On foot with Steve Mellott
Where he walks: I ran into Steve Mellott walking with his Chocolate Lab on a stretch of the C&O Canal trail just south of Williamsport, near Hagerstown. He doesn't always stick to the same stretch; the area near Fort Frederick is his favorite.
Age: 46
What he does: Trucking, maintenance and repair work
Where he lives: Mellott has his home on Falling Waters Road, a rural area about a mile from the portion of the trail on which we were walking. The road roughly follows a westward bend of the Potomac River.
What's the routine? He tries to walk on the towpath every day.
While walking: The towpath provides both socialization and a time to think. Mellott says he sees certain people regularly, and that even animals can become familiar: Eagles nest under a nearby bridge, and a woman near the path raises goats.
Training for: Recovery. Mellott severed part of his lower leg recently. He now walks with a persistent, comfortable-looking stride, but he says the injury created some occupational problems.
Know someone with an interesting walking or running routine? Leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail. If we feature the person next month, you'll get your choice of a SilverSport antimicrobial towel or the book "Long May You Run" by Chris Cooper.
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