Rich on Running: It’s no mistake to run the Mystic Lakes

Massachusetts, the Bay State, is not to be confused with Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Yet the lakes we have can make for memorable running destinations. One example is the Mystic Lakes, which lie between Arlington, Medford and Winchester.You can reach the Upper and Lower Mystic Lakes via the Mystic Valley Parkway off Route 60. When you make the turn from the busy Rte. 60 to the placid parkway, you see the lakes’ value: a calm oasis from bustling city streets.There was plenty of space at the many parking areas by the lake on Tuesday afternoon. One runner I saw on the way back chose to run by the side of the road, but I opted for the footpaths closer to the Upper Mystic Lake, which alternate between dirt and concrete.I definitely had company – birds moved in the vegetation throughout the run – but fellow runners were scarce (I saw a grand total of two during my visit to the lakes). Maybe the hot weather and the time of day (around 1 p.m.) deterred too many people from running. Still, it was a treat to see the sun sparkling across the water, and the green coat of forest above the lakes.When I reached the public beach and playground area, I chose the footpath that veered to my left into the woods and followed it until it ended at a stone wall overlooking the lake. From there I reversed course back to the parking lot (this was more challenging, as my left knee was feeling a tad sore).Once I got to my car, I tried a short barefoot run. Alas, the choice of surfaces was between the hot concrete and the sharp stones of the footpaths (the grass offered a happy medium). Also, I had to keep an eye out for the small shards of glass scattered across the paths. Yet somehow, my feet stayed intact and my knee felt better. I finished off the afternoon with a swim at the beach and headed home.OutsideOnline.com has a recent story by Charles Bethea (note: some cussing) in which a team of nine marathoners (including Jonathan Ndambuki of Kenya, who has run a 2:10 marathon) tries to do what our hunter ancestors once did: pursue and catch an animal, in this case a pronghorn (“the second-fastest animal on earth”) near Santa Fe. It’s all in the name of science ? and they come close ? but honestly, if I want something to eat, a Quarter Pounder will do just fine.Today is National Running Day, and the Boston Athletic Association and USA Track and Field-New England are celebrating with a Mini-Meet at Steinbrenner Field at MIT (Vassar Street, Cambridge). The free event is open to all ages. Registration starts at 6 p.m. and the Mini-Meet begins at 6:30. For more information, contact USA Track & Field-New England at 617-566-7600 or [email protected] Tenorio writes a weekly running column for The Item. Email him at [email protected].