Travel Health and Fitness - Running while traveling

Any great ideas on finding places to run when you travel? I like to avoid the treadmill as much as possible. I have a Garmin GPS and use Garmin Connect. I've used the 'explore' option a couple of times, but it's been kind of hit or miss for finding good, safe places.

Any great ideas on finding places to run when you travel? I like to avoid the treadmill as much as possible. I have a Garmin GPS and use Garmin Connect. I've used the 'explore' option a couple of times, but it's been kind of hit or miss for finding good, safe places.

The internet is your friend. If it's a popular place FOO + running will yield lots of results. If it's not or your more adventurous a map (online or offline) will tell you about nice areas that aren't full of concrete.

There are a variety of places to find info: hotel, this forum, internet google, etc. I usually just headed out the door from the hotel.

Cheers.

I've generally had pretty good success checking with the hotel Concierge and letting them know what I'm looking for in a running route. Depending on the city, I sometimes specifically ask for routes that take me:

- along a river/landmarks/touristy sites
- away from high car/pedestrian traffic
- on flatter/hillier terrain

I'm not an avid runner, but I know others on the board have mentioned some running sites that probably give good routes. (I know www.mapmyroute.com has an option to publicly share the routes that users input.)

Second the concierge option - twice they've pulled out a preplanned map with recommended routes, including various length runs.

Also you may want to look for a local running club.

I second the local running club recommendation - good way to do group runs as well if safety is a concern. I also use the local parks department - sometimes they have trails or can give you routes around the area that are popular.

Thanks. The running club is a great idea. Safety is my biggest concern.

If I can't find a place to run by just searching the internet, I will often pull up Google Maps and look at the area around the hotel in the satellite view. I have several times been able to locate trails this way.

I was looking at the virtual concierge for my upcoming stay.

I noticed that under fitness, they had a box to check to meet with the local running club. I thought that was cool. I did not check it but intend to ask upon check in

Thanks. The running club is a great idea. Safety is my biggest concern.

I did that in London once with the Richmond Park running club -- very friendly group. Of course, it can be hit and miss on whether the set times for club runs fit into your schedule.

I agree with the advice above, and if all else fails, just look for the nearest park/greenway and try it out. You're safe if you see lots of runners and walkers.

I did that in London once with the Richmond Park running club -- very friendly group. Of course, it can be hit and miss on whether the set times for club runs fit into your schedule.

I agree with the advice above, and if all else fails, just look for the nearest park/greenway and try it out. You're safe if you see lots of runners and walkers.


I've ended up running alone in the botanical gardens here in SYD and what a marvelous, gorgeous (park and eye candy :p) place to run and the weather has been perfect this week

I too loved running in the botanical gardens while in Sydney. It only took me a few days to get used to running on the opposite side of the path. There were a lot of near collisions before that though while I wondered why people kept coming right at me. It never occurred to me that just as they drive on the wrong side of the road, they also run on the wrong side of the trails. :D

I've ended up running alone in the botanical gardens here in SYD and what a marvelous, gorgeous (park and eye candy :p) place to run and the weather has been perfect this week

I do a lot of "non-urban" travel and have found that early morning and early evening along the main routes in a town are good because people aren't out yet for work, and it's relatively peaceful.

I just found this (http://wiki.runnersworld.com/index.php/Main_Page) I am not sure how comprehensive this is, but looks like it is helpful.

Agree on checking with the concierge as many hotels have preprinted running maps. Pretty sure all Kimpton Hotels put a running map in each room.

Starwood hotels seem to be good about having running maps as well, at least the Westin and Luxury Collection properties.

I find Gmap Pedometer (http://gmap-pedometer.com/) to be invaluable when traveling. It's not going to tell you where to go, but at least you can plan out a route in advance and get a feel for the distance.

I too loved running in the botanical gardens while in Sydney. It only took me a few days to get used to running on the opposite side of the path. There were a lot of near collisions before that though while I wondered why people kept coming right at me. It never occurred to me that just as they drive on the wrong side of the road, they also run on the wrong side of the trails. :D

same here although with so many tourists, you get the Aussies on the "wrong" side and the tourists on the "wrong" side LOL so no one knows where anyone is coming from LOL, don't even get me started on the people standing in the way taking photos LOL

Starwood hotels seem to be good about having running maps as well, at least the Westin and Luxury Collection properties.

I find Gmap Pedometer (http://gmap-pedometer.com/) to be invaluable when traveling. It's not going to tell you where to go, but at least you can plan out a route in advance and get a feel for the distance.

+1 for google pedometer, although it can be a bit depressing sometimes (I ran that little?!?)

I have found the USATF running route repository (http://www.usatf.org/routes/search/) helpful, but it only has routes for US locales.

Lately my clients have been eating all my daylight hours so, unfortunately, I've been gerbil-ing on the 'mill at nights.

I have had success asking people behind the desk (I don't always stay in places with a Concierge) and in searching for routes using www.mapmyrun.com. Routes can have both descriptions, and sometimes comments from others who have run the same route.

If your staying at a hotel perhaps the staff can suggest areas in the local area. I'd stay in well lit public areas though.