Run 52: Murray Bike Trail

We ran Madisonville on the hottest day of the year at the hottest point of the day in the hottest part of the neighborhood--a shadeless but scenic bike path that traces the western edge of the neighborhood. It was so hot we decided to take a "before" picture so we could compare how we looked at the finish.

The Murray bike path connects East Hyde Park and Mariemont. The trial is also notable for its prime spot on the Flying Pig course: it awaits runners just a few miles after the half marathon mark, when a series of rolling hills are a worst case scenario.

From the bike path we cut east on Settle before turning quickly onto Bramble. A little ways down the street, we headed off-road and made a circuit around Bramble Park.

Did I mention it was hot? So hot we had to save time by taking pictures of ourselves taking pictures.

Whetsel might be considered Madisonville's main residential artery with blocks of single family homes leading to the heart of Madisonville's business district which, fittingly, stretches along, Madison. From a runner’s perspective Whetsel is a nice, wide and flat residential street without much traffic.

As we arrived in the business district we passed a string of sites that suggest Madisonville is in the midst of a green renaissance. First, we saw Greens Neighborhoods Market. Then, just next door we saw the Madisonville Weed and Seed. Finally, on the corner of Madison and Whetsel we saw a community garden that our friend Sam Dunlap helped develop over the years with students from the Lighthouse Community School.

In the business district-proper, we passed a retro ice cream shop and hotdog stand, lots of great looking storefronts, and a few churches. All of these places demonstrated that Madisonville is a livable neighborhood where some great amenities are just around the corner.