How To Run In A City That’s Not Your Own

Sarah Hess August 30, 2017 Beginner, training, Travel, Vacation

A lover of traveling and exploring new places, and with the departure date for my four-month study abroad experience quickly approaching, I found it only appropriate to write-up some tips on how to run in a city outside of home. Just like any other run, there are things you need to do pre-run, during the run, and post-run to ensure you are staying safe and having the best run possible.

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How to Run in a City that’s Not Your Own

I hope these tips will help you in whatever situation you are in, whether you are going on a week-long vacation or moving to a new city permanently.

What To Do Before Setting Out

A good thing to do before you go to any new place is to research the area – find out about the culture, the people, and areas of the city that are more touristy or areas you want to avoid for safety reasons. Find popular routes on MapMyRun, FASTZach, or reach out to the local running store or club for advice. There may even be a running club that you can join while you are there too, which would be a great way to meet new pew routes.

Related: 10 Tips for Running Safety

How To Relax & Enjoy During The Run

Running in a new city is the perfect way to see the sights and experience the city in a new way. If you are going for your first run in a new place, and especially if you are on vacation, it may not be the time to focus on running the fastest time or making sure you are getting that perfect workout in. Instead, adjust your goals and expectations, and be ready to learn something new about the city. Your main focus should be just to take it all in.

It is also probably best to head out without headphones so you can be fully alert (still bring your phone though) and bring some cash in case you need to buy water or catch a cab back. Have your route planned so you know where you are going, but don’t be afraid to be flexible and change the plan depending on circumstances. You may stumble upon something exciting and choose to follow a new path that leads you exploring a new part of the city you would never have found otherwise!

Also, if you plan on staying in this new place for quite some time, you may want to take this opportunity to try out new workouts and healthy habits. Try out speed training once a week, or different ways to cross-train, or maybe a new fitness class at the local gym. Don’t be afraid to try new things, as it is the opportune time to develop a new running routine for this new place you now call home!

What To Do Post-Run

After each run in a new city, reflect on what you saw and observed. You may have run past a café or restaurant you want to stop by later or learned a new quirk about the people and places of the city. Don’t be afraid to share your learnings with family and friends. Sharing about your run is a great way to reflect on what you are learning about this new place, and make the most out of your travel experience!

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Your Experience Running in New Places

What are some tips you have found to get the most out of running in new places?

Sarah Hess

Sarah is a student, a writer, and a runner. She grew up in the Twin Cities suburbs with her family and moved to Minneapolis to attend college at the University of Minnesota – Go Gophers! Sarah was a multi-sport athlete her whole life, her main sport being volleyball, but once she started college, she found running to be her main form of exercise. She fell in love with running and completed her first half marathon in August of 2016, and her first marathon in April of 2017! Sarah is passionate about encouraging others both through her running and her writing.

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