5 Best Destinations for Runners

Most runners will tell you that a change of scenery can do wonders for your motivation. As pointed out in our previous post we discussed how running different trails every now and then will not only keep you motivated, it will also help you become a more efficient runner, build your endurance and speed and enhance your strength. 

That being said, here are some of the best cities you should definitely consider visiting for an out-of-town run:

Credit: Running Magazine

Ottawa, Ontari
This lovely city of Ottawa, which is also the capital of Canada, boasts a lot of opportunities for every kind of runner out there. For those who love running on tracks, the city is home to two 400m tracks that are available for public use at the Louis Riel Dome and at the Terry Fox Stadium. The city also has hundreds of miles of off-road pathways that are perfect for those who prefer to run around the city and bask in its wonderful scenery.

A great example of such a path is the Ceremonial Loop which is a 5.25-mile trail that will take you on a tour of some of the most important sites in the city including the Rideau Hall, the home of the Prime Minister, the National Gallery and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Ottawa also offers a lot of lovely paths fit for anyone who wants to go for a run and enjoy nature at the same time.

​The Rideau Canal Loop is a six-mile route that will enable you to appreciate the beauty of the Rideau Canal which is a World Heritage site, and the Ottawa River Pathway which is a 7.1-mile path that’s a little further away from the city center, making it the perfect place for those who are looking for a quiet and peaceful run.

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Chichester, West Sussex
Widely known as a beautiful cathedral city in West Sussex, Chichester is peppered with different running trails and has a host of passionate running clubs that keep the running culture in the city extremely vibrant. One of the best routes around the city is the Kingley Vale Nature Reserve. Gala Bingo states it is very popular among dog walkers as well as being the perfect trail to run with your buddies throughout the year.

It is the perfect mix of picturesque villages and striking clifftops. This nature reserve, which covers an 628 square miles, will effectively elevate your running experience with its market towns and rolling hills. The infamous Inflatable 5k, a fun mix of inflatable obstacles and running, was meant to take place in Chichester this coming May 10, 2020.

​However, due to the unprecedented circumstances brought about by the global pandemic, this unique running event which had been expected to gather over 3,500 runners and 2,000 spectators has been postponed indefinitely.

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Sydney, Australia
The varied terrain in Australia includes beaches, off-road paths and hilly rainforests. In turn, they played a huge part in cultivating the unique running culture of the country. 

This is why it shouldn't come as a surprise that even the highly urbanized city of Sydney have a lot of trails that every runner would enjoy. There’s the Glebe Foreshore Track which is a three-mile loop that can be quite a challenge because of the steep Anzac Bridge. If you’re up for a long run by the beach, you can try running between Bondi and Coogee, which is definitely an experience you wouldn’t want to miss. The only catch is, the 3.7-mile route can be pretty crowded on the weekends so Best Sydney Walks suggests scheduling your run in the early morning before the beachgoers flock the location.

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Arlington, Virginia
For three years now, the city of Arlington in Virginia has consistently snatched the top spot in Smart Asset’s list of the best cities for runners. Smart Asset isn’t the first one to release such a list, but what sets their data apart is the extensive criteria they utilize, which includes the overall walkability of a city, pedestrian fatality rate, number of gyms and races, housing cost as a percent of income and percentages for parkland and residents who live within a 10-minute walk from a park.

According to ARLnow, Arlington has more races per 10,000 residents than any other city and is home to a lot of places where people, preparing for a race, can train. Every April, the city holds the Crystal City’s 5K Fridays which includes races every Friday of the month at 6:30 PM. The race is specifically geared towards runners who want to run low-key races after work and meet up for happy hour in exclusive bars after the race.

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Paris, France
Aside from architectural buildings, fancy restaurants and world-renowned tourist spots, Paris is also home to a lot of running trails and paths that will inspire you to throw on your sneakers and go for a run. In fact, the semi-marathon season already kicked off on March 5, although things have now ground to a halt. 

If you are looking for a cardio-heavy trail there’s the Parc des Buttes Chaumont which is littered with climbs, slopes and stairs and is approximately 1.2 miles long. The Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes, which will give you a taste of the countryside in the middle of Paris, will turn your run into a forest bathing experience that’s been proven to lead to a lot of benefits including reduced cortisol levels, improved sleep quality and reduced anxiety, among others.

​These parks will have you running through tree-lined running paths with an expansive view of various lakes and greenery.