Exploring the ‘Burg: A Runner’s Guide

By: Lily Englert'27

My college experience has been defined by two things thus far: my ever-growing camera roll, and obsession with my Strava account. Attempting a PR every morning, I have run my way around every corner of Colonial Williamsburg—while photographing anything and everything I see. Through my efforts, I compiled a neat catalog of my favorite running pictures and a list of my favorite running locations, both of which I would like to share with you! 

For the standard Colonial Williamsburg experience, starting from the Campus Center

(with a little warm-up walk beforehand), I cross the street at Berret's Seafood Restaurant and continue up Francis Street. This equates to the perimeter of Colonial Williamsburg, with a prime view of the Williamsburg Inn, challenging hills, and, of course, photo-worthy sheep encounters. When the sidewalk begins to split, I turn left onto South Waller Street, then left again onto East  Nicholson Street. This takes me back through Colonial Williamsburg, where I take more pictures of sheep, horses, trees, and cows. I then continue straight through the Palace Green and onto Prince George Street, where I run until I reach Confusion Corner. This circle is around two miles, but I like to go around multiple times when the weather is nice. There is always something new to see each time I go. 

Photo courtesy of Lily Englert'27

My personal favorite, when paired with the Colonial Williamsburg circle, involves a bit of a detour. When crossing from the Campus Center to Francis Street, I continue up Francis Street until I reach S Henry Street, where I hook a right. From there it is a straight shot, with many beautiful trees, shrubs, and houses to enjoy. The sidewalk ends right when I arrive at College Landing Park, which is where I take all of my photos nowadays. It is located right on the water, with benches I use to stretch and take a short breather (the geese are also fun to watch). When I feel ready, I run back up South Henry Street and continue on the usual Colonial Williamsburg route. College Landing Park is two extra miles there and back, but it is a worthy visit if you want to take photos and appreciate Williamsburg’s wonderful nature. 

Running has been the greatest thing for my mental health, especially when bogged down with coursework. These routes may be just the thing to calm and inspire you—but I will always encourage you to explore routes of your own, take pictures, and use them as outlets for mindfulness, time with friends, or fun.

Photos courtesy of Lily Englert'27