My Dallas Trail Story:

Training on the Trails to Richardson

I was inspired to run and bike ride by one of my older sisters. She got into triathlons and Ironman races about ten years ago. In the midst of trying to qualify for the World Championships in Kona, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Despite the diagnosis, she delayed treatment by a month to try to qualify for a preplanned race. Unfortunately, she didn’t qualify but, more importantly, she beat cancer. To celebrate, another sister and I did an Olympic-distance triathlon with her in May 2019. That’s when I caught the endurance race/triathlon bug. My sister then got back into triathlons and qualified for the 2023 Ironman World Championships. She’s the toughest person I know.

My name is Nathan Cox, and this is My Dallas Trail Story. When I’m not using the trails, I’m either working as a business litigation attorney or being tackled by my two sons, aged 2 and 4.

For several years, I had to cross and ride along busy streets to access the trails. Doing this multiple times a week made my wife—and depending on traffic, myself—nervous about getting hit by a car. Now that the trails have expanded to connect to the Forest Hills neighborhood, I can take a few side streets through my neighborhood to get on the new Trinity Forest Spine Trail, and go all the way up to Richardson or over to Victory Park while avoiding roads.

I use the trails for both cycling and running. I’m also a member of the Tri-Now Endurance triathlon club, and we use various parts of the trails for team runs, which is a safer and more enjoyable place to run than most other options.

My favorite ride is to get on the Trinity Forest Spine Trail, go around White Rock Lake and then up to Richardson using the White Rock Creek Trail.

A special memory of mine–I officiated one of my best friend’s weddings at Winfrey Point, on the east side of White Rock Lake, so it’s always fun when I run or ride past that spot on the trail.

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