Cleveland’s my gym: Kopf Family Reservation

Me, before the race...

Last Saturday I ran my first race ever (that is if you don’t count those “Turkey” races I was forced to run at school that always ended in shame and shortage of breath). It was the Running for hope 5K, and it was organized by Love without boundaries, a charity aiming to aid impoverished children in China. I did OK, finishing at an official time of 29:26 (position 55/135). I did finish more than a minute before that, but I was supposed to rip the number off my shirt and hand it over to the volunteers so I could get my time registered, but I was a bit distracted and didn't turn it in immediately. First I forgot I had to do it, and then I was concerned with leaving holes in the shirt. Oh, Angel… Anyway, it was a fun, well organized, and well attended 5K. The volunteers really did a great job. At the finish line they had water, bananas, and most importantly, they had peanut butter & chocolate cookies, so I was a happy camper (runner). The event was followed by free yoga classes and massages, but I had plans afterwards so I had to skip those. You can see the official pics here.

Me, after the race...

The course itself was in the Kopf Family Reservation, a beautiful park maintained by the Lorain County Metroparks, the City of Avon Lake, Avon Lake Public School District and Avon Lake Public Library. The park features 2 miles of paved trails through wooded areas (plus dirt trails) covered by beautifully green vegetation. There is shade almost everywhere within the reservation, giving much needed relief from the sun on a hot, hot day. Besides running, I’d say this park would be perfect for leisure walks. The terrain is flat and easy, and you can easily adjust how much you would like to walk. As a side note, I was very impressed by the numerous runners I saw running along Lear Road and Electric Boulevard on my way there. Also, I saw bike lanes (a bit narrow, but they were there) and many signs alerting the drivers. The roads are in great condition, and the houses and their lawns seem to be well cared for, making this area beautiful, and great for outdoor fitness.

If you want to go to the Kopf Family Reservation, you can park at the Avon Lake Public Library. In fact, the entrance to the park is on their lot. Although I did not check, I would assume there are restrooms at the library as well. Bring some water, because I don’t think you’d find any unless you go into the library building.

Cleveland's my gym: Bratenahl

Although I absolutely love riding my bike, hikes - and especially urban walks - hold a very special place in my heart. I’m lucky; Greater Cleveland has many areas that are beautiful, have tons of character and are inviting to the urban hiker who is hungry for the stories told by both nature and man-built structures.  For these purposes, it’s difficult to think of a place that tops Bratenahl, OH. Like it’s the case with many other foreign-born Clevelanders, it took me a few years to even know this beautiful little village existed even though I lived just 4 short-miles away from it. That changed the day I bought this neat “guide” book Cleveland on foot, by Patience Cameron Hoskins, where she describes 50 walks and hikes around the Greater Cleveland area. I laced up my hiking shoes, I grabbed my book, and Bratenahl was the first walk I took.

Bratenahl is one of the oldest Cleveland suburbs. It’s bordered by Cleveland on its south, east and west borders, and by Lake Erie to the north. The former lakefront farmland quickly evolved into one of Cleveland’s first suburbs, and has housed some of the most influential (and affluent) Clevelanders throughout its history. As a result, Bratenahl has some of the most beautiful, palatial homes in our region, a testament to its wealth. The village itself is small; it’s about 1 square mile, and Lakeshore Boulevard is its main artery. As you go down Lakeshore, you see the grand old mansions with perfectly manicured landscapes, beautiful “normal” houses that are quite adorable, and some wooded areas that add to the charm of the village (and where I saw a fox for the first time). You can actually see stunning views of the lake through many of the properties, and if you are there just before dusk you can see breathtaking sights of these gorgeous homes bathing in the twilight. The sounds too can be surreal, so you may not want to wear headphones while you are there. A bird sanctuary, Bratenahl is graced with the intertwining songs of birds that graciously (for the most part) serve as a soundtrack to your urban walk. The village is so quiet that all you hear are those birds and the traffic from I90, which instead of disturbing, serves as a reminder of the city that lives literally across the street.

The best way to get to Bratenahl is to get off I90 at Exit 177 (MLK). If you are coming from the south (University Circle), just go down MLK all the way to the lake. You can park at the Cleveland Lakefront Park (or Gordon Park), and then walk East on Lakeshore Boulevard as far as you are comfortable. If you just follow Lakeshore all the way to the end of Bratenahl (E.140^th) the walk will be about 3 miles long, so a round trip will add up to about 6 miles, and it will take you about 2 hours to complete. The terrain is moderately easy to walk on; it’s mostly flat, with some small “hills” along the way. If you want to get more out of your visit, get a copy of Hoskins’ book for a description of the most notable houses (and their owners), some of them off-Lakeshore. There are restrooms at the park, but make sure to bring your own snacks and water, because there’s nowhere to buy them along the way.

I took a few pictures where you can see views of the road itself. The houses are what you want to see, but I felt somewhat creepy taking pictures of people’s homes to publish them online, so I didn’t. Trust me, it’s beautiful down there. Go and check it out.