I love to run the monuments in Washington DC. Usually starting in Georgetown and running down along the Hudson and up to the Mall. I stop off to see Mr Lincoln before running past the rest of the monuments and up to the capitol building. Just a great run. central park is the second fave. As far as destination runs, I'm planning a trip to Patagonia in Sept. to run the half there and can't wait.. The pictures look amazing. I'd love to know if anyone has done it already....
Love that, Jim! When I was (much) younger I did an internship in D.C. and loved running along the Mall as well. Have you run any of the halfs/marathons that go past the monuments?
I'm embarrassed to say that many many years ago when I was just starting to run, I brought my gear with me to a meeting in Georgetown. I didn't know the marine Corp marathon was that weekend and had planned to run after church. I saw the tail end off the marathon on my way home and got so excited that I jumped in as a bandit and ran 18 miles of the course to the finish. My previous long run was 5 miles and I got what I deserved in the form of tendonitis and gallons of lactic acid as my reward. Walked backwards down the stairs for 2 days. I'm off to work. Hope you have a great weekend!
So many places! Paris is probably my most recent favorite. Last Christmas my family spent two weeks there and I made it my mission to run in every arrondissement over the course of the trip, and it was SO fun.
Around the long, straight streets of the historic colonial area of Williamsburg, Virginia. Beautiful scenery all year, great history on the roads that Washington and Jefferson walked, pancake flat except for a few dips, and lots of young runners from the adjacent College of William and Mary. You can do about a three-mile lap without repeating. You may have to dodge a road muffin or two from the horse-drawn carriages. Afterwards, some great restaurants and pubs for recovery.
I went on a retreat in Moab, Utah a few years ago and fell in love. I’ve been back there and also southern Utah a couple of times since. My favorite race was the Fueled By Fine Wine 1/2 in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. I ran it in 2010 during its inaugural year. At the time it was the hardest race I have ever run... and only my second half. My husband and I are going back to run it again this summer. I’m so excited! I expect it to still be hard (although I’ve run 34 halfs, 8 fulls, and 5 ultras since then, so at least I won’t be so naive!), but I also expect it to still be breathtaking. ...And I think in summer, nothing beats the trails at home in NE Wisconsin. It’s frigid here now, but our summers are gorgeous.
I've loved the Fueled by Fine Wine race from afar for a long time! And it sounds like after running your first half back then, you've definitely caught the bug! So, so impressed. Have you ever run the Ice Age Trail Run up in WI? (I've read about it and it looks like fun.)
I have not run it, but know many who have. I hike a lot, and I’ve hiked Ice Age... or part of it, anyhow, since it is so long. It’s one of those places that is hard for me to believe exists, especially so close to home. It doesn’t seem real.
Drop 13, Cottonwood Canyon in Utah is a gorgeous run. Sun comes up over snow capped mountains and it is gorgeous every step of the way! But, I must admit I am a lifelong resident of Mississippi where our highest hill is 800 ft. One could say we get easily impressed by mountains!!!
I think there's a half there too -- I've seen photos and it looks gorgeous. Where I live is a little hillier than Mississippi, but I'm definitely easily impressed too. 😊
Yes! The half is Drop 13! Great run! We are going back this June. Also, doing the Half at Glacier National Park in June as well. It will be a great month for scenery runs!
My family has a cabin at Duck Creek (just up the mountain from Cedar City) & I love running up there! Summer is the best, but late spring & fall when there is no snow have their beautiful moments too.
For a half, I usually pace the 1:40 or 1:45. I have a friend whose current personal best is 1:50 and change, so she's asked me to request 1:45 so I can pace her to a new PR. I usually race in a kilt, so I'm kind of hard to miss. :)
Wow! I will Look for you! But, you are a bit faster than me! My fastest is 2:23. But, I have Been a professional photographer all my life and I can Not get away from that even in a run🤣 I could shave 10-15 minutes off my time if I put the phone up! Look forward to meeting you!
