A Guide to the Best Running Trails and Parks Near Drexel

My favorite thing about running is that you don't have to be good at it. A good run means something different to every person. People run all types of distances and paces, in all types of shoes and weather, and for all sorts of reasons.

I ran cross-country and track in high school, and then took a more relaxed approach in college, where I discovered that I'm one of those people that loves to "run for fun." After college, I gave into friendly peer pressure and ran my first of many half-marathons. I've even completed a marathon and lived to talk about it!

It's hard to get lost in a city with square blocks, so zigzagging around the city is a great way to get to know it.

Drexel is lucky to be in a city that's runner-friendly, with plenty of trails, parks, and sidewalks. Even in our own little area of University City, there are plenty of places you can lace up your Nikes (or Brooks or New Balance…) and take off to.

See below for a few suggestions right in Drexel's backyard:

• Schuylkill River Trail: It's impossible to talk about running in the city without mentioning this trail. Following along the edge of University City and the Schuylkill River, it offers just over 10 miles of pavement. This trail is friendly to runners, walkers, bikers, and I've even seen a few rollerbladers! There are continuous plans to expand and connect to other trails in the future, too. Visit their website for more information; and don’t worry, it’s okay if you never learn how to spell it!
• Drexel Park: This quaint little square park is located at the northeast part of our campus. Four loops around the outer sidewalk is roughly a mile. There's also a great view of the Center City skyline!
• Woodland Walk: This sidewalk cuts diagonally through our neighbor's campus at the University of Pennsylvania. From the corner of their campus at Chestnut Street and 33rd Street through to South University Avenue/38th Street is .60 miles. This run is especially pretty in the fall when the leaves begin to change, and in the spring when they come back to life. Since this is a very heavy pedestrian area, especially during class changes, I recommend this especially for the weekend.
• Penn Park: Another space we can borrow from our neighbors is their park on the edge of the campus by the river. The outer loop around their tennis courts and practice fields is just under three quarters of a mile. This park has a few off-trails, bridges, and additional loops that could easily make your run longer, too.

The best part of city running is that you don't necessarily need a path or a park to have a great run. It's hard to get lost in a city with square blocks, so zigzagging around the city is a great way to get to know it. Who knows, you may end up running past your future favorite restaurant!

Happy running, Dragons!