One of my favorite things to do is to take a walk in the park near my house. Battleground Military Park, incidentally a National Park, rests not two miles from our front door.
The paved perimeter of the park is an easy two mile stroll. When I’m training for a race, heading out the door, up to the park, around the park, and back home is 5 miles. If things continue to go as planned, I’ll be running this path quite a bit this summer.
When I walk, I usually have Lord Smithfield with me. Black Labs love to walk. Sometimes we meet a friend or two. Sometimes, as I walk, I listen to some mixes or songs that are in progress. Other times, I walk alone in silence.
The quiet never lasts for long. There a so many things alive in that park—the trees, the birds, other people walking or running. If I stretch out my ears, I can hear as far as Lawndale Dr, about a half a mile away. I hear crickets, deer, conversations, leaves rustling, wind…everything.
The park was once a Revolutionary War battlefield (hence the name). The British over took the Continental Army in a 90 minute fight. Less than 100 casualties were reported per side.
This battle at Guilford Courthouse was a pyrrhic victory for the British. It weakened them so much that they would eventually lose to the Continentals.
In spite of the fact that a battle was fought in this place, it has a lot of positive energy. The park feels like a good place to walk. On the first days of Spring, cars carrying would-be walkers overflow both of the parking lots. People love this place.
Giant statues line the park and environs. We’ve wondered if these giants come to life after dark. If they did, I bet they wouldn’t reenact the fight. Perhaps they would just prance about in the moonlight. Most are on horses.
