Lehigh Valley Transplant, Nature Lover, and Day Sleeper Andrew Doggett Discovers Trail Running (and more) at Black River Sanctuary
Photos by Steve Miller
Sometimes a running start, starts with walking, especially if said “running” involves trails – just ask Lehigh Valley transplant, nature lover, and day sleeper Andrew Doggett.
Doggett moved to Allentown from Philadelphia about two years ago for an industrial manufacturing position. He works nights and is starved for the sort of sunshine many nine-to-fivers might take for granted.
Sunshine = Vitamin D
“I’ve spent pretty much my entire life enjoying the outdoors. I grew up hiking and camping. I was in Boy Scouts,” says Doggett. “But more recently, work and other responsibilities have kind of taken over, not giving as me as much time as I’d like for being outside.”
Enter Wildlands Conservancy’s 187-acre Black River Sanctuary. It checked Doggett’s boxes for breathing room and convenience. It was right there along his route home from work. It invited him to form the healthy habit of parking and lacing up his sneakers to spend the end of his day on the mountain, before resting up for his next night shift.
Nature is a reset button
Doggett, who’s done some road running and 5k races, credits Black River Sanctuary with his earnest introduction to trail running. His initial visits started with walking and hiking. He soon tried running a mile, and he eventually worked his way up to regularly running a 3-mile loop at the new nature preserve.
Doggett welcomes not just the change in scenery, but the entirely different atmosphere that surrounds him at Black River Sanctuary.
“I get to go from a very loud, busy environment to a quiet, slow environment,” says Doggett. “I just enjoy the serenity of it, especially after work, just to reset at the end of my day. Being outside kind of let’s me wash away whatever happened that day.”
Photo by Steve Miller
Loving life in the Lehigh Valley
Black River helped Doggett find local friends with shared interests, too. Together, they frequent South Mountain Preserve, the 8.5-mile Border Trail at Trexler Nature Preserve, and Lehigh Parkway. And with some serious training miles under his belt, Doggett is eyeing some cross-country racing ops with Briar Chase Cross and Fifth Street Cross Country in Emmaus, Pa.
Doggett loves living in the Lehigh Valley. He describes the region as having the best of what Philadelphia offers, but with far easier access to rugged nature nearby.
“I live right on the edge of the city. It takes me like two minutes to disappear into the woods and forget I’m in a city,” says Doggett. “And having public lands close by is such a huge win. I think it’s so important.”
And most days (while many of us are just waking up), Doggett is winning, too. He’s pulling into Black River Sanctuary, and it’s the surest sign he’s almost home.
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