Every runner whether a seasoned vet’ or a complete beginner has a place they call their favourite. Also, it will encourage you to work a little longer and to push a little further with the promise of experiencing new horizons.
One of the great things about running is, after you’ve got your basic kit, you can really make the most of what is around you. We thought we’d put a list of ten places together which we love to run or would love to run in the future.
Exmoor National Park, England
So, we thought it might be nice to start with a place local to us. Exmoor National Park is one of the lesser known national parks in the UK and locals don’t mind keeping it that way for good reason.
The balance of beautiful coastline, spectacular views, rolling hills and rugged cliffs means there is likely to be at least one type of scenery which appeals to every runner. This varied scenery means all levels of runner can have a go too. One of our favourite routes is from North Hill to Hurlestone Point where you get to experience a mixture of terrains, inclines, woodland and views across the channel.
If you’ve been running for a short while the annual Beacon to Beach charity race is a great way to experience what Exmoor has to offer, and if you have been running for years, the Exmoor Stagger might be more your cup of tea. A challenging race which offers some tough terrain and challenging inclines.
Central Park, New York, USA
One of the most famous, if not the most famous, city park in the world. A whopping 843 acres of water, woodland and grass in the middle of the towering buildings of New York City. The tree lined walkways boast a multitude of running routes you can explore. It’s not so much the views that you get with Central Park running, it’s more about the buzz of New York which you get to experience in a totally unique way.
There is approx. 6.1 miles of paths in the park; if you are a new runner, you can enjoy smaller runs by cutting off the main track on to one of the paths which traverses the park, equally, if you want to run further, these cross-park tracks enable you to make the park in to loops, so you could as easily enjoy a 10 mile run.
Verdon Gorge, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
There are some spectacular lakes around the world and we are lucky to have one not too far away. The Verdon Gorge is a 25km long canyon carved from the Verdon River. The most distinguishing feature , is the turquoise water which gets its colour from the limestone underneath.
It’s a combination of sheer edges, breath-taking beauty, rivers, lakes and historic French architecture. There are some pretty extreme routes, but there are beginner routes too; a good place to start is a guided tour which you can find on Google so you see the best the Verdon has to offer.
Also, the annual Verdon Canyon Challenge is a serious 62 mile ultra-trail run which takes place in June. Not only will the terrain be some of the most challenging available, the French summer sun adds another dimension to this already extreme trail running event.
Florence, Italy
It’s not about far reaching views or mountain scenes, running in Florence is a different kind of experience and the best way to embrace it is by crossing the river to the South of the city where you can run amongst olive groves whilst enjoying the view of Florence.
Having said that, if you really want to get to know the city and its sites, rise early and you can run through the streets which are ordinarily teaming with people.
One of Europe’s most significant Renaissance cities, Florence boasts beautiful buildings, cobbled streets, secret gardens and significant historical buildings plus an abundance of Italian style and soave at its best.
Venice Beach, CA, USA
Famous for Muscle Beach, Skateboarders, Rollerbladers and Sun Worshippers, Venice Beach is a great place to run. The bike path is great for making the most of the scenery both human and non-human; the white beach and turquoise water is pretty spectacular after all.
The route between Santa Monica and Venice Beach is about six miles and has bike path the whole way. If you want to add some extra difficulty to your Venice Beach run, you could run a portion of the route on the sand.
Yorkshire Dales
Rugged, wild, challenging terrain exposed to the best and worst of weathers – the Yorkshire Dales have been a runner’s favourite for a long time. Paths have been traced by runners for decades but the Dales haven’t lost their power to impress even the best and most experienced of runners.
The Fellsman is one of the Moor’s most famous races, a gruelling ultra-trail run which covers 60 miles of some of the most challenging terrain there is with a combined-incline climb of over 11000 feet. Definitely not for the faint hearted, in 2013 out of over 500 entrants only 402 showed up and 95 withdrew during the race!
Embankment, London, England
Running along the Embankment offers views of a selection of the world’s most famous buildings. Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, The London Eye and the Houses of Parliament to name a few. A flat route suitable for all levels of runner, favoured by city residents in the evenings and central London workers during the day. Even in the middle of tourist-filled London in the summer, there’s still always room to run and it is strangely tranquil - it really is a unique experience.
Also, once a year, The British 10k London Run route includes the Embankment and a number of other great London tourist attractions. This race is ideal because if you are new to running, it’s not unachievable but if you are experienced, you can just up your pace and aim for a PB.
Where is your favourite place you’ve run and where would be your ultimate running destination? Let us know…