Tourist on the run

White House, Washington DC

Since I started running in 2011 I have grown to appreciate how running is sometimes the best way to see the sights.  I mainly run early in the morning, the weather is cool, the lighting is great, and there are few people out.  I try and make a huge effort to include running into whatever vacation or work trip that I am on.  I have gotten to run in some really great places: Washington DC, San Francisco, New York City, and the backroads of Uganda to name a few.  I tried running in Bangkok, but ended up settling with treadmill runs and a 0.1 mile "running path" at our hotel.

NYC

Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington DC

San Francisco

When I was in Uganda for work my coworker, Dave, invited me to take part in a 80 or 90 km relay "race" from Kampala, the capitol of Uganda, to Jinja, the source of the white Nile River.  The race was put on by the Kampala Hash House Harriers and included an after party in Jinja.  It was an incredible experience that I was very lucky to take part in.

Me suffering somewhere in Uganda

Spectators along the route in Uganda

I continued my tradition of running while on vacation during my recent trip to Europe.  I fit in two runs in Tuscany, one in Florence, three in Paris, two in Brugge, and two in Brussels.  I was looking forward to running in Rome but ended up cutting out my weekend run because we walked 8.5 miles sightseeing and also because I was feeling a little under the weather.

Florence

Paris

Brugge was a great place to run thanks to a pathway for runners and cyclist that follows the canals around the city.

Spring flowers in Brugge

Brugge running path

Brugge canal

My first run in Brussels was the worst.  It was just busy city streets with lots of traffic and construction going on.  It was highly disappointing.  It was only a 3 mile run and I still had to do my long 8.5 mile weekend run and I really dreading it.  Luckily the route from our apartment near Grand Place to a large city park called Bois de la Cambre made up for my short run.

Palais de Bruxelles

Boise de la Cambre, Brussels

Running tourism has become fairly popular throughout the world, there are even websites on it and many hotels are offering running concierge services!  I guess if this microbiologist career doesn't work out I could become running tour guide (as long as they run slow)!

P.S.  I am getting close to my $3000 fundraising goal for Team Paws, which qualifies me for their 9 Lives Club (the cost of saving 9 homeless animals).  If you want to help me reach that goal please donate at my fundraising page.  Thanks!