Not too long ago, I stumbled across some really interesting suggestions in the Financial Times on great places to run in cities around the world — places like Edinburgh, Tokyo, London and others. (The FT is based in London, so most of the cities they recommend are outside the U.S.)
What I was wondering is, could we put together a list of great places to run in cities here too, inside and outside the U.S. — I knew that you all would know, especially any hard-to-find/special gems of places to run where you live.
So, I thought I’d throw it out there: where are the best places to run in your city/town/wherever you live? — Terrell
The Sammamish Trail that runs on the eastside of Redmond WA is my favorite. I've run it too many times to count! Paved trail which goes up to Bothell and from there connects to the Burke-Gilman trail which goes around Seattle. From there, you can go over Lake Union on the pedestrian way. . .or if you prefer to venture over to Mercer Island, you can catch the trail there that goes over the Cascades all the way to Ellensburg and beyond. . . or it catches North Bend (think the Iron Horse trail) and moves into Idaho. So many paved or gravel trails. The scenery never fails. Where I live now, the trail through Eugene, Oregon goes along the Willamette River by the University of Oregon. I'm still learning it. . . goes for 13 miles over to Springfield. It's where the Eugene Marathon is run every year the last weekend in April.
I'm torn between Athens and Chi Instructor Training. Both cost $$$. One is something I've wanted to do for a Long,long time (the instructor training). The other is a community (the group of Half Marathoners) which I would like to be with. If it were you, what would you do? I'd do both of them, but only have so much to spend and they happen to be on the same end of fall days. Any thoughts??
I totally, totally get it! I know Athens is a long way to travel, especially for a weekend -- and that Chi instructor training is something that won't be just for a weekend, but that you'll learn things you'll be able to put to use for a long time to come. And realize a dream of yours! What I'll say is, please don't feel any pressure to make it to Athens -- we'll have another get-together sometime next year. I'll miss meeting up, but we'll have another chance to. (No specific plans on that just yet, but I'll figure something out, probably in December/January.)
Well, Terrell, I had the same thoughts--that is until I looked at the registration price last night. It had gone up $250.00 since I looked last. No way am I going to pay $1750 for 32 lessons that are delivered over Zoom and are prerecorded! I can pass on that! Looks like a dream for next lifetime. . . no regrets!
In the meantime, there is a Chi Walking course for free offered by one of the Master Chi Instructors for Women over 50--much more to my liking!!
I should be able to make Athens. A bit scary as I haven't traveled in a long time,
and much less traveled alone as my daughter doesn't want to come. Keep fingers crossed--I'd rather be at a meet-up with you folks than crouched over my computer listening to a zoom recording!!
Beautiful day, dry and warm. Gotta go outside and water the garden! :) Take care!! Thanks for your thoughts! :)
I recently moved to the Seattle area from Oklahoma City, and every single day I'm in awe of the beauty here and the seemingly endless number of trails throughout and surrounding Seattle. I can be running through a rainforest and look to the side to see the ocean. It's astounding. A runner's paradise. And the temp is always perfect.
After doing the Jack and Jill in North Bend, WA in ‘22, we spent a day in Seattle before taking a red eye home to Florida. Maps are 2-dimensional for a reason … they don’t give you elevation so that you decide against visiting somewhere that’s too high. We went to Kerry Park north of the city to see the city and Mt Rainier. I would imagine that you could map out a street route around there that would give you all the hill work needed to prepare for a race.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O) Canal Trail is a beautiful and traffic free alternative to running in downtown Washington, DC. The trail is a 184-mile tow path that runs along the Potomac River from Georgetown to Cumberland, MD. The surface is mainly crushed stone and the trail is very flat. It’s shaded in parts and has beautiful views of the water and Georgetown. It’s the best running option if you are in the Georgetown area.
There are so many good runs in SF! For a flat run, there's Great Highway along Ocean Beach, the bottom of Glen Canyon, Golden Gate Park, and the loop around Lake Merced. For a more varied run in terms of elevation, there's Land's End, side trails of Glen Canyon, and John McLaren Park's Philosopher's Way. For a mountain run there's Mt Davidson and San Bruno Mountain!
When I lived in Minneapolis, I loved to run the bike path that wound around the downtown lakes on an early Sunday morning. If you didn't mind contending with a few bicyclists it was the one of the most beautiful and calming places I've ever run. The beautiful scenery and cool late summer weather made you think you could run forever!
I've always wanted to visit Minneapolis -- it looks like an amazing city, and a fantastic place to run (especially with their weather, compared to where I live!) Where are you now, Steve?
