100% Kona Coffee Half (Hawaii) or Bridge of the Gods (OR-WA), even Hatfield and McCoy in W VA/KY. Each state has a beauty to it and I'm sure for those that do international races can cite wonders to behold.
Three places come to mind (two of which have already been mentioned below).
1) Grand Canyon (Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim) - It's difficult to describe how stunning it is: the sunrise on South Kaibob trail; the drop into the canyon from North Kaibob; crossing the emerald Colorado in the late afternoon; watching headlamps bop into the night heading up Bright Angel.
2) Running across Death Valley during Badwater 135 - The desert is unforgiving, but surprisingly bountiful and full of life -- you just have to look for it. And, let's not forget the wild climb from the town of Lone Pine to the Mt. Whitney Portal.
3) The Ray Miller Trail and the 30k/50k/50M race course (Santa Monica Mountains) - For as crowded as Los Angeles is, millions of Angelenos are unaware that world class trails exist just outside of city limits. Ray Miller is no exception. A steep single track that seems to shoot straight up from the Pacific, and it feels like it just might toss you into the sea. When I ran the race last December, we were experiencing signature SoCal fall weather: sunny, crisp but warm, low humidity (in a word, stunning). It was sensory overload, and my mind melted taking it all in.
When traveling, it's a bonus to find a wide open path that's pedestrian and bikes only, closed to car traffic. Some of my favorite places for that are Rio De Janeiro and the miles and miles long path running in front of Copacabana Beach to Ipanema Beach and beyond. The amount of FIT people along the path is also inspiring and at the beach. Next up, Nice in the South of France on the Promenade Anglais, in Paris along the Seine, in Puerto Vallarta on the Malecon. Water views + no car traffic + mostly flat paths = LOVE
At 78 degrees North on Svalbard from Longyearbyen to one of the mines and back. Basically an Arctic desert it was 32 degrees and foggy - almost like The Twilight Zone. No noise - just the sound of my breathing and my footsteps. The next day going in the opposite direction I ran past a herd of reindeer. Two runs to remember for a lifetime!
I really enjoy the Revel races. I have run Mt Lemmon (In Arizona), the Rockies (in Colorado), and White Mountain (in New Hampshire). It's nice going to areas you haven't been to before and seeing the beautiful scenery. There can be a big difference from the top of the mountain to the bottom.
My twin brother and I were in Paris in 1972. We ran from our hotel to the Arc de Triomphe, but we got lost on the return trip and almost missed our tour bus.
Yes, I ran on Great Ocean Road in Australia! My most amazing running place was Rostock, Germany, where I ran an evening half marathon! The view on the Baltic Sea on one side and the historic buildings on the other was spectacular. It was a lot of fun, but beer (no water whatsoever!!!) after running so long made me sick!
An early morning run in the streets in Zermatt, Switzerland with views of the Matterhorn. Spellbinding views of the Swiss Alps and the imposing Matterhorn.
As an east-coaster, it was fun to do a morning run among the redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants in northern California. That road isn't designed for runners, but traffic was very light and being alone on the road among those amazing trees was awe-inspiring.
100% Kona Coffee Half (Hawaii) or Bridge of the Gods (OR-WA), even Hatfield and McCoy in W VA/KY. Each state has a beauty to it and I'm sure for those that do international races can cite wonders to behold.
Three places come to mind (two of which have already been mentioned below).
1) Grand Canyon (Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim) - It's difficult to describe how stunning it is: the sunrise on South Kaibob trail; the drop into the canyon from North Kaibob; crossing the emerald Colorado in the late afternoon; watching headlamps bop into the night heading up Bright Angel.
2) Running across Death Valley during Badwater 135 - The desert is unforgiving, but surprisingly bountiful and full of life -- you just have to look for it. And, let's not forget the wild climb from the town of Lone Pine to the Mt. Whitney Portal.
3) The Ray Miller Trail and the 30k/50k/50M race course (Santa Monica Mountains) - For as crowded as Los Angeles is, millions of Angelenos are unaware that world class trails exist just outside of city limits. Ray Miller is no exception. A steep single track that seems to shoot straight up from the Pacific, and it feels like it just might toss you into the sea. When I ran the race last December, we were experiencing signature SoCal fall weather: sunny, crisp but warm, low humidity (in a word, stunning). It was sensory overload, and my mind melted taking it all in.
When traveling, it's a bonus to find a wide open path that's pedestrian and bikes only, closed to car traffic. Some of my favorite places for that are Rio De Janeiro and the miles and miles long path running in front of Copacabana Beach to Ipanema Beach and beyond. The amount of FIT people along the path is also inspiring and at the beach. Next up, Nice in the South of France on the Promenade Anglais, in Paris along the Seine, in Puerto Vallarta on the Malecon. Water views + no car traffic + mostly flat paths = LOVE
At 78 degrees North on Svalbard from Longyearbyen to one of the mines and back. Basically an Arctic desert it was 32 degrees and foggy - almost like The Twilight Zone. No noise - just the sound of my breathing and my footsteps. The next day going in the opposite direction I ran past a herd of reindeer. Two runs to remember for a lifetime!
I really enjoy the Revel races. I have run Mt Lemmon (In Arizona), the Rockies (in Colorado), and White Mountain (in New Hampshire). It's nice going to areas you haven't been to before and seeing the beautiful scenery. There can be a big difference from the top of the mountain to the bottom.
My twin brother and I were in Paris in 1972. We ran from our hotel to the Arc de Triomphe, but we got lost on the return trip and almost missed our tour bus.
Love this one!!!
Death Valley!
You've run the Badwater race there, right?
Yes, I ran on Great Ocean Road in Australia! My most amazing running place was Rostock, Germany, where I ran an evening half marathon! The view on the Baltic Sea on one side and the historic buildings on the other was spectacular. It was a lot of fun, but beer (no water whatsoever!!!) after running so long made me sick!
South Kaibab trail into the Grand Canyon
An early morning run in the streets in Zermatt, Switzerland with views of the Matterhorn. Spellbinding views of the Swiss Alps and the imposing Matterhorn.
It sounds spectacular, Jenn! I got to visit Switzerland for the first time last year... I was in awe.
Yes, it is. The food is very expensive but the views are worth it.
As an east-coaster, it was fun to do a morning run among the redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants in northern California. That road isn't designed for runners, but traffic was very light and being alone on the road among those amazing trees was awe-inspiring.
I got the chance to run the Big Sur 21-Miler once and it was amazing -- but I've always wanted to run the Avenue of the Giants. Just breathtaking.
Arctic Circle Half Marathon - Kangerlussuaq, Greenland.
Oh WOW -- how was it? What was it like?
Incredible. Stunning to run on the ice cap but it was oh so hard!