Definition of Michigan

January 7th was a day to remember. It was one of those beautiful 60-something degree January days; 64 degrees (a record high), no wind, and the first Monday of University of Michigan's winter semester. To welcome this surprise, I continued my almost daily run down some well-known roads.

Ann St was enclosed in a beautiful wiry network of trees that were tricked into losing their leaves too early. The corner of Main and Ann St was a cluster of small specialty stores full of busy people running their daily routines. Although it wasn't night, Main St was beginning to glow with its Christmas lights, street signs, and new LED streetlights (I learned they were new after I saw a small sign on each lamp post and stopped to read it). Running Southeast on Packard brought me to the slightly industrial side of downtown Ann Arbor.

Turning onto Hill St, I was met with a host of students enjoying the warm weather and trying to keep their New Year's resolution. I was amazed to see over sixty individuals running during my run (running isn't quite as popular in Belleville). I made my loop at the famous Washtenaw Ave - Hill St intersection, only to be met with more runners. My run came to an end on the middle of Palmer Field as I took in the environment of melted snow, 'Hogwartz-like' dormitories, busy and beautiful Washtenaw Avenue, and a sixth sense that defines Michigan.

Duration: 20:00
Distance: 5 km
Pace: 6:26 min/mi


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