Loving All Things Dallas

My Dallas Trail Story:

Loving All Things Dallas!

I started running about 8 years ago. I’ve always been active and played sports my whole life. With that, came workouts that were always made for me. Once that chapter of my life closed, I knew I needed to find a way to stay in shape, so I decided to give running a try. It came really naturally to me and was something I enjoyed from the start. I’m a true Texan in that I absolutely love the heat and being outdoors, so running was a perfect fit.

My name is Brandee Champagne. I’m a DFW native who loves all things Dallas, and this is My Dallas Trail Story.

I’m lucky in that I’ve always had direct access to the trails. Since living in Dallas I’ve lived in both Victory Park and Uptown which both have access to the Katy Trail. The trails make Dallas walkable which is one thing I absolutely love about this city!

I love the variety of activities the trails allow for. Not only do I use the trails for running and fitness, but I also use them for social outings like walks with friends. I love taking the Katy Trail down to Ice House to meet friends for a drink or walking to Knox Street to enjoy a coffee from Berkley’s Market or making a quick grocery stop at Trader Joe’s…catching a beautiful sunset at White Rock Lake is a favorite too.

One of my favorite routes to take is from the American Airlines Center entrance/south trailhead of the Katy Trail down to the very other end of the trail near SMU/the north trailhead. It’s the perfect distance for a short run (about 3.5 miles). For longer runs, I enjoy taking the trail around White Rock Lake (about 9.5 miles). My brother and I recently picked up tennis, so next on my list is to take the Katy Trail to the University Crossing Trail– Glencoe Park is one of our favorite places to play.

One of my favorite parts about the trails is running into familiar faces. So many people use the trails for so many different activities, and I love running into friends- new and old 🙂

A specific memory I love- my brother proposed to his now wife on the White Rock Lake Trail in July of 2022. It’s so fun to run by that same spot today and think back on that special moment!

Being active and outdoors means everything to me- it brings me so much joy and peace to enjoy God’s creation. The trails are such a beautiful way to do that!