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| Navigational Artwork and Directions By Colleen Yorke, © 2015. |
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| My flash break from a run, 2015. |
Los Angeles is unlike any other,
a city tucked away amidst cities, a city of angels and demons, dreams and
nightmares, broken hearts and minds, overnight successes of all kinds, a city in
constant traffic, and for many a city on hold for something better.
Over the years that I've lived here, I have developed my own conflicted relationship with a city I love and despise all the same. During the day, I catch my own reflection in its dazzling skyscrapers; at night I watch my shadow grow from a vantage point. Twenty-seven historic bridges, grand in scale, classical in design, currently span the Los Angeles River. Today, thirteen of them are cultural monuments.
The Vista El Centro Run is among my favorite runs through downtown Los Angeles. Whenever I feel frustrated, stressed, or even sad, I take my feet out for a run along two concrete arched viaducts, the Fourth Viaduct and the First Viaduct, connecting downtown Los Angeles with Boyle Heights. For me, bridges hold something special. They are not merely connecting ends, but means to an end. They allow a transfer of exchange, and they close gaps. And in our own lives, we should never, ever burn down bridges. From above, the view is reassuring and calming. I am on a bridge, and whatever happens, I know I will be okay. Running back down 1st Street towards a magnificent DTLA skyline is a happiness booster. This 4 miler is a wonderful run for locals and tourists alike. So, what are you waiting for?
Over the years that I've lived here, I have developed my own conflicted relationship with a city I love and despise all the same. During the day, I catch my own reflection in its dazzling skyscrapers; at night I watch my shadow grow from a vantage point. Twenty-seven historic bridges, grand in scale, classical in design, currently span the Los Angeles River. Today, thirteen of them are cultural monuments.
The Vista El Centro Run is among my favorite runs through downtown Los Angeles. Whenever I feel frustrated, stressed, or even sad, I take my feet out for a run along two concrete arched viaducts, the Fourth Viaduct and the First Viaduct, connecting downtown Los Angeles with Boyle Heights. For me, bridges hold something special. They are not merely connecting ends, but means to an end. They allow a transfer of exchange, and they close gaps. And in our own lives, we should never, ever burn down bridges. From above, the view is reassuring and calming. I am on a bridge, and whatever happens, I know I will be okay. Running back down 1st Street towards a magnificent DTLA skyline is a happiness booster. This 4 miler is a wonderful run for locals and tourists alike. So, what are you waiting for?
