Winning tip: Linosa, Sicily
Linosa, one of the most remote islands in the Mediterranean (it lies between Sicily and Tunisia), offers five square kilometres of colourful landscapes. The road that circuits the coast – a track with almost no cars – has given me many breathtaking runs. I run at dawn or at dusk to see the red sunrises and sunsets. For those who fancy more, there are three volcanic craters offering more staggering views.
milamila
Barcelona half marathon
We planned our stay in Barcelona last February around the Barcelona Half Marathon. Never has 21km flown by so quickly – we were transfixed by the city and captivated by every landmark we passed. From La Rambla to the Sagrada Família, we savoured every kilometre of the race, not knowing where the next bend would take us in this spectacular city. After the race, we stood proudly under the Arc de Triomf with our medals. An amazing experience, a unique way to tour a city and an inspiration for future races.
ekthompson
Chicago’s lakeside
For fans of architecture there’s no better run than along Chicago’s lakefront. Start at Oak Street beach just off of North Michigan Avenue and work your way south along the lakefront trail for two miles until you reach Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain where you’ll get a good look at the entire skyline.
Erin E
Pembrokeshire coast
One of the joys of the St Davids and Solva area is the coastal path along which you encounter some wonderful scenery and wildlife, even the odd seal if you’re very lucky. The terrain is great for running, especially if you like “the soft stuff” rather than the road.
dickievo
Puy St Vincent, France
Ski in the morning and run in the evening in the town of Puy St Vincent in the French Alps. There’s not much for the advanced skier but for a runner it has other qualities. When running on pisted snow you see the mountain in a completely different way. Maybe there’s a corner on a tricky red that always catches you out? Run up there and take a good look at the best line. Take it slowly, and enjoy the ride.
Rotwatcher
Telašćica national park, Croatia
We got an early ferry from Zadar to Sali and ran through Telašćica. It was the most beautiful run in and out of pine scented shade with short stops to snatch sweet figs from trees and take dips in the cooling water of bays and inlets that would suddenly reveal themselves through gaps in the trees. We reached Mir Salt Lake before the sweltering touristy rush at midday and dreamily floated beneath the sun while giving tired limbs a good soak.
ID4286767
San Sebastian, Spain
Running in San Sebastian is an incredible experience: wedged between two beach coves which are separated by 123-metre “Monte” Urgull; it’s the perfect five or 10km run to clear your head. Enjoy panoramic beach views with the Pyrenees in the backdrop. The small but steep hill offers a testing uphill workout but 360-degree views from the top will leave you speechless. Ocean views, fresh air and foot/bike paths along the esplanades means you’ll never get lost.
richvgriffin
Trebarwith Strand to Tintagel, Cornwall
The run starts with a lung-bursting climb from the beach to the top of the cliffs before the coastal path flattens out. The first few hundred metres are not for the faint-hearted. The three-mile trail has sufficient ups and downs to provide a decent workout and the scenery is spectacular, finishing with a grandstand view of Tintagel Castle. Depending on enthusiasm you can run back to Trebarwith through some of the small villages that litter this part of Cornwall, or call it a day and have a cream tea in Tintagel.
petitfrere
Golden Gate bridge and San Francisco Bay
For keen tourists who love a long run, doing it through the streets, parks and coastline of San Francisco, traversing the Golden Gate bridge, is pretty hard to beat. Start with the infamous Nob Hill, pass the Market Street cable cars, snake down Lombard Street, the windiest road in the world, and end at the coast with a view to Alcatraz. At 12 miles in total, only a keen runner will get there and back without their cheeks being redder than the bridge.
Phillipkerry
Stoupa, the Peloponnese, Greece
An early jog through the slumbering backstreets of Stoupa takes you down an olive tree-lined track on to the coastal path that links the town to the neighbouring fishing town of Agios Nikolaos. Traffic-free, rugged and richly fragrant, the majestic Taygetos mountains loom on one side, while the Mediterranean shimmers on the other. The jog can be extended through other beautiful villages, before the meandering pathway returns to Stoupa. A choice of tavernas serves Greek breakfast among the cicadas and other sensual pleasures of the unspoilt Mani peninsula.
zoet63
Boston, Massachusetts
Whenever you run you will not be alone in the city that is home to the world’s greatest marathon. Along the north side of the river (in Cambridge) you will have the Boston cityscape in view across Back Bay. On the south side you will see MIT and Harvard over the river. There are plenty of bridges across the river so you can vary the length of your run. While in Boston, go to the finish line of the marathon in Copley Square by the iconic Boston Public Library, buy a T-shirt that helps to raise funds for the victims of the bombing, or enter the marathon itself!
ID3009390
Sydney coastal run
In Sydney, a run in the heat of the day should start and end with a dip. We cooled off in the Iceberg pool above Bondi beach before donning our trainers and warming up on a run along the coast. The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk/run is only 6km, but takes in stunning beaches along the way, including Tamarama, Bronte, and Clovelly. You can stop for a dip, or run the whole thing there and back to earn oysters and champagne afterwards at the Bondi Icebergs Club.
ID5586283
Rock Creek park, Washington DC
Visiting friends in Mount Pleasant, Washington DC we expected urban running. Instead, our dawn run took us into the near wilderness of ravines, trees and streams of Rock Creek Park. Good enough, until we ran through the open gates into the (free) Washington Zoo. Seconds later we were jogging on the spot, enthralled by the sight of a lioness and her frolicking cubs. It got even better as we ran on past a gorilla, elephants, wolves and – pure enchantment – a giant panda munching its breakfast bamboo. Spellbound we ran on, thinking it couldn’t get better, until we looked up to discover an orangutan 15 metres above our heads, swinging effortlessly along a high-wire walkway.
celestine88
The Northumberland coast
It’s hard to beat a run along the stunning coast of Northumberland. Set off north from Craster along bouncy turf with the dramatic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle ahead, pick up a lovely path snaking through dunes next to a golf course and drop down to the wide sands of Embleton Bay, dodging the wash of the tide. Lovely as an out-and-back; or make it a loop back via Dunstan Steads. Post-run crab sandwich and a beer at the Jolly Fisherman, anyone?
Marcus66
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