I have ran in some beautiful areas, we live in a scenic country but my favorite race was the Fargo Half Marathon. It had rained all night and the streets were flooded. The rain continued through the race, it was cold with wind gusts at 30mph. I got a PR and finished with a sense of accomplishment! I realized I am tougher than I thought I was and now I brave the cold weather instead of retreating to the treadmill which leaves me with that satisfaction all over again. There were 6,000 bad ass people on the streets of Fargo that morning and I learned a lot about what I am capable of that day.
I love the Chicamauga Battlefield Park and the several races held there. It is so peaceful, beautiful and historic, running by the cannons and the big stone lookout towers.
The best setting (views + race experience) I ever had was the Big Sur half-marathon, which "technically" is not in Big Sur, bur is close by. It starts/finishes in the city of Monterey, with many lovely miles spent coast-side between Monterey and Pacific Grove. I would run this on my own without the support of an event staff, but the race was extremely well supported which made it all the more enjoyable. My #2 choice for lovely views + race experience is the Livermore (CA) Valley half-marathon. Many miles of the event were on paved park trails, winding through vineyards. Try it and see! This wine-producing region is 50+ miles south of Napa and just as beautiful, with fewer crowds.
I've always wanted to run the Monterey Bay Half! I've been in touch over the years with the race directors for it, and they've sent photos that make it look absolutely spectacular. I'm so jealous!!! I will have to try the Livermore Valley race as well -- it sounds amazing.
I would like to discover more amazing places to run. I always enjoyed running along the coast of Southern California. The trail between Encinitas and Solana Beach was very scenic. I would also like to explore more scenic areas in the area around Charlottesville, Virginia and the Blue Ridge mountains.
Is there anywhere to run along the Blue Ridge Parkway? Like trails that run alongside it? I drove a long stretch of it once, on a trip to visit a friend in Charlottesville, and it was such a beautiful, peaceful drive.
My son is in law school there and I am running the Charlottesville 10 miler next month. There is a great race, although hilly, in Roanoke that is in the Blue Ridge. Lexington, VA, is an hour away and has a flat, towpath race called the Chessie Trail that is very nice. And, that is a beautiful small town to check out.
I am hoping to investigate some trails in this area soon. I can tell you Charlottesville itself is a great place to run. Very hilly, but gorgeous scenery.
We have some beautiful trails to run in Arizona , The desert runs are the best when the winter rains make everything green up on the trail ..best time is our winter LOl months ., not much winter just cooler temps... Oct /Nov thur March/April ...after that 90-116 degrees..but as we do in AZ , were still running in the heat ...just remember to hydrate well and know your limits ....
Recent "pinch me" runs would have to be Sydney and Vancouver. Maybe because we don't have a lot of water to run by in downtown Atlanta I am always stunned by the beauty of running by water. Favorite races would be Athens 1/2 -- fun even if you aren't a Dawg fan and the Freedoms Run in WV and MD. Both races are hilly but very pretty. Eugene and Covered Bridges are close on that list as well. Always fun to read about other places.
I am a hometown girl and we have a beautiful nature trail in a local county park, Dorothy Carnes Park. I grew up right near the area before they turned it into a park so it has even more meaning. It is out in a meadow area and the trail goes along a small lake and up into a wooded area. It is out in the country and just provides a quiet place to run, walk, enjoy nature while improving your trail running experience and stamina.
I ran the San Francisco half marathon and it was epic. We ran past Pier 39, Ghiradelli Square, the Presido, across the Golden Gate Bridge and finished in Golden Gate Park. Weather in July was beautiful. There are 2 halves that you can pick from that each run through different parts of the city.
I ran the 1st SF Half back in 2010 (I think?) and LOVED it. Did you run the 1st or 2nd half? I texted my sister as I was running across the Golden Gate Bridge, because I just couldn't help myself.
Tomorrow I’ll run Gasparilla Half Marathon in Tampa. We live her 9 months out of the year, and love the mix of bay views, river walks, and residential running. In the summers were on Cape Cod. It’s tougher to find good running on Cape, because drivers basically suck. But there’s 6+ miles of safe-ish running along the canal, where I can see boats, water, people, and occasional marine wildlife. The beach near our home is good running too, with an occasional seal wallowing in the sand. I often say I run with seals. It sounds like I’m a commando. But I’m not lying.
