Houston

Houston Hideaway

Art, nature, and history sneak into this city route

Solitude among the skyscrapers — I didn’t expect it in the nation’s fourth largest city. But the 52-mile-long Buffalo Bayou, Houston’s main waterway, offers runners that and much more. At bayou level, a different world exists: lush vegetation, winding curves, and challenging inclines grace the 1.5-mile loop running from Sabine Street to downtown’s Preston Street and back again. It’s nature with an urban backdrop.

Start out on this run by entering the bayou downtown from the north side, at Sabine Street, near Memorial Drive and the upturned stainless steel canoes created by sculptor John Runnels. The art and pathways are a world apart from the litter-strewn brush and abandoned buildings that stood in this location before Mayor Bill White, a devoted cyclist and runner, approved a $15 million refurbishment in 2004. Now, 300,000 newly planted natives — including beds of lilies, salvia, and lantana — and 600 trees frame the area.

If you need a warm-up, run down the 50 or so stairs to the water’s edge, then back up to the Sabine Street Bridge for an oft-photographed view of Houston’s downtown skyline. Pavement poetry painted on a blue background, also by Runnels, serves as your welcome mat as you set out heading east. Before long you’ll find yourself galloping underneath the I-45 overpass, where Paul Kittleson’s stainless steel sculptures, which represent tree roots, hover overhead. Look up the hill to your left and you may spot Houston police patrol horses at their paddock. Across the bayou, the circular disk atop the Hyatt Regency appears to be a flying saucer resting on the roof.

Dig in here as the path dips and rises. On the bright side, this is the trail’s breeziest, most shaded stretch, and there’s plenty of scenery, including the Bank of America’s nouveau Flemish Gothic spires, for distraction. As you approach the halfway point of the route, you’ll pass the Houston Downtown Aquarium, unmistakable with its pulsing music, Ferris wheel, and carousel.

If quiet is what you crave, you’ll start to get your wish as you cross the bayou at the Preston Street Bridge and head back toward your starting point. When you near the other bank, you’ll pass the Wortham Theater Center, alongside which you’ll notice Mel Chin’s series of towers created to honor Houston’s 150th birthday. Each stainless steel panel highlights a Texas industry, from space travel to longhorn cattle.

Farther down the path you’ll reach the William P. Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, a sprawling 2002 building that hosts traveling Broadway shows and also houses Artista — the newest restaurant from Latin American maestro Michael Cordúa.

Focus now on the four large stone blocks in the shadow of the Hobby Center’s garage. They’re what remains of the foundation of the Coliseum, which was Houston’s civic auditorium until 1999, when it was demolished to make room for the Hobby Center. Feel historic preservationists’ pain in the steep descents and inclines that characterize this section of the route.

To add two miles to your run, stay on the Buffalo Bayou past the Sabine Street Bridge and follow Allen Parkway, the tree-lined street to your left, to Shepherd Drive. After running through Eleanor Tinsley Park, you’ll pass the Federal Reserve Bank Building and a wonderful Henry Moore sculpture.

At that point, if you’re up for burning more calories, cross Shepherd and take the first left, and then the first right, Kirby Avenue. Here, you may mourn the return of civilization as you run along the tree-shaded, mansion-lined avenue for four miles or so. But for tired runners, modernity does have its rewards — taxis and buses among them.

— Michele Meyer

Getting There: Continental operates a full-service hub in Houston and provides service to this hub from 180 destinations worldwide.

Three Alternate Workouts in Houston

Mild weather makes Houston the perfect place to experience outdoor fitness in December. Here are a few activities to check out:

Canoe the Bayou
There’s a reason upturned canoes mark the entrance to the Sabine-to-Bagby Promenade. From there, you can ride along the scenic Buffalo Bayou to see Houston from a unique viewpoint. For a leisurely paddle, choose from several canoe rental options. Check out REI at rei.com, Canoesport at canoesport.com, or SouthWest PaddleSports at paddlesports.com. Visit buffalobayou.org for more information on the waterways.

