Letter to the Editor: Missing a great loop

Key Takeaways:

• A Brattleboro runner shares a personal experience of a missing loop.
• The route spanned the Connecticut River, highlighting scenic appeal.
• Two old, historic double truss metal bridges defined the path.
• The runner enjoyed this routine for most of the past year.
• The letter implies a deep nostalgia for a beloved route.

A Runner’s Brattleboro Tradition

A local runner recounts the joy of daily runs in Brattleboro, Vermont—an activity that involved more than just exercise. For most of the past year, crossing the Connecticut River on foot became both a scenic treat and a personal ritual.

Historic Bridges Over the Connecticut

Central to this cherished loop were two old, historic double truss metal bridges. Mentioned in the original letter as “historic,” these bridges linked local residents to a piece of the town’s past. Their steel framework and distinct design offered a glimpse into earlier engineering feats and formed an integral part of the runner’s chosen path.

A Year-Long Routine and a Lingering Absence

The writer notes running this circuit over the past year, finding daily satisfaction in passing from one bank of the Connecticut to the other. Yet the letter’s title, “Missing a great loop,” hints at a renewal of longing, suggesting the route is no longer part of the runner’s life. Exactly why it is missing remains unexplained in the excerpt, but the sense of loss over a once-familiar path is unmistakable.

Reflections on Change

The letter underscores how certain daily routines—especially those tied to local landmarks—can become deeply meaningful. Though details remain sparse, the sentiment lingers: when we lose access to a favorite place or route, it resonates far beyond the physical distance involved. For the runner, these two historic metal bridges across the Connecticut River have left an enduring impression, prompting a reflective call to remember and, perhaps, restore what made the loop special.