tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35426407597127697662024-03-13T09:28:46.631-07:00A Runner's Guide To The WorldA blog for runners, especially those who travel.
Training advice, running observations and running travel guides for 31 cities around the world. Never again will you have to slog away on the hotel treadmill..
You can follow me and my blog on Twitter @fairboyruns, Instagram @tomlfairbrother or at www.facebook.com/ARunnersGuideToTheWorld.
Use the date/month links on the right for more blogs! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-88310755394793347852013-04-20T02:23:00.003-07:002015-07-27T05:00:23.015-07:00Iten - Kenya<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Mo Farah in action in Kamaryni Stadium</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><strong>Running Paradise </strong></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The village of Iten in Kenya, or The Home Of Champions as it is known in the running world, is the Mecca for any long distance runner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Located at 8000 feet on the edge of the Rift Valley in East Africa, this remote Kenyan village just outside the town of Eldoret is home to more World, Olympic Champions than anywhere else in the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With miles and miles of trails winding their way up & down the beautiful rural countryside, with only the occasional cyclist or mutatu to disturb you, there truly is nowhere better to train.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst the population is predominantly made up of Kenyans, a handful of purpose-built western training camps provide the ultimate environment for anyone looking to focus solely on their running.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Due to the high altitude and remote nature of the village's location, it eliminates many of the commonly associated risks with travelling to Africa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mosquitoes are nowhere to be seen, soaring temperatures are nullified to the mid/high 20s, personal safety and crime is nothing compared to big cities like Nairobi, and traffic is minimal with only one tarmac road connecting the village to Eldoret.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are more likely to encounter Wilson Kipsang or David Rudisha than you are a coffee-fuelled Mother on the school run or Garry boy joy rider!</span></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Getting There</span></u></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your first task is to make it to Kenya. Most long haul international flights will fly to Nairobi (7 hours from London).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Nairobi, Eldoret airport is the closest you can get to Iten by plane. International airline Kenya Airways now fly from NBO to Eldoret, but cheaper options are also available, as well as a bus (I wouldn't fancy it!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From there it is around 50 minutes by mutatu to reach the famous 'Home of Champions' arch - if this doesn't give you goosebumps I don't no what will.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The views over the Rift Valley from Kerio View</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The two most popular camps with foreign international teams and club runner tourists like me, are Kerio View and the High Altitude Training Centre (HATC).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keiro View offers the most spectacular views of the Rift Valley and is popular with those people looking for a few more home comforts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The HATC on the other hand is very basic in terms of rooms and amenities. However it has what KV never will - an aura.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><u>The Facilities</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everything about it inspires you to train hard and live a quiet, focused lifestyle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first class gym attracts pretty much every top Kenyan athlete - you can expect to regularly see the likes of Abel Kirui, Asbel Kiprop & Wilson Kipsang to name just a few.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The food is 100% organic, grown on site and beautifully prepared by Maggie and the rest of the incredibly friendly kitchen staff. Expect a big varied breakfast of porridge, bread, pancakes, fruit & chai (Kenyan speciality tea/milk/coffee hybrid - which tastes awesome!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Home made soup, pasta & rice for lunch and a dinner of beef/chicken/fish served with ugali (Kenyan rocket fuel for runners!), potatoes, rice & veg. Friday night is Pizza night though, so if you like your fast food there is one day to relapse!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The camp is regularly used by several international teams - UKA, Netherlands, Canada, Germany & USA to name just a few. Just heading in for breakfast, you are rubbing shoulders with some of the best endurance athletes in the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to run with Mo Farah, which basically says everything you need to know about the calibre of athletes attracted to the camp!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Running in Iten is tough though - the trails are firm underfoot yet very slippery in the wet. It is also extremely hilly, certainly for a Suffolk boy like me who is used to pretty flat terrain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An easy 5m run will see you encounter 2/3 hills steeper then you would use for a hill session back home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately I suffered a recurrence of a calf injury which forced me home early - so ensure before departing that you are in good nick as the terrain will soon expose any frailties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Many of the professional athletes were walking around with their ankles and achilles mummified in KT-tape after a few days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><u>What to pack</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Due to its remote location, western home comfort are few and far between, expensive and a long walk from the camp. For those with s sweet tooth, I'd suggest packing things like chocolate as you won't find any in Iten. You can't even get a WADA blood testing agent in Iten, let along a Mars bar!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">White socks, and anything else white for that matter will get ruined by the famous orange tracks and trails so don't pack anything new or expensive. My yellow Nike Frees are still orange months and washes later!</span></span></div>
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Despite the altitude and the remote location of Iten, Garmins work fine and pick up a strong signal. </span> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, pack a torch and back-up chargers plus plenty of non-electrical ways of entertaining yourself as power cuts are frequent and can last for days at a time. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the guys in the camp suffered power surges which blew chargers, hence the reason for backups for phones & laptops. Wifi is also available in the camps for those who wish to Skype & Facebook, although is temperamental at best.</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Health Concerns & Logistics</span></u></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In terms of logistics, there is a KCB bank in Iten where you can get cash with a credit or debit card, and there is also a Western Union should you lose them (as I did before I even left England!).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The final thing to consider are the health & physiological effects of living at an altitude twice the height of Ben Nevis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ensure to drink plenty of water, add salt to your food & drink, monitor your weight & urine and try to take iron supplements. It is also advised to have a ferritin blood test before you go to identify any deficiencies prior to departing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Be sure to take it very easy for your first few days, you will feel very tired and lethargic but this is normal, it is just your body acclimatising. Don't try to force it early as it will soon catch up with you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It is advised to spend a minimum of four weeks at altitude to benefit from the effects upon your return to sea level. An excellent blog for altitude training information is <a href="http://egansaltitudeadventures.blogspot.co.uk/">http://egansaltitudeadventures.blogspot.co.uk/</a></span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Summary</span></u></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Whether an aspiring international athlete or your average club runner, Iten is a place that all runners should experience, and offers a reasonably priced option for altitude training when compared to USA or other long haul destinations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Be sure to check out St Patricks School, home of David Rudisha and Brother Colm whilst in Iten, and of course Kamaryni Stadium before the new all-weather track opens later in 2013.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">There is no doubt you will come back inspired, if not by the running, then at the very least the infectious personality of the Kenyan people..</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana;">#nomoretreadmills</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can follow me and my blog on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/fairboyruns" style="color: #7d5106; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @fairboyruns, </span><a href="https://instagram.com/tomlfairbrother/" style="color: #7d5106; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @tomlfairbrother or on</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ARunnersGuideToTheWorld" style="color: #7d5106; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Facebook</span></a><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You can also follow my running progress on </span><a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=464818" style="color: #7d5106; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Power of 10</span></a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-3532876454023217832013-03-28T07:48:00.000-07:002013-03-28T07:48:06.015-07:00Hong Kong - Hong Kong, China<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like <strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/doha-qatar.html" target="_blank">Qatar</a></strong>, Hong Kong is one of those places where I'm not really too sure who would have it as number 1 on their list of places to visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The former British ruled territory, now under <strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/beijing-china.html" target="_blank">Chinese</a></strong> rule following the Handover in 1997, is much like <strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/doha-qatar.html" target="_blank">Doha</a></strong> in the Gulf (ridiculously named as World Cup 2022 host) - there seems to be no real identity to the place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The streets are lined with jaw-dropping skyscrapers, Italian super cars and designer shopping malls, in a city where big business, finance & banking plays a pivotal role in the global economy. Whether things were different when us Brits ran the show, I'm not too sure, but you definitely get the feeling the stricter <strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/beijing-china.html" target="_blank">Chinese</a></strong> rule has had an impact. Let's face it, they are not as fun as us are they!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">An example of the wealth in Hong Kong, especially in 'The Peak' area (where my photos of the skyline during the day and at night were taken), is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/severn-road-hong-kong-most-expensive-photos-2011-12?op=1" target="_blank">Severn Road</a>, situated at the top, which is officially the most expensive street to live on IN THE WORLD. Prices start from $2630 per square foot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But as with <strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/doha-qatar.html" target="_blank">Doha</a></strong>, the huge number of the poorer locals are squashed into small pockets of the city which are dirty, loud and an eyesore, so close to areas of heavy investment. To me there is just no middle ground. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The super rich live the good life, where the sums of money spent on houses, cars and jewellery are more than most of us will earn in our lifetime. Whilst the poor squash together making do with working the dead end jobs required by these lavish lifestyles. The street sellers, toilet attendants, taxi drivers and valets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the midst of all of this, it has lost it's identity by selling it's soul to living the western lifestyle. There just felt like there was no culture or history that it was proud of. Subsequently as a tourist myself, I couldn't help thinking - who would come here on holiday? (Excluding me obviously!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The weather is good, but it is not overly hot (for Qatar change to too hot!). Whilst the famous skyline is widely (rightly) regarded as the greatest anywhere in the world, it does not have the same aura, history or appeal as say <a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/new-york-usa.html" target="_blank"><strong>New York</strong></a> <a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/london-england.html" target="_blank">or <strong>London</strong></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Flights are not too expensive, but <strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/las-vegas-usa.html" target="_blank">USA</a></strong>, all of <a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/rome-italy.html" target="_blank"><strong>Europe</strong></a> and the Gulf are cheaper. What sights & attractions there are, are sprawled out across far ends of the cities numerous islands, of which there are incredibly 263! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This means it is not an easy city to walk around, especially given the extreme undulating nature of the popular areas. Therefore lots of time is spent on the metro to get from one point to another. Oh and the other factor which makes it similar to <strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/doha-qatar.html" target="_blank">Doha in Qatar</a></strong> - it is bloody expensive!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps harshly, to me, it is just one of those places you visit on your way somewhere. Either a stopover whilst heading down to <strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/sydney-australia.html" target="_blank">Australia</a></strong>, or on your way back from <a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/beijing-china.html" target="_blank"><strong>China</strong></a> or <strong><a href="http://japan./">Japan.</a></strong> Certainly I would not suggest staying for longer than 2-3 days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Right now that I have torn it to pieces I had better tell you about the running! I was only in Hong Kong three nights