Times Are Tough in Oakland — and That’s Why I Must Keep Running

The path around Lake Merritt — which I run or walk almost daily — is the shape of a heart, albeit a slightly deformed one. It’s the perfect symbol of Oakland: a little beat up and rough around the edges, but full of things to love. With calm waters and seabirds galore, the lake was designated a wildlife refuge in 1870, the country’s first. It’s also my refuge, temporarily sheltering me from the din of urban life as I trace its perimeter with my feet. Sadly, this sense of escape is slipping away. Though I bristle at sensationalistic portrayals of my hometown — Fox News recently declared Oakland <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6332631099112" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">a city “in decay”</a> — crime is <a href="https://sfist.com/2023/08/04/crime-in-oakland-soaring-across-the-board-according-to-new-statistics/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">statistically</a> and anecdotally on the rise. As a result, I am now careful about what I carry with me on runs and maintain a higher level of vigilance. My cautiousness is reminiscent of the days when I would step outside to smoke-filled skies or to the eerie hush of the pandemic. With a tinge of sorrow, I once again mask up, but this time my protective gear is invisible. <img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:875/0*dkZ737pdjk81TV2G" style="height:649px; width:700px" /> We spent Labor Day walking the lake’s heart-shaped loop (screenshot: strava.com) But life must go on, and on this bright, cloudless Labor Day, my wife, Margaret, and I decide to stroll the lake. Given the holiday, we aptly find ourselves free of work and family responsibilities. We’re recently retired, both our kids are in college, and my elderly parents, who live in an apartment facing Lake Merritt, are away on a cruise. We do have one errand: we stop by my parents’ place to water their plants. With only geraniums and ourselves to tend to on this day, we are starting to comprehend what it means to be “carefree.” <a href="https://medium.com/runners-life/times-are-tough-in-oakland-and-thats-why-i-must-keep-running-f688a99c66ea">Learn More</a>