I have lived in Washington, D.C. for the past 8+ years. In those 8 years, I’ve spent a ton of time running IN (and near, but primarily in) the city. I also travel for work quite a bit and have run in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami and Atlanta (among others). I know how nerve wracking and confusing it can be running in any new place, especially a big city that you are not familiar with. These tips will help you to have a fun and safe run wherever you go.
Do your homework. If you have flexibility, choose a hotel that is in a location that lends itself to running outside—or make sure that you have a hotel with a solid gym. Personally, I think that seeing a city on foot is one of the best ways to explore it, so I love running in new cities and am always careful to pick hotels that are pretty central. A simple “[NAME OF CITY + Running]” search will typically yield so many great options, be it races, running clubs and even routes scoped out by other runners.
Reach out where you can. One of the bonuses of our super connected lives is that you might know someone who knows a runner where you are traveling. Most big cities have running groups (sometimes run by local running stores) that have group runs. Do a little searching (this goes along with number one) and find a group of friendly folks to join on the run. Also, don’t forget about any national running groups you might be a part of (like Black Girls Run or Moms Run This Town) – post on a page for the city you are visiting and boom, instant run buddies!
Utilize resources. Your hotel concierge can be a great resource; especially now when more and more hotels have running maps and programs. Talk to the front desk. Tell them the route you plan to take and that you expect to be back in an hour. Take your phone with you. Be smart about it and adjust your routines while traveling; for example, if you always wear headphones (I wish you wouldn’t but that’s a conversation for a new day), leave them in the hotel when you are heading out in a new, big city to run. It’s important to be able to hear and to be alert while running in a new place. Plan to be alert for traffic and bikes. Many big cities have really vibrant biking cultures, which is awesome, but you want to make sure you are watching out for cyclists!
Running while traveling is one of my favorite ways to see a new city and I’ve found that by following the above tips, I’ve had really excellent experiences running in major metropolitan areas.
What tips do you have for running in large cities?
Love all your tips! When I was visiting Minneapolis last month I reached out to the hotel prior to my arrival and had maps of running trails on the deak in my room when I checked in. It was great!
That’s a great idea ! Really smart – I enjoyed seeing pics from your runs in Minneapolis!
Something that the Mr. and I love to do is run to breakfast. Often times there are delicious places for breakfast or brunch within a couple miles of where we are staying. Sometimes we make detours to see other sites along the way too and if it’s too far to walk back after we’ve eaten then we take public transportation or catch an uber.
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Oh, I do that sometimes as well! It’s a great tip and a fun way to combine my two favorite things – running and brunch!
Great times. I don’t live in a big city but when I went to NYC for work, I researched in advance and asked people about where to run there.
Yes, being prepared is always helpful when you are traveling to a new city to run!
I’ve been searching common routes in new cities on Strava lately, and that’s also a lifesaver! It helps me find popular places to run, and then I can use the route-builder to incorporate them if I’m really concerned about mapping out an exact distance.
Oh that’s smart. I use Strava but have never used it that way! Great idea!
Great tips! I love running in new cities! You are right, it’s a great way to see it. When I travel with my husband (who is not an early-bird),I use my run to scope out cool breakfast places or routes to get to sight-seeing when the sleepy head wakes up.
That’s a smart use of the time while he’s sleeping, lol!
Great tips! I am not that comfortable venturing out on my own in the big city (I live out in the boonies and mostly just worry about the moose and bears) so hooking up with the local running groups is a good idea.. Running while traveling would be a whole lot easier if my husband would just take up running ha ha.
hahahahaha – make sure you show him this post 🙂
I’ve gotten routes from the hotel I’m staying at as well as local running stores. Map My Run is a good resource too! I’m with you, it’s fun to explore a new city on foot!
All great tips. Most importantly, no matter where you run, you need to be aware of your surroundings. This is especially important when you run in an area that is unfamiliar to you.
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Bonus: Running is a great way to help with jet lag if you can squeeze in a run shortly after landing! Love these tips!
Yes! So so true 🙂