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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Rebecca Day

Manchester's most popular running routes revealed by Strava's heat map

It seems like every man and his dog is in to running nowadays - with record numbers taking part in Parkruns and half marathons.

You can't move for people showing off their fancy new Fitbit watches or designer activewear on Instagram - your old Fruit of the Loom t-shirt and your dad's jogging bottoms from 1993 just don't cut it anymore.

There are some hugely popular areas for running around Greater Manchester - as shown by this heat map here.

Running app Strava has tracked the roads, parks and canal paths most travelled around the region.

Famous landmarks and some far less obvious routes all feature.

Here is a list of some of the most popular running destinations - so you know where to avoid if you're worried about bumping into your boss in lycra.

Read more of today's stories here

Deansgate

Deansgate (Strava)

It's one of the busiest roads in Manchester, but if an obstacle course of shoppers and day-time drinkers is your jam, then grab your running shoes and join the crowds.

Heaton Park

Heaton Park (Strava)

For two days of the year it's packed with festival-goers running to the portaloos after one too many Strongbow Dark Fruits.

But for the rest of the year, it's an expansive park packed with joggers, dog walkers and families.

Salford Quays

Salford Quays (Strava)

Create a huge media hub by the quays and you've only got yourself to blame when all the TV presenters and actors move in with their trainers.

Etihad

Is that Sergio Aguero I see practising his sprints? If so, he's clearly doing laps around City's world-famous stadium on Ashton New Road as this part of the map is on fire.

Wythenshawe Park

Set in 109 acres of parkland, there's plenty of space to plod around, which might explain why it's so popular.

It's not just your run-of-the-mill ('scuse the pun) park either, with far more than just a few patches of grass to contend with.

The park features lots of lovely themed gardens, like a safari walk, jungle walk, canal garden, gardens of the world, post office museum, college garden and more.

Bramhall Park

Bramhall Park in Stockport (Strava)

Another park - this time in Stockport. The green space is glowing brightly on this map, showing it's a real favourite with joggers.

Bridgewater Canal

Why stick to boring old roads when you can jog along one of the many canal paths around Manchester?

The Bridgewater Canal, at the section in Castlefield, is a path well-trodden, if this heat map is anything to go by.

Old Trafford

Old Trafford (Strava)

There are scores of people pounding the streets outside Manchester United's stadium, as the map above shows.

Hoping to catch a glimpse of Ole at the wheel perhaps?

Oxford Road

Students eh, they are either jogging or drinking. Everybody knows that. Which is why this stretch of Oxford Road is probably such a running magnet.

Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park (Strava)

This busy park in south Manchester has a huge lake in the middle, which is popular for boating and fishing.

The weekly Parkrun brings in huge crowds too.

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