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October 2007 – Whether you are running to improve your cardiovascular health or running to lose weight, you need to run a minimum of 30 minutes to get moderate benefits.
Obviously, more time spent running equals more benefits. A lot of runners, especially beginners, find running on the streets or on treadmills, very tedious. The solution is trail running. There are many interesting and scenic trails within the Markham area. Just about every neighbourhood has green space and many of these are joined by trails.
The benefits of trail running extend beyond making your run more interesting. The more varied terrain also gives you a greater body by slowing down muscle fatigue and utilizing more muscle, all the while making you stronger and more agile. Other key benefits include:
 enjoying the local wildlife;
rubbing shoulders with other runners;
softer surface reduces pounding and risk of injury;
eliminating stops at every stop sign;
avoiding dangerous drivers and car fumes;
staying cooler in the summer due to shaded areas; and
shelter from wind and rain during the colder seasons.
Warning: One negative aspect of trail running is the unevenness of the trails – increasing risk of ankle sprains (and winter running on trails is a bit tricky). Also, consider safety. Run with a training partner at all times.
Markham has quite a variety of trails that are suitable for running. In trying to locate trails, a general rule is to look for waterways. Since flood plains cannot be developed for industrial or residential purposes, they are great for trails and they don’t trespass on private property. These trails are usually a bit trickier to navigate but well worth the adventure.
Box Grove: following the Rouge River crossing under Hwy #48 to take you to the Milne Conservation Dam and then around the pond to Milne Park. If you really want to bushwack you can cross McCowan south of Hwy #7 and follow the stream into Unionville or you can give in and head up McCowan from Milne Park up to Hwy #7.
Walden Pond: Just past Bullock, you can enter into the trail system at Walden Pond and follow that to Unionville.
Unionville: Unionville Library and the Toogood Pond system which is the Runners’ Shangrilla. If you are a law abiding citizen then you follow the trail after passing under the Kennedy Rd by-pass and end up on Eckhart St in Unionville. Keep going west to Main St. Unionville and turn right and head up to Carlton St where you can head into the Toogood Pond trails. These trails can take you up to the 16th Ave just east of Warden.
Near Main Street Markham: Take a trail from E.T. Crowl Public School to Markham District High School. You can take a trail that starts on Robinson just south of Main St. Markham go west to Bullock, cross over the tracks into a small park which takes you to Raymerville. Go north (right) for a short distance and turn left on the first street (Norwich), follow that to Springdale Park. Follow the trail west to St Edward School, cross Cairns Ave and join into the trail which will eventually take you to Raymerville Rd. just east of McCowan.
Whitevale: On the outskirts of Markham you can explore the miles of trails at Seaton Park in Whitevale.
Ballantrae: Go north to Ballantrae and run in the Durham Regional Forest.
If you fall in love with trail running as many before you have, autumn is cross country running season and there are a few races in the city parks. Throughout the year there are trail races of all distances from easy to very difficult courses.
Check for races at www.mynextrace.com or at www.runningfree.com. You can also join local running clubs such as the Markham Centaurs by email.
Article by Dr. John DeFinney for SayItCornell.com
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