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Add your unique voice to the rail-trail movement by becoming a member of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
Learn more about us at
railstotrails.org, or call 202.331.9696 for info.
Each issue, we highlight
a member of our national
community. Special thanks to
Michael Phillips for support-
ing America’s rail-trails!
What I do
I’m a chemical engineer by
degree, and I spent 13 years
working in the oil and gas
industry. I now enjoy helping
on my wife’s family farm,
running, woodworking, root-
ing for the [Pittsburgh] Steel-
ers and spending time with
my wife and four daughters.
Favorite trail activity
I use trails for biking, running
and cross-country skiing;
however, running is definitely
my favorite. There is some-
thing therapeutic about park-
ing at a trailhead and getting
lost in nature for a while.
How long I’ve been a runner
25 years (with a 10-year
hiatus in the middle!)
How trails have impacted
my health
After college at the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania,
I stopped running for 10
years. When I moved back to
the Pittsburgh area, I started
using trails several times per
week to lose weight and train
for my first half marathon.
The biggest impact was on
my mental health. Having
trails as an outlet motivated
me to get out before work
to prepare for the day—or
after work to destress and
unwind.
My greatest running
accomplishment
When I was a senior in
high school, I was one of
the best distance runners
in the state. That spring, I
developed stress fractures
in my right ankle and could
not run. The doctors sug-
gested I may not be able to
compete in the track sea-
son, so my coach and I put
together a plan. I got in the
pool and trained harder than
ever before. I was deter-
mined to not let this injury
stop me. I ended up running
four events and won a gold
medal. It was so satisfying
to think about everything I
had overcome to get back
on the track.
Advice about running
Be patient with yourself, and
set realistic goals. Anyone
can be a runner if they are
willing to commit to it.
Person I admire
Martin Luther. When he
nailed “The 95 Theses” to the
Wittenberg Castle church in
1517, he not only changed
history but risked his own life
for his beliefs.
My favorite rail-trail
experience
On the morning of Jan. 27,
2015, I was training for a
half marathon on the Mon-
tour Trail. It had snowed
for several days; the trail
was covered with a foot of
snow, including 6 inches
of fresh powder. I bundled
up and headed out on an
8-mile run. It seemed like
I was the only person out
there, and the trees arched
over the trail under the
weight of the freshly fallen
snow. It was a spectacu-
lar, tranquil and beautiful
morning.
Why I support RTC
I support RTC for my family,
my friends and for the peo-
ple who have never stepped
foot on a rail-trail before. To
be able to preserve history
while repurposing old rail
corridors for the betterment
of the community and soci-
ety is a real blessing.
•
FROM THE STAFF
Favorite rail-trail of all time?
Tom Sexton
Director, Northeast Region
After 25 years with RTC and expe-
riencing several hundred rail-trails,
it’s impossible to pick just one! However,
from a diversity standpoint, my choice is the
Schuylkill Banks section of the Schuylkill River
Trail in Philadelphia. Not only does it have
every type of trail user, from recreationists
to commuters, but the different modes of
transportation can’t be beat. This is all best
observed when standing on one of the cross
streets above the trail. You get a beautiful
view of the trail, the adjacent rail line (with
active trains), the river corridor and its boats,
and automotive traffic—all these modes
bundled together in one harmonious flow!
FEATURED LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Walk the Line
I have been a Rails-to-Trails supporter
for many years now and greatly appreci-
ate what the organization is trying to do.
My only disappointment is that when
long trips on a trail are discussed in your
magazine, inevitably the mode of transpor-
tation seems to be bicycling—not walking.
I would love to see a discussion or two
about a long walk over several days along
a rail-trail. I’m not talking about camping
trips, but about long walks with comfort-
able accommodations like bed and break-
fasts, great meals and a very light pack.
Since many rail-trails tie towns together,
I would think there should be plenty of
them. This type of trip is something almost
anyone can do—even an almost-70-year-
old walker like myself!
Paul Cooke
, Normandy Park, Wash.
Thanks Paul! We will explore ways to integrate
more walking themes in future issues!
Correction: Fall 2016 Issue
In the Fall 2016 “Best Of”—10 Great Path-
ways to History—we mistakenly printed that
the Virginia Capital Trail parallels the James-
town River. The proper name is “James
River.” Our apologies for the error.
Michael Phillips
Lititz, Pennsylvania
MELISSA ENGLE
I S U P P O R T
R A I L S - T O - T R A I L S C O N S E R V A N C Y