There are many obvious reasons why running in Queeny Park is such a delight. The trails — 7.8 miles of interconnected paths that allow joggers to vary their routines and distances — wind through woods, past marshy ponds, and across lush and manicured fields. The scenery and wildlife keep you entertained, and the terrain pushes your limits, rising steeply in some places (though, again, the hills can mostly be avoided if you're trying to take it easy). But here's the secret to getting the most out of running at Queeny: Go when it's drizzling. Gone are the suburban dog walkers and the horseback riders. They're replaced by a huge number of deer that wander in and out of the misty woods and across the rolling green hills, their habitat reclaimed from noisy humans. It's not uncommon to see a few on a normal day in the park, but in the rain they seem to be everywhere — it's a remarkable experience to have just twenty minutes outside of a major metropolitan area.
Carondelet Park
| Sep 26, 2013
Tower Grove Park
| Sep 27, 2012
South City Rehab District
| Sep 22, 2011
Castlewood State Park
| Sep 29, 2010
Al Foster Memorial Trail
| Sep 30, 2009
Gateway Arch grounds
| Sep 24, 2008
Queeny Park
| Sep 26, 2007
Downtown St. Louis
| Sep 27, 2006
Hanley to Kingshighway (and back), via Wydown and Lindell
| Sep 29, 2005
Francis Park
| Sep 29, 2004
Francis Park
| Sep 29, 2004