Gasparilla Distance Classic in Tampa. Two days, four races. This year I won my age group for all four races combined. A 15k and a 5k on Saturday, and a half marathon and 8k on Sunday. Beer at the finish. High energy, well-attended and scenic routes with lots of support.
I wish we could post photos from our favorite runs!
I’ve found several great areas to run here in Girona, Spain since we moved here last year. I can head up into the mountains and come across old fincas, tiny stone houses, and millennia old religious historical sights along the trails, alongside gorgeous views of the Pyrenees and my new hometown below.
If I am aiming for speed or recovery work I can run through a Mediterranean forest peppered with small local farms through the nearby villages. Los of Flora and fauna and the smell of the flowers, cattle, and roasting coffee from the nearby Nespresso plant.
You know what, next time I'll post questions like these in the Chat area of our app -- we can share photos there, and you're right, it would be so much more interesting to see the places we're all sharing. Good idea!
Fort Collins has over 25 miles of great paved bike trails that weave around and through the City, along the Cache le Poudre River, and can get you almost anywhere you need to go without ever crossing a street.
I’m in Soth Florida ,,, there is a levee that runs from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale that bikers love … it separates civilization from the conservation areas. Nearer to Fort Lauderdale, the are canals used for flood control … you can bike on the levees in what is 46-mile near rectangular loop … best accessed from Markham Park.
I live near Cleveland, OH and we have an abundance of trails to run. Between the Cleveland Metroparks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, you’ll find everything from paved multipurpose trails to single track. When I’m in Chicago I love running the Lakefront Trail and in San Francisco the Embarcadero is a great run.
There are SOOOO many places here in Atlanta where I live to go for scenic runs, including:
- The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area trails, spread out among more than a dozen parks along a 48-mile stretch of the river
- The Alpharetta Big Creek Greenway trails, which are about 9 miles long
- The Silver Comet Trail, which runs from just outside Atlanta all the way to the Alabama state line
- The Beltline Trails, which stretch almost a dozen miles around the city
The Charles River Esplanade trail in Boston is one of my favorites!
The Sammamish Trail that runs on the eastside of Redmond WA is my favorite. I've run it too many times to count! Paved trail which goes up to Bothell and from there connects to the Burke-Gilman trail which goes around Seattle. From there, you can go over Lake Union on the pedestrian way. . .or if you prefer to venture over to Mercer Island, you can catch the trail there that goes over the Cascades all the way to Ellensburg and beyond. . . or it catches North Bend (think the Iron Horse trail) and moves into Idaho. So many paved or gravel trails. The scenery never fails. Where I live now, the trail through Eugene, Oregon goes along the Willamette River by the University of Oregon. I'm still learning it. . . goes for 13 miles over to Springfield. It's where the Eugene Marathon is run every year the last weekend in April.
This all sounds so lovely, Nilima! How's the training going, by the way?
Wished I had never left Redmond. . . :) Training is a new adventure. . . I'll write more later! :)
I'm torn between Athens and Chi Instructor Training. Both cost $$$. One is something I've wanted to do for a Long,long time (the instructor training). The other is a community (the group of Half Marathoners) which I would like to be with. If it were you, what would you do? I'd do both of them, but only have so much to spend and they happen to be on the same end of fall days. Any thoughts??
I totally, totally get it! I know Athens is a long way to travel, especially for a weekend -- and that Chi instructor training is something that won't be just for a weekend, but that you'll learn things you'll be able to put to use for a long time to come. And realize a dream of yours! What I'll say is, please don't feel any pressure to make it to Athens -- we'll have another get-together sometime next year. I'll miss meeting up, but we'll have another chance to. (No specific plans on that just yet, but I'll figure something out, probably in December/January.)
Well, Terrell, I had the same thoughts--that is until I looked at the registration price last night. It had gone up $250.00 since I looked last. No way am I going to pay $1750 for 32 lessons that are delivered over Zoom and are prerecorded! I can pass on that! Looks like a dream for next lifetime. . . no regrets!
In the meantime, there is a Chi Walking course for free offered by one of the Master Chi Instructors for Women over 50--much more to my liking!!
I should be able to make Athens. A bit scary as I haven't traveled in a long time,
and much less traveled alone as my daughter doesn't want to come. Keep fingers crossed--I'd rather be at a meet-up with you folks than crouched over my computer listening to a zoom recording!!
Beautiful day, dry and warm. Gotta go outside and water the garden! :) Take care!! Thanks for your thoughts! :)
If you decide on CIT, send a pic so we can have you in Athens in spirit.
Unfortunately, Dave, you'll have to put up with me in person!! :)
I recently moved to the Seattle area from Oklahoma City, and every single day I'm in awe of the beauty here and the seemingly endless number of trails throughout and surrounding Seattle. I can be running through a rainforest and look to the side to see the ocean. It's astounding. A runner's paradise. And the temp is always perfect.