Cycle the Trails
There are great cycling trails in Houston as well. Check out the City of Houston Web site at publicworks.houstontx.gov/bikeways to find all the details about the Houston Bikeway Program, which maintains an extensive network of over 300 miles of on-street and off-street bike paths. City parks offer 80 more miles of trails, including the popular path at Memorial Park. Bikes can be rented from REI, West End Bicycles (westendbikes.com), or Memorial Park Bicycle Rentals (713.864.9335).

Kayak the Waters
If you prefer double-bladed paddling, rent a kayak from the above options or from North Lake Conroe Paddling Co. (936.203.2697). Bob Talamini, an outdoor adventure racer, loves to take long rides along the Buffalo Bayou. “It’s a public waterway, so take advantage of the water,” he says. — Megan McNeill

(To Your Health)

Train Around the Pain

Injury is your body’s way of saying it needs a break, something no fitness enthusiast wants to hear. But the truth is that injuries can be tough to ignore, especially for those who participate in high-impact sports like running.

“Each year, up to one-third of runners sustain an injury that requires a change in training or performance,” says Laurence Laudicina, MD, sports medicine spokesman for the Saint Rosemont, Ill.–based American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Some common running injuries include iliotibial band syndrome (a thigh injury that can cause knee pain), shin splints, tendinitis, plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of the foot), and stress fractures. Other frequent injuries among recreational athletes include sprains, strains, and wear-and-tear arthritis.

Of course, the first thing you should do upon getting hurt, Laudicina says, is evaluate your injury and seek immediate medical attention if you can’t feel, move, or bear weight on the injured area. If the injury is relatively minor, there are ways to stay fit and active while you recuperate.

“To prevent deconditioning and maintain cardiovascular fitness, you can exercise during your recovery,” says Stephen Hurst, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon in San Mateo, Calif.

The following are a few tips for healing without letting your fitness program flounder. Just make sure you’ve gotten the “all clear” from a doctor before exercising, and consult him or her again if the injury worsens.

1. Remember PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation). Proper treatment following athletic mishaps is often the key to a speedy recovery. “PRICE is an effective initial treatment for minor injuries, including strains, sprains, and bruises,” Laudicina says. PRICE works best if you start it immediately. For the first 48 to 72 hours, ice the injury for 20 minutes at a time several times a day, up to once every hour, to decrease pain and inflammation. Don’t use heat, Laudicina says. It may increase inflammation. After 48 to 72 hours, though, depending on the severity of your injury, think “warm up, cool down” and alternate heat and ice, which will improve blood flow. To decrease swelling, compress the injured area with an Ace wrap or a neoprene support sleeve. Finally, keep the injured area elevated above heart level to minimize swelling. When you sleep, prop up the injured area on pillows.

2. Modify strength programs to minimize impact and stress on the injured area. However, if the injury is on the lower half of your body, you might not have to change your upper-body program, and vice versa.

3. Initially, focus on protecting the injured area, controlling inflammation, and improving range of motion. Then, focus on strength, function, balance, and agility. After a light, low-impact warm-up, go to the point of mild muscle tension and hold each stretch 20 to 30 seconds, 10 to 15 times. Then do light strength training, using light weights and high repetitions. After your workout, ice down the area for 20 minutes.

4. Do aerobic activities that use noninjured muscles and joints, if you’re able. For example, while resting an injured foot or knee, try swimming.

5. Once your injury feels better, gradually resume normal activities. The acronym FITT — frequency of exercise, intensity of exercise, type of activity, and time spent working out — provides a good framework. “Slowly increase each of these four variables, avoiding big jumps in activity,” Laudicina says. For example, cycle one day at a light intensity for 10 minutes. The next day, evaluate how you feel. No problems? Bump up one of the variables slightly, by no more than 10 percent per week, Hurst says. If you feel soreness, however, don’t increase any of the variables. And if the injured area feels worse, back off.

6. Avoid doing the same activity on consecutive days. If you run one day, swim or cycle the next. And, of course, always warm up, cool down, and stretch.

One note: Endurance athletes should be careful while taking anti-inflammatory pain relievers. Anti-inflammatories combined with overhydration may lead to hyponatremia, a potentially dangerous electrolyte imbalance.

— Karen Asp

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