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Health & Fitness

The Straight Part of Big Bend

It is time to change your perception on the straight part of Big Bend.

I finally realized that we live on the straight part of Big Bend. The stretch that runs from Delmar Boulevard on the north to Sunnen Drive and the railroad tracks on the South. It would be interesting to explain to someone visiting from Chicago or Mars that to get to my place you have to take Big Bend, but it is the part of the road that doesn't turn at all.

The section from Dale Avenue to Manchester Road is part of my normal 5K training run, and it is certainly a hilly beast of a run. At times, I think that we should call it Big Hilly Road. This section has been the awful finishing miles for three of my 16 mile training runs, and I dread these hills each and every time.

This section of Big Bend is also home to the most interesting collection of businesses. It is clear that each has a history that goes well beyond what they are selling. From the and to and , the businesses that line this section go from invisible to essential in the blink of an eye. It took a moment of deep travel (truly focusing on my surrounding while moving) to really sees all of the diversity of this short section of Big Bend. Almost every trip on this section now brings new things that I have never seen before. 

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Over the next few days, I encourage you to pause from driving, texting or playing with the radio to truly experience the straight part of Big Bend.

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