I've heard Seattle is amazing from so many people -- and I still have never made it up there! I want to, though.
After doing the Jack and Jill in North Bend, WA in ‘22, we spent a day in Seattle before taking a red eye home to Florida. Maps are 2-dimensional for a reason … they don’t give you elevation so that you decide against visiting somewhere that’s too high. We went to Kerry Park north of the city to see the city and Mt Rainier. I would imagine that you could map out a street route around there that would give you all the hill work needed to prepare for a race.
Seattle is absolutely a runners paradise! All the hills make you strong as well!!
I miss running through the puget sound area a lot, even though I’m in an equally enchanting area.
Where are you located?
I lived in Seattle for nearly twenty years, but we moved to Girona, Spain last summer
Wow! I can imagine it's beautiful there.
It truly is! I do sometimes miss the deep forests of the PNW though.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O) Canal Trail is a beautiful and traffic free alternative to running in downtown Washington, DC. The trail is a 184-mile tow path that runs along the Potomac River from Georgetown to Cumberland, MD. The surface is mainly crushed stone and the trail is very flat. It’s shaded in parts and has beautiful views of the water and Georgetown. It’s the best running option if you are in the Georgetown area.
I used to love this route in DC!
Thanks for this, Kali! There are a number of races that take place on the C&O Trail too, aren't there?
There are many options:
https://20miler.dcroadrunners.org/race-weekend/course/
https://bishopsevents.com/event/2024-summer-georgetown-5k-10k-half/
This is a great one! It also connects into the Rock Creek trails, which can take you down to the Mall or north into the heart of the park.
Sounds like a really good trail
There are so many good runs in SF! For a flat run, there's Great Highway along Ocean Beach, the bottom of Glen Canyon, Golden Gate Park, and the loop around Lake Merced. For a more varied run in terms of elevation, there's Land's End, side trails of Glen Canyon, and John McLaren Park's Philosopher's Way. For a mountain run there's Mt Davidson and San Bruno Mountain!
I've run in San Francisco before -- and loved it! -- but never the "Philosopher's Way." I love that name!
When I lived in Minneapolis, I loved to run the bike path that wound around the downtown lakes on an early Sunday morning. If you didn't mind contending with a few bicyclists it was the one of the most beautiful and calming places I've ever run. The beautiful scenery and cool late summer weather made you think you could run forever!
I've always wanted to visit Minneapolis -- it looks like an amazing city, and a fantastic place to run (especially with their weather, compared to where I live!) Where are you now, Steve?
Lake Hollingsworth, Bonnet Springs Park & Bok Tower trails are all beautiful central FL runs in Polk County💝
Very nice! Is that anywhere close to Disney World? 😃
We’re about 45 minutes - 1 hour (depending on dreaded I-4 traffic😉)
Gasparilla Distance Classic in Tampa. Two days, four races. This year I won my age group for all four races combined. A 15k and a 5k on Saturday, and a half marathon and 8k on Sunday. Beer at the finish. High energy, well-attended and scenic routes with lots of support.
I wish we could post photos from our favorite runs!
I’ve found several great areas to run here in Girona, Spain since we moved here last year. I can head up into the mountains and come across old fincas, tiny stone houses, and millennia old religious historical sights along the trails, alongside gorgeous views of the Pyrenees and my new hometown below.
If I am aiming for speed or recovery work I can run through a Mediterranean forest peppered with small local farms through the nearby villages. Los of Flora and fauna and the smell of the flowers, cattle, and roasting coffee from the nearby Nespresso plant.
You know what, next time I'll post questions like these in the Chat area of our app -- we can share photos there, and you're right, it would be so much more interesting to see the places we're all sharing. Good idea!
I didn’t realize that was possible! That will be awesome!
Fort Collins has over 25 miles of great paved bike trails that weave around and through the City, along the Cache le Poudre River, and can get you almost anywhere you need to go without ever crossing a street.
When I lived in Atlanta (1976-1995) I used to like to run around Stone Mountain.
I’m in Soth Florida ,,, there is a levee that runs from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale that bikers love … it separates civilization from the conservation areas. Nearer to Fort Lauderdale, the are canals used for flood control … you can bike on the levees in what is 46-mile near rectangular loop … best accessed from Markham Park.
I live near Cleveland, OH and we have an abundance of trails to run. Between the Cleveland Metroparks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, you’ll find everything from paved multipurpose trails to single track. When I’m in Chicago I love running the Lakefront Trail and in San Francisco the Embarcadero is a great run.
Two nature parks and a wildlife preserve. All quiet and peaceful.