I Returned to the LA River

Adventures of All Sizes
Written By Coach Vida

I returned to the LA River today, a place that has been with me since the pandemic first forced us all to turn inward. Back then, when the world grew still, the river path became my outlet, a place to think, to plan, and sometimes to yell at the top of my lungs as I rode. I’ll never forget the day a bee landed on my arm. I was so new to cycling that I could barely let go of the handlebars, gripping for dear life. So the bee rode with me for a while, until it decided to fly off on its own. That moment captured the lesson of the river: sometimes you carry what comes, sometimes you let it go, but either way the path keeps moving.

Over the years, I’ve paused to sit by the river, hopped over to the water’s edge, and even stretched out on the path to soak in the rare calm of the city. I’ve fueled up at cafés along the way, crossed bridges that frame the water with steel and light, and felt the rhythm of movement shift from one bend to another.

Taylor Yard Bridge and North Atwater Multimodal Bridge

The Taylor Yard Bridge and the North Atwater Multimodal Bridge stand out, someone once told me one of them was designed to resemble a spoke. I can see it when I look, though I’ve never heard it confirmed again. Either way, they’ve become markers in my personal map of this place.

I’ve ridden beyond this stretch too, exploring other parts of the bike path, each one a different story. There’s something incredible about cycling here, free from car traffic, moving at your own pace, part of a quiet flow alongside the river. Of course, it comes with its own safety lessons, but the freedom it gives is unlike anything else in the city.

The LA River continues to be more than just a path for me. It’s been a mirror, a release, and sometimes, a companion. Every return feels like a conversation picked up right where it left off.

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Coach Vida

Coach Vida is the voice behind FormaFit Active a movement journal rooted in mindful motion, real gear, cultural pride, and showing up without apology.
She believes in slow mornings, walking when it hurts, and building strength that feels like freedom.

Her motto: You don’t have to look like an athlete to move like one.

She writes from Los Angeles, with a speaker clipped on and sunscreen always in the bag. This journal is for anyone reclaiming energy, stretch by stretch.

Coach Vida es la voz detrás de FormaFit Active, un diario de movimiento con raíces en el cuerpo, la cultura y la intención.
Cree en moverse con calma, en estirarse cuando duele, y en la fuerza como libertad.

Su lema: No tienes que parecer atleta para moverte como uno.

Escribe desde Los Ángeles, con su bocina a un lado y bloqueador en la mochila.
Este espacio es para quienes se están reclamando, paso a paso.

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LA River Reflections: Sit, Listen, and Be Present