Running along the Charles River, Boston

Boston's long winter makes me more intimate with treadmills than I care. With winter's grip slowly loosening, I take every opportunity to test my running legs outdoors. Even though we have yet to see 'warm weather', we have had a good number of running days. Thursday last week was just spectacular. The sun was out, the sky blue and the temperature a cool 60 deg F (15 deg C). Perfect to run along the Charles River. I carried my older Olympus C4040 on the run. Particularly on the river, I like to shoot at the widest angle. The sky is bluer and the vista dazzling.

I start around 5:00 pm at the Health Club – located on the grounds of the brown capped building on the right. I run across the bridge leading past the front of the Museum of Science. Here the Charles River ends in the Boston Harbor. Past the Museum, I swing around to get back along the river (now in Cambridge). In the above pic – on the left is the back side of the Museum which straddles the river. Private yatchs are getting ready for the Summer.

On the Cambridge side, the road is a good 15 ft above the water. I avoid the concrete pavement and stick to the runner's path in the grass. Its better for the knees.

I will run under the upcoming Longfellow Bridge (yes, named after the poet HW Longfellow, whose house is now a museum nearby). Beyond the bridge, notice the sailboats with Boston's John Hancock Tower in the backdrop.

It was a perfect day for running, but still cool for many folks to be on the water. A bit ahead, I will cross over to the Boston side on the Mass Ave Bridge.

From the bridge: On the Boston side, the entire river front called the Esplanade, is beautifully maintained with parks. Running along the Esplanade is the bestest part of the run.

Once I drop down to the Esplanade, you are right next to the water and can hear it lapping on the banks. Along this particular stretch, you have the river on your left and a nice quiet lagoon on the right. Windy too! In warmer weather, this place would be swarming with runners.

The 'Hatch shell” on the Esplanade awaits summer concerts. Then, 100s of thousands would be clamoring the entire Esplanade. Now, walkers, runners and strollers can enjoy the blooming tulips in peace.

At the Community Boat House coming up on the right, they teach you to sail for a nominal fee. I run back under the Longfellow bridge (seen from opposite side), past the baseball fields along the water, heave myself over the Storrow Rd footbridge and a last dash to the health club entrance. However well I run, I am elated to return thoroughly tired. A long cool-down stretch in the Health Club, a warm shower and I head back home. Home to freshly made warm chapattis and a sabzi! I count my blessings!

Other Boston:

• Views of Boston Harbor
• Boston Public Garden in the Spring – A panorama”
• Boston Skyline from the Redline
• Boston: What a difference the sun makes
• Boston after the rains
• Charyl Weissbach: Balsam Poplars