Conservation Conversations with Erin Klein: Running the Path to Protection

Jan 11

A Conservation Conversation with Erin Klein, Conservation Florida Intern

Why wild Florida? Why protect it?

I began running when I was twelve.

My dad invited me to run with his Navy friends along the Tampa Riverwalk, convincing me despite my raging reluctance and apprehension. Underneath the blazing Florida sun, my lungs burned, on fire from exertion. They weren’t used to this sort of stuff.

I remember wanting to give up and walk but pushing myself to finish the run. That feeling of exhilaration at the end was something that I would not forget. I did that!

Soon, I began to look forward to these runs, not only because of that elusive “runner’s high” that I’d chase, but because of the wildlife that would accompany me on new trails and pathways — the seagulls flying overhead, a snake here and there, and dolphins popping out of the sparkling sea.

I was hooked — I needed to see more.

Next, I was running through the marshes of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, alongside the Potomac River, my favorite trail in Alexandria, Virginia. One of the reasons I love it is because you can look across the river to see the National Harbor in Maryland. If you really wanted to, you could run all the way to the National Mall in DC. That was more than a few miles, though.

Most of all, I loved the greenery that enveloped me as I ran through the preserve. As I was running through the foliage, it felt like I could release my worries and stressors to the leaves and dirt surrounding me.

I was able to let it all go.

There are few places that bring me the level of serenity that nature does.

Moving to Gainesville solidified my love of running in nature — along with it, my innate desire to protect it.

I arrived on the University of Florida campus anxious at the thought of being on my own for the first time in my entire life. Being away from my safety net — my family and friends and the familiarity of life in Virginia — was terrifying. Growing up as a military child, this was not a new experience, but this didn’t make this move any easier.

I decided to bank on the one source of consistency that I knew I always could — nature. I Googled the closest running trail, the Hawthorne Trail, and set off.

As soon as I stepped out of my car, feet solidly on soft soil, I finally drew in a real, deep breath. I was at last alone, away from the hustle and bustle of campus.

But I wasn’t really alone, was I?

Birds flew overhead, and I listened to their twinkling. I saw squirrels running about along the foliage and then up the trees. I ran off the trail at one point to explore the stream below and came across small turtles sitting on the logs around it, soaking up the sun. A couple of miles down the path, I came across a sign labeled “Payne’s Prairies Overlook” and decided to follow the arrow, immediately amazed by the stretch of green that extended far beyond and below me, Sandhill Cranes and Great Blue Herons flying in the distance.

I finally felt it. Peace.

That familiar feeling I get from running in nature in a place far from home was an enormous relief. Aside from the calm that I felt, I experienced a profound sense of appreciation for the green, lush area around me, shielding me from the sun and from the loud noises of the cars zipping by. Wildlife conservation has countless benefits, and my life is undeniably better because of it.

Running has allowed me to establish an increasingly intimate connection with nature — and now wild Florida. It has inspired me to pursue a career in environmental policy, advocating for wildlife like the Florida panther. I hope to inspire change and share my love of nature with future generations.

What does nature mean to you? Whether you’re immersed in it, removed from it, or somewhere in between, we all benefit in some way from nature. Our lives would look quite different if it were to disappear.

Join me today in the fight for the conservation of our natural areas. Whether that be through contacting legislators or simply conversing with friends and family on the importance of conservation, we all play a role. By taking collective action, we can ensure that wild Florida stays exactly that — wild.