I started following Vacation Races around for their scenic Half Marathons & have never been disappointed. Zion (when it was a trail run up in the hills near cow pastures), Lake Powell 2ce, & Grand Canyon trail. All so beautiful. Ran a local race at Bryce Canyon that was fun & a local one at Sedona recently. Both also beautiful. Reading thru this open thread made me realize that I enjoy scenic races far more than city ones. Who knew?
New to distance running. At 58 years old did these Halfs- Inaugural Lynchburg Desmond Doss (MOH recipient) rolling hill Road run. Terrapin Mountain single path Trial. Ohio Spartan Beast mostly deep mud. Still in that delightful happy place that EVERY Half is great. 😃
These are such fantastic suggestions! Thank you all so much. My fav run has got to be Garden of the Gods in CO. My son is in graduate school in CO so I ran there a few times on a visit. Awe inspiring majesty that takes your breath away.
Living in CO, there are a lot of great places to run but I love the Evergreen area. There are a lot of trails close and you have lots of diversity. Plus you see a lot of wildlife and an occasional llama.
we have some very beautiful and awesome trails to run in Arizona , best to do that from say , Nov to March / April as our temps will hit 90 - 116 in our hotter months ....but we still run and we do ..just need to hydrate well and watch for rattle snakes LOl....
BRC is one of my favorite places. How lucky are we to be able to have it! I run It, bike it, walk it, can hardly stay away from it! When the AR side floods I feel like I have lost a limb or something. Going to the other end tomorrow (Marianna I believe?) to check it out.
Does anyone have a favorite run/runs in Scotland? My daughter and I are planning a trip there on July and would love to go on fun runs. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Hi Laura! Depending on where you're headed, I've traveled to St. Andrews (and Edinburgh) and can highly recommend running especially in St. Andrews -- you can run past the Old Course (where the Open Championship gets played every few years), and past some amazingly beautiful ruins of old castles that look out onto the North Sea. It's just spectacular.
Near Edinburgh, there's a fantastic trail that runs along the Water of Leith (a stream? river?). It's a well-marked path that runs for miles right along the water. I had to do a long run while training for an ultra when I was there and highly recommend if you want to get out into nature!
I love to run the monuments in Washington DC. Usually starting in Georgetown and running down along the Hudson and up to the Mall. I stop off to see Mr Lincoln before running past the rest of the monuments and up to the capitol building. Just a great run. central park is the second fave. As far as destination runs, I'm planning a trip to Patagonia in Sept. to run the half there and can't wait.. The pictures look amazing. I'd love to know if anyone has done it already....
I used to love running in DC!!!
Love that, Jim! When I was (much) younger I did an internship in D.C. and loved running along the Mall as well. Have you run any of the halfs/marathons that go past the monuments?
I'm embarrassed to say that many many years ago when I was just starting to run, I brought my gear with me to a meeting in Georgetown. I didn't know the marine Corp marathon was that weekend and had planned to run after church. I saw the tail end off the marathon on my way home and got so excited that I jumped in as a bandit and ran 18 miles of the course to the finish. My previous long run was 5 miles and I got what I deserved in the form of tendonitis and gallons of lactic acid as my reward. Walked backwards down the stairs for 2 days. I'm off to work. Hope you have a great weekend!
Now *that* is a great story. You have a great weekend too!
That's an awesome story.
DC and Central Park are 2 of my faves too!!
I love DC running too!!
Always thought it would be amazing to run around the monuments!
I used to love to run along the tow path when we lived in DC back in the '90s
Patagonia is on my list! What a fantastic trip.
Nice! Need to try that someday.
So many places! Paris is probably my most recent favorite. Last Christmas my family spent two weeks there and I made it my mission to run in every arrondissement over the course of the trip, and it was SO fun.
How awesome is that, Sarah!
Fantastic pictures all the time and even more fantastic post-run croissants every morning! One of my favorite trips I've ever taken.
Around the long, straight streets of the historic colonial area of Williamsburg, Virginia. Beautiful scenery all year, great history on the roads that Washington and Jefferson walked, pancake flat except for a few dips, and lots of young runners from the adjacent College of William and Mary. You can do about a three-mile lap without repeating. You may have to dodge a road muffin or two from the horse-drawn carriages. Afterwards, some great restaurants and pubs for recovery.
I love that term "road muffin"!
I live in New Hampshire and love to run when I am up North in the White Mountains. The views are amazing.
I went on a retreat in Moab, Utah a few years ago and fell in love. I’ve been back there and also southern Utah a couple of times since. My favorite race was the Fueled By Fine Wine 1/2 in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. I ran it in 2010 during its inaugural year. At the time it was the hardest race I have ever run... and only my second half. My husband and I are going back to run it again this summer. I’m so excited! I expect it to still be hard (although I’ve run 34 halfs, 8 fulls, and 5 ultras since then, so at least I won’t be so naive!), but I also expect it to still be breathtaking. ...And I think in summer, nothing beats the trails at home in NE Wisconsin. It’s frigid here now, but our summers are gorgeous.
I've loved the Fueled by Fine Wine race from afar for a long time! And it sounds like after running your first half back then, you've definitely caught the bug! So, so impressed. Have you ever run the Ice Age Trail Run up in WI? (I've read about it and it looks like fun.)
I have not run it, but know many who have. I hike a lot, and I’ve hiked Ice Age... or part of it, anyhow, since it is so long. It’s one of those places that is hard for me to believe exists, especially so close to home. It doesn’t seem real.
Santa Monica beach at sunrise
Drop 13, Cottonwood Canyon in Utah is a gorgeous run. Sun comes up over snow capped mountains and it is gorgeous every step of the way! But, I must admit I am a lifelong resident of Mississippi where our highest hill is 800 ft. One could say we get easily impressed by mountains!!!
I think there's a half there too -- I've seen photos and it looks gorgeous. Where I live is a little hillier than Mississippi, but I'm definitely easily impressed too. 😊
Yes! The half is Drop 13! Great run! We are going back this June. Also, doing the Half at Glacier National Park in June as well. It will be a great month for scenery runs!
Overall, I'd say Utah has some of the most beautiful running courses and trails in the county ... maybe in the world.
I would agree. Utah is stunningly beautiful. Hard to find a bad run there!
If you've never run the Cedar City Half or Parowan Half, both are worth the trip. I'm hoping to pace Drop 13 this year.
My family has a cabin at Duck Creek (just up the mountain from Cedar City) & I love running up there! Summer is the best, but late spring & fall when there is no snow have their beautiful moments too.
Wow! I'm jealous! I love running up there! Highway 14, both sides, is spectacular.
I will look into both of them. Thank you! We will be at Drop 13 this year. What time do you pace? Would love to say “Hi”.
For a half, I usually pace the 1:40 or 1:45. I have a friend whose current personal best is 1:50 and change, so she's asked me to request 1:45 so I can pace her to a new PR. I usually race in a kilt, so I'm kind of hard to miss. :)
Wow! I will Look for you! But, you are a bit faster than me! My fastest is 2:23. But, I have Been a professional photographer all my life and I can Not get away from that even in a run🤣 I could shave 10-15 minutes off my time if I put the phone up! Look forward to meeting you!
My two favorite places to run are 1) around Niagara Falls State Park, NY and 2) at Black Moshannon State Park, PA.
How close can you get to the falls themselves? (I've been there, but it's been many years.)
A foot or two away.
My grandparents lived across the street from Fort Niagara and I would run there as a kid in the summer. So beautiful!
I live right down the road from black moshannon, never thought to run there! Thanks. I love running through Rothrock state park.
I'm headed down to our PA place next week for a few days. May even get in a trail run. Love central PA. Wish I lived closer.
I have ran in some beautiful areas, we live in a scenic country but my favorite race was the Fargo Half Marathon. It had rained all night and the streets were flooded. The rain continued through the race, it was cold with wind gusts at 30mph. I got a PR and finished with a sense of accomplishment! I realized I am tougher than I thought I was and now I brave the cold weather instead of retreating to the treadmill which leaves me with that satisfaction all over again. There were 6,000 bad ass people on the streets of Fargo that morning and I learned a lot about what I am capable of that day.
I love the Chicamauga Battlefield Park and the several races held there. It is so peaceful, beautiful and historic, running by the cannons and the big stone lookout towers.
I've heard from several friends here in Atlanta that Chickamauga is definitely one I should run. Maybe this year...
I absolutely agree!!! This race always stays in my top 5 favorites!!! You described it perfectly!!
The best setting (views + race experience) I ever had was the Big Sur half-marathon, which "technically" is not in Big Sur, bur is close by. It starts/finishes in the city of Monterey, with many lovely miles spent coast-side between Monterey and Pacific Grove. I would run this on my own without the support of an event staff, but the race was extremely well supported which made it all the more enjoyable. My #2 choice for lovely views + race experience is the Livermore (CA) Valley half-marathon. Many miles of the event were on paved park trails, winding through vineyards. Try it and see! This wine-producing region is 50+ miles south of Napa and just as beautiful, with fewer crowds.
I've always wanted to run the Monterey Bay Half! I've been in touch over the years with the race directors for it, and they've sent photos that make it look absolutely spectacular. I'm so jealous!!! I will have to try the Livermore Valley race as well -- it sounds amazing.
I would like to discover more amazing places to run. I always enjoyed running along the coast of Southern California. The trail between Encinitas and Solana Beach was very scenic. I would also like to explore more scenic areas in the area around Charlottesville, Virginia and the Blue Ridge mountains.
Is there anywhere to run along the Blue Ridge Parkway? Like trails that run alongside it? I drove a long stretch of it once, on a trip to visit a friend in Charlottesville, and it was such a beautiful, peaceful drive.
My son is in law school there and I am running the Charlottesville 10 miler next month. There is a great race, although hilly, in Roanoke that is in the Blue Ridge. Lexington, VA, is an hour away and has a flat, towpath race called the Chessie Trail that is very nice. And, that is a beautiful small town to check out.
Run the Blue Ridge. We are signed up for the first time!
We are doing the Run the Blue Ridge in April. I am excited!
I am hoping to investigate some trails in this area soon. I can tell you Charlottesville itself is a great place to run. Very hilly, but gorgeous scenery.
We have some beautiful trails to run in Arizona , The desert runs are the best when the winter rains make everything green up on the trail ..best time is our winter LOl months ., not much winter just cooler temps... Oct /Nov thur March/April ...after that 90-116 degrees..but as we do in AZ , were still running in the heat ...just remember to hydrate well and know your limits ....
Recent "pinch me" runs would have to be Sydney and Vancouver. Maybe because we don't have a lot of water to run by in downtown Atlanta I am always stunned by the beauty of running by water. Favorite races would be Athens 1/2 -- fun even if you aren't a Dawg fan and the Freedoms Run in WV and MD. Both races are hilly but very pretty. Eugene and Covered Bridges are close on that list as well. Always fun to read about other places.
I am a hometown girl and we have a beautiful nature trail in a local county park, Dorothy Carnes Park. I grew up right near the area before they turned it into a park so it has even more meaning. It is out in a meadow area and the trail goes along a small lake and up into a wooded area. It is out in the country and just provides a quiet place to run, walk, enjoy nature while improving your trail running experience and stamina.
It sounds perfect, Nelda!
I just looked the park up. It looks beautiful. Have you done the Door County Race?
I'm signed up for the first time to do the half marathon. I cannot wait!
I ran the San Francisco half marathon and it was epic. We ran past Pier 39, Ghiradelli Square, the Presido, across the Golden Gate Bridge and finished in Golden Gate Park. Weather in July was beautiful. There are 2 halves that you can pick from that each run through different parts of the city.
I ran the 1st SF Half back in 2010 (I think?) and LOVED it. Did you run the 1st or 2nd half? I texted my sister as I was running across the Golden Gate Bridge, because I just couldn't help myself.
Terrell I ran the 2nd half years ago as my very first 1st half ever but never did the 1st half. Really enjoyed it!
We did the Pride run in San Francisco last year near the polo field. It was fantastic. Wonderful city for hill work.
Tomorrow I’ll run Gasparilla Half Marathon in Tampa. We live her 9 months out of the year, and love the mix of bay views, river walks, and residential running. In the summers were on Cape Cod. It’s tougher to find good running on Cape, because drivers basically suck. But there’s 6+ miles of safe-ish running along the canal, where I can see boats, water, people, and occasional marine wildlife. The beach near our home is good running too, with an occasional seal wallowing in the sand. I often say I run with seals. It sounds like I’m a commando. But I’m not lying.
Ha! I love that, Bob! Good luck at the Gasparilla Half tomorrow 👍
This is my 4th half. I seem to be in 4th place for my age group every time. Maybe tomorrow I’ll make it to third place. I’m older now. Haha!
I started following Vacation Races around for their scenic Half Marathons & have never been disappointed. Zion (when it was a trail run up in the hills near cow pastures), Lake Powell 2ce, & Grand Canyon trail. All so beautiful. Ran a local race at Bryce Canyon that was fun & a local one at Sedona recently. Both also beautiful. Reading thru this open thread made me realize that I enjoy scenic races far more than city ones. Who knew?
New to distance running. At 58 years old did these Halfs- Inaugural Lynchburg Desmond Doss (MOH recipient) rolling hill Road run. Terrapin Mountain single path Trial. Ohio Spartan Beast mostly deep mud. Still in that delightful happy place that EVERY Half is great. 😃
My favorite place to run is Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, FL🥰. It’s a short run but the flora, fauna & sunrises are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
These are such fantastic suggestions! Thank you all so much. My fav run has got to be Garden of the Gods in CO. My son is in graduate school in CO so I ran there a few times on a visit. Awe inspiring majesty that takes your breath away.
Living in CO, there are a lot of great places to run but I love the Evergreen area. There are a lot of trails close and you have lots of diversity. Plus you see a lot of wildlife and an occasional llama.
Ran at Niagara Falls this morning. Great run with awesome views.
Well it's nothing new and no surprise I like Italy... I love running at lake Como 😍😍.
Venice has a night run... I've never done it yet, but I've heard it's fantastic....
My “neighborhood “ 8300’ elevation in the Uintah foothills. My doggos and I love running all the game trails - heaven on earth
It sounds spectacular, Valerie — and at 8,300 feet, I’d guess it’s (literally!) breathtaking 😀
Yes, when I visit family at sea level, the first few runs are heavenly. But.....with all that oxygen comes humidity ☺️☺️☺️
Tweetsy Trail in Johnson City TN is a great greenway to run.
Monument Valley in AZ and UT. That was a tough trail run, but incredibly gorgeous.
Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pa. The view and the beach are fantastic!
Sunrise on the boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean in Long Branch, NJ. NYC is in the background and it never gets old!
Used to live in Hawaii and have run the Honolulu Marathon and the Hapalua and Hibiscus 1/2 Marathons
we have some very beautiful and awesome trails to run in Arizona , best to do that from say , Nov to March / April as our temps will hit 90 - 116 in our hotter months ....but we still run and we do ..just need to hydrate well and watch for rattle snakes LOl....
Big River crossing, The greenline or anywhere near water.
Big River Crossing in Memphis?
that would be the one.
BRC is one of my favorite places. How lucky are we to be able to have it! I run It, bike it, walk it, can hardly stay away from it! When the AR side floods I feel like I have lost a limb or something. Going to the other end tomorrow (Marianna I believe?) to check it out.
Does anyone have a favorite run/runs in Scotland? My daughter and I are planning a trip there on July and would love to go on fun runs. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Laura
Hi Laura! Depending on where you're headed, I've traveled to St. Andrews (and Edinburgh) and can highly recommend running especially in St. Andrews -- you can run past the Old Course (where the Open Championship gets played every few years), and past some amazingly beautiful ruins of old castles that look out onto the North Sea. It's just spectacular.
Thank you so much!
Near Edinburgh, there's a fantastic trail that runs along the Water of Leith (a stream? river?). It's a well-marked path that runs for miles right along the water. I had to do a long run while training for an ultra when I was there and highly recommend if you want to get out into nature!