“Runseeing” as a term makes me wince but ultimately, it’s exactly what I like to do. Screw the treadmill and dull gym views, get me out exploring. Incorporating a love for travel with a love of running is far from being a remarkable hobby, as my chunky coffee table volume of Lonely Planet’s Epic Runs of the World rightfully points out. Millions of people around the world are travelling here, there and everywhere to join local run clubs, run niche races and tick off bucket list running routes, tracking every step on Strava as they go.
The Strava geek part aside, I’m one of them! My trail trainers come with me on every trip, ready for whatever terrain I find. The last few years have seen me running everywhere from Bilbao to Brooklyn, taking in sights, beaches, bridges, rocky backroads, temples, big green spaces and epic views as I go. But as good as the bucket list runs are, there’s nothing like plodding on familiar pavement and for me, that’s Greater Manchester. From the ever-changing city centre, to Salford’s MediaCity that’s sprung up out of nowhere, and its serene(ish) canal paths connecting the lot, it’s urban running at its best.
Now we’ve warmed up, let’s start running ...
Old Trafford
Go anywhere in the world and tell them you’re from Manchester, and they’ll bend your ear about all things Man U. As a kid, ex-Manchester United players used to show us how to kick a ball about on the school field, so it always tugs on my heart strings a little bit every time I run in the shadows of towering Old Trafford stadium. It’s just under 3 miles (5km) along Bridgewater canal towpath right into the city centre. It ain’t exactly Venice but come rain or shine (and in Manchester, it’s definitely more rain, so be prepared for puddles), it’s good marathon-training fodder.
Northern Quarter
I still don’t find running “easy” and I love distractions. The main reason I run outdoors rather inside on a treadmill is for all the stuff happening around me, and in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, there’s no shortage of things going on. Sure, it isn’t for everyone — there’s a lot of stopping at crossroads, dodging traffic, and jumping out of the way of people — but I love the buzz, the vibe, and proud-to-be-Mancunian graffiti. The earlier the better (and definitely avoid rush hour), but there’s something unforgettable about running through the cultural heart of Manchester. Depending on time of day, refuel with breakfast at Federal cafe or cool down with beer at 57 Thomas St.
Tate in Manchester, including running across the Salford Quays Lift Bridge, AKA the Millennium Bridge; with her New Balance Fresh X Foam Hierro v5s
MediaCity
About 18 years ago, Salford used to be a place I went begrudgingly at weekends to sit in sweaty leisure centres and watch my younger brother play hockey matches in the middle of what felt like nowhere. Now, it’s all changed. MediaCity popped up, bringing with it the likes of BBC and ITV and, with those, a new vibe. It’s an area that’s completely evolved, all glassy buildings, suspension bridges and media workers buzzing around like bees. Run this way in the late afternoon to appreciate its sharp lines, dramatic architecture, and savour the last of the light as it bounces off the water in the quays.
Manchester Central Library
No Manchester “runseeing” route is complete without a lap or two of Manchester Central Library in St Peter’s Square. The Grade II-listed rotunda was completed in 1934 and stands out proud in the heart of the city. Tick off some of Manchester’s most notable sights with a good run around its grand exterior, then down Oxford Rd past the universities, the Whitworth Art Gallery and into Fallowfield. There, back, and a quick lap of (muddy) Platt Fields is about 6 miles (10km).
Castlefield basin and Manchester Central Library – great starting points for runs
Rochdale canal path
Nothing says marathon training like a long, lonely Sunday morning run, eh? It’s usually raining because marathon training drags out through the winter months, and Rochdale canal path with its variety of commercial, residential and more rural sections is perfect for pacing through the kilometres and escaping into a podcast. For a solid 10-miler (16km), jump on at Castlefield basin and make your way past Victoria Mill Park and carry on until you hit the Oldham Rd. Then double back. Avoid it at night as there are some unlit and isolated areas. The reward is my fave spot in Ancoats, Erst bar and restaurant – one block north of the canal – that’s all natural wines and seasonal sharing plates.
For trainers – the bouncier, the better
I’m that person who likes to run from A to B, and will happily (note, not proudly) rock up to dinner sweating profusely, with spare sweatshirt in my rucksack, and running kicks left on. So I really do appreciate a pair of half-decent trainers that don’t look too questionable in a bar/restaurant/social situation. Barefoot trainers need not apply. When it comes to kicks, I think the bouncier, the better – I like New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v5s, a new trail shoe which uses patented fresh foam technology to create maximum cushioning. Anything less and my legs moan and groan via the medium of shin splints.
Spring 2020 brings marathon No 5 for me: a 26-mile stomp around Manchester. As tough as marathons are, and as deep as you have to dig, there’s something about running on familiar ground that feels far more comforting than setting off into the bleak unknown. Manchester, my friend, be kind.
The Fresh Foam X Hierro v5 is designed to go the distance. Engineered with a plush Fresh Foam midsole, a Vibram® MegaGrip outsole for traction and an upper that’s refined for improved breathability and protection, this women’s trail shoe will push you to reimagine your boundaries. Available now at newbalance.co.uk
