Every once in a while we all hit a bit of a slump: the running buddy can’t make it, your music isn’t getting you pumped to run, or you’re lacking motivation to get a hard run in. Luckily, outside motivation can exist through Penn State’s lovely public transportation system via the Blue and White Loops. The challenge is to see how many Blue/White Loops don’t pass you on the route. For example, maybe the first time you run a Blue Loop, two buses pass you, and the next time you improve and only one bus passes you. These loops are close to campus and you can always hop on a bus if you run out of gas! To start, just pick a route.

BLOOP ROUTE

The name pretty much says it all. If you run the Blue-Loop bus route, it’s about a 4.15 mile run.

Starting off at the bus stop on the Millennium Building lawn, follow Pollock Road and then make a right turn on Shortlidge. Once you hit college, head west until you hit Atherton. Turn right onto Atherton and run up the hill, under the IST Building until you come across Curtin Road. Follow Curtin Road past East Halls all the way to Porter Road. Turn right on Porter and follow it till you see a sign for Hastings right after the outdoor track. Follow Hastings Road up the hill toward the student parking lot and then make a right when the road comes to a T. Follow Hastings over University Drive, passing the Greenberg Ice Rink, and then make a right on Bigler. Finally make a left onto Pollock and SPRINT to the Millennium Building bus stop. That Blue Loop has nothing on you!

THE WHITE LOOP

Surprisingly, the White Loop has less total mileage than the Blue Loop! Coming in at a little over three miles, this very basic route has only one very large, challenging hill. Starting off at the Beaver Hill bus stop, run East on Beaver until you come across High Street. Turn left on High Street and run East on College Ave. to the Meridian Crosswalk. Cross the College Ave., turn right on the sidewalk and then turn left, following the sidewalk up University Drive. This is the one BIG HILL you will encounter. Run up University Drive and make a left on Curtin Road. Follow Curtin and then make a left on Burrowes Street. After crossing College Ave., turn left in Beaver and run all the way back to the Beaver Hill bus stop.

 BLUE & WHITE COURSE TRAIL

If you are looking for a run that is soft on your shins for at least a little while, check out this 5.34 mile loop. There’s a trail that encircles both the Blue and White Golf Courses on the other side of Atherton. Starting off at the HUB, follow Pollock Road East and then make a right turn up Bigler. Once you have climaxed at the top of Bigler, make a left on Park Avenue. Follow Park all the way to the other side of Atherton. The sidewalk on park will divide into an ongoing sidewalk on the right that will lead you behind the golf course trail, and the left sidewalk that seems to stop abruptly in the Golf Course. Take the left sidewalk and run on the grass, following the tree-line of the golf course. After a little time of following the tree line, you should start to see a trail in the grass that has been patted down and worn away a little bit. Follow the road well traveled around the edges of the golf course. Eventually you will come upon a trail next to Spruce Creek Ride. Follow this trail back to campus. Take the IST ramp over College Ave. and then run right back to the HUB.

Looking for more variation in your running routes? Take a look at our previous running guides: Running Routes for the Addicted, Running Routes for the Addicted 2, and Running Routes for the Addicted 3.