B (1)

For Katie Walding, an IT
consultant, running is simply a
great way to enjoy some local colour
and a good workout. “I try to run
everywhere I go on business,” she
says. “I’m a big fan of running tours
that combine sightseeing, either
individually or in a small group. You
get to see the best of the city at your
own pace in a short period of time,
without fear of getting lost.”
On a recent trip, Walding joined
a running tour of Copenhagen. “We
have many business travellers,” says
Lena Andersson, of tour organiser
Running Copenhagen (running-
copenhagen.dk). “Mostly it will be on
an early morning run prior to heading
off to their meeting or conference.”
“Sightrunning”, as it is known,
is a growing trend – Go Running
Tours offers circuits in 33 cities
worldwide, while US-based City
Running Tours operates in 12 cities
(see box).
But what if you would rather
explore independently? There are
plenty of apps that allow you to plot
a route. Strava, the global online
running and cycling community,
recently launched Strava Local, an
insider’s guide to the best running
and cycling routes in 12 cities.
“Every Strava Local guide includes
routes of varying difficulty, as well as
our favourite places to grab coffee,
buy gear or snap a great photo,”
says Gareth Nettleton, director of
international marketing at Strava.
“Our data shows us the world’s most
popular routes, and our community
of local influencers curate each guide

to provide a rich and full experience,

whether you’re new in town or

rediscovering your city.”

Hotels are gearing up to be more

run-friendly, too. Many Crowne

Plaza locations offer “run stations”

equipped with fruit, water and

route maps of varying distances.

“The Hotel Bellevue in Seattle has

a suspended running track above

a couple of basketball courts – it’s

fantastic,” Corroll says. “But normally

I try to book a hotel near a major

park. For example, Jardin des Plantes

in Paris, [New York’s] Central Park,

or Lumpini Park in Bangkok.

This page

clockwise from

left:Chicago’s

Lakefront Trail;

Singapore’s Telok

Blangah Hill and

Tokyo’s Imperial

Palace

Right:Vancouver’s

Stanley Park

74 I Wellbeing

FIVE TOP RUNNING RESOURCES

sSTRAVA – Download “Strava Local” running routes and track

your progress with GPS (Apple, Android).

sMAPMYRUN – Record your route as you go and review your

stats afterwards (Apple, Android, Blackberry, Windows).

sPLOTAROUTE.COM – Download or view circuits worldwide,

and see ways to stay off major roads (Apple, Android).

sGORUNNINGTOURS.COM – Sightrunning in 33 cities

from Brussels, Mexico City and Tel Aviv to Nairobi, Singapore

and Sydney.

sCITYRUNNINGTOURS.COM – US-based sightrunning

tours in 12 cities including Atlanta and Washington DC.

“When it’s not possible to stay

near a park, or it’s somewhere I

don’t normally travel to, I ask the

concierge for advice. The decision

to turn left or right out of the lobby

can make the difference between a

great run and a slog through dodgy

or tedious areas. If they don’t have

any advice, you can at least get a

local map.”

For a running adventure with a

built-in bail-out option, invest in a

Garmin Forerunner GPS watch – its

“back to start” function allows you

to retrace your steps, freeing you up

to follow your nose. Q

JUNE (^2016) businesstraveller.asia