Running in the summer in South Texas can be really tough. One way that I have found that makes it a little more bearable is to go off-road and run some of the great trails that we have in the area. Have you ever ventured beyond the asphalt and run on any trails? You would actually be surprised at how many places that there are to run sans asphalt. The trails in the area also afford a wide array of difficulty from very easy to technical to provide you with any experience that you are looking for.
Living in New Braunfels, I have to actually travel a little bit out of town to find a good trail to run, but even locally there are some short trails that can be run. They aren't very long but if you don't mind running loops you can get a good workout. Up until recently, one of my favorite running areas has been the Madrone trail up at Canyon Lake. This is a gem of a trail that provides every type of terrain you can imagine. There are some nice flat areas and there are also some very rocky areas. If you know the trail, there are ways to focus on the type of terrain that you like and avoid those that you don't. It was designed as mountain bike trail but is great for running as well. It's where I usually go to do my off-road training for trail races.
San Antonio residents have several good trail systems that can be run and are easily accessible. McAllister Park has many miles of trails and are all within a short distance of the main roads. The trails can give you the feel of being isolated but you're never very far from a main park road and most of the trails are fairly easy. Government Canyon is also a great area to run in. If you haven't been out there to hike or run the trails, then I would highly recommend that you check it out. Roosevelt Park also has some trails that you might want to check out.
Lately, I discovered a set of trails in San Marcos that are really fantastic. The trailhead is in Purgatory Park at the corner of Hunter Road and Wonderland. The main trail is accessible for all and is covered in caliche but there are many side trails that offer a more rugged experience. I've been out there several times already and have tried different trails to check them out. One trail in particular has you running along cliffs overlooking the a creek valley. The view is spectacular and makes for a great run. I'm looking forward to going out there again and checking out some of the other trails. The front trails of the park are fairly easy but once you get to the back areas, they become a little more challenging. It's a great area to run.
I hope to see you out there on the trails somewhere.
