South Mag South Issue 71 | Page 66

RU N N I N G I N T H E S O U T H PINCKNEY ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 31° 56'58.6"N 81° 03'12.9"W Between the two bridges from the mainland to Hilton Head Island lies the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, which provides a complete escape into the solitude of the Lowcountry. The island features nearly 15 miles of trails, including a main gravel path stretching the length of the island with several grass trails shooting off to offer further exploration of the refuge and offer views of the intracoastal waterway to the east and Mackay Creek to the west. The refuge is teeming with wildlife, naturally, including alligators, turtles, deer, armadillos, and numerous waterfowl. Oh, and plenty of sand gnats and mosquitoes, so if you forget your bug spray, don’t stop running. DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH FORSYTH PARK 32°1'38"N 80°53'25"W Two of the Hostess City’s signature parks provide a great setting for a short run, or you can make the trek between the two and incorporate both into a longer jaunt. Forsyth Park is the quintessential Savannah scene with the iconic fountain and an endless canopy of live oaks draped with Spanish moss, not to mention some top-notch people-watching to keep things interesting no matter how many one- mile laps you make around the park. A 1.5-mile rubberized jogging trail loops Daffin Park, which includes Historic Grayson Stadium. It’s about a mile between the parks, and you can choose your own route to keep things fresh on future runs. 66 S OUT H M AGA ZI NE.C OM