and discover all that the area has to offer and introduce some semblance of excitement into your workout routine.

Less than a mile and a half from campus is the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden; it is over five acres in size and is home to more than 3500 plantings, which ensures that something is always blooming.

"I was worried that it wouldn't be safe to run there alone, but the neighborhoods are really safe and the run there is almost as nice as the Rose Garden itself," said sophomore Julianne Brands who frequently runs to the garden. "It is definitely a good reward for running -- the garden is beautiful."

The park is open from 8 a.m. to a half hour after sunset.

From the intersection of Market and the Alameda near Benson, simply follow Park Ave. until you hit Naglee Ave. From there take a right and the gardens are straight ahead.

For those who appreciate distance running or have access to transportation, look no further than the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens.

The park is located approximately 2.3 miles down the Alameda. The trails within the park are easily accessible, utilize bridges to avoid street crossings and some even run right along the river.

In addition to river views, the park features 2.6 miles of trails, 15,000 trees and numerous other plants and shrubs, spreading over 254 acres.

The Web site walkjogrun.net allows users to input a starting location and then create their own route on a grid map.

Individuals can save and share the routes they make and even track the mileage, elevation, time and calories burned for each run.

If you are looking to take a step from recreational to competitive, there are local races of different lengths available, including some that incorporate fundraising for charity:

Nov. 15 2009: Habitat for Humanity Home Run 5K at Stanford University.

Nov. 15 2009: Walk or Run for a Child 2K, 5K, 10K in Mountain View.

Lace up your running shoes and leave the dreaded treadmill and the campus loop behind.