Run 52: West End

We were joined on our West End run by our friend Matt, who works at St. Vincent de Paul on Bank Street.  Matt is an amazing LONG distance runner who does most of his miles on trails.  Recently he coordinated a trail 50k and half-marathon at Red River Gorge.  Towards the end of our West End run he told us that the 50k was so challenging that none of the runners finished.  Luckily, the route that he planned for Run 52 was a bit easier!

The West End is just west of Downtown.  I have a memory of being nine or ten years old, going north on I-75 and looking at the West End from the passenger’s side window after a trip downtown.  I remember being intrigued by the narrow, historic buildings close to the highway.  I was riding with a friend and her dad and he obliged my interest by pulling off the highway so that we could take a closer look at the painted brick buildings.  Undoubtedly, this brief detour helped to shape my love for historic urban neighborhoods; in college, I would read Jane Jacobs and think back to the West End. 

We started our route from St.Vincent de Paul, where Matt showed us a brick-paved alley that offers access to a shortcut up to Dayton Street.  On the way, Matt explained that the Dayton Street Historic District was once home to wealthy industrialists who built their detached town houses just a short walk from the breweries and slaughter houses where they made their fortunes.

We stopped for a minute to look at the beautiful stone façade on the Hauck House, which was built in 1870 by brew baron John Hauck. 

Nearby, the industry that built Dayton Street’s “Millionaire’s Row” is still thriving.  We passed a pickle factory, the Sam Adams Brewery, and other warehouse-sized buildings used for packing, processing, and production: 

Matt said that he planned the Sam Adam’s Brewery to be our mid-route “water” stop, but unfortunately they weren’t giving out samples!

This is also where Matt stopped and mocked the way I pose for pictures by doing a curtsey.  Fortunately for him, we don't have any photographic evidence of this. 

Next, we ran through City West, which is a mixed-income development built to replace aging public housing.  City West includes some nice green space and is just a short jog from Downtown:

Leaving City West, we passed Ollie’s Trolley, which smelled good even to me.  (Worst. Vegetarian. Ever.) 

At the end of our run, we ran through the hip Brighton arts district, which is home to galleries that showcase work from some of the city’s best up and coming artists. 

Finally, since Donnie was on camera duty for most of this route there are hardly any pictures of him (whoops, sorry Donnie!).  Here is one to prove he was actually there!

 -K.

View the full route with mile markers here:  http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=531738