Discovering Echo Park With My Own Two Feet

Generally speaking, my idea of exercise is walking from my front door to my parked car. If the distance to my mailbox weren’t the same amount of steps I’d probably drive there.

Given my notions of what constitutes an active lifestyle, it may be surprising then that I signed up for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon. The course of the race will wind its way through eastside streets, starting in Griffith Park and winding up downtown after passing through the heart of Echo Park. October 30th is the date.

Part of the attraction was of course getting to see my own neighborhood from the perspective of the one running the race, not the one wondering why there is rock music blasting from a pre-dawn sound check in the parking lot down the street.

But I also wanted to help the half-marathon’s designated charity, the ASPCA. As the proud owner of a neurotic rescue dog, I definitely wanted to help more homeless and abused animals by fundraising for the ASPCA.

But more than that, I knew that this kind of structured training, looming goal and financial pressure was the only thing that was going to get me off my sofa.

Equipped with a new pair of running shoes, I’ve started my training. A few miles here and there – I’m starting gradually. But Echo Park and Silver Lake have proved to be wonderfully conducive to my preparations.

I can stroll up Sunset, take a lap around the lake and head back home. Or there’s the path around the reservoir for me to follow. I’m finding out the mind-blowing truth that this neighborhood – as recently detailed in a survey by Walk Score – is quite walkable.

I now feel like a fool for driving to places, circling for 20 minutes and looking for parking when I could have walked there in the same amount of time.

But I’m also learning to appreciate the little details of the neighborhood that you miss while whizzing by in your car. You can peek in store windows. You meet plenty of barking dogs. You notice public art you never saw before.

I appreciate that I get the chance now to take in the details. Come October 30, I’ll be zooming by on my way downtown - just not in my car.