Running through Mill Creek Park is both a gift and a challenge. Anyone who’s done it knows exactly what I mean. The hills demand your breath, the trails keep you humble, and yet — somehow — the beauty of it all distracts you from the burn.

There’s something about that park that feels like a metaphor for life: hard climbs, breathtaking views and a steady rhythm that reminds you to keep going.

But recently, I decided to do something a little different. I ventured off.

One morning, instead of looping around Lake Newport like I normally do, I took a turn — one of those small decisions that ends up feeling kind of big. I veered off the familiar path and started running into the neighborhoods that border the park.

These are the kinds of streets most of us drive past without much thought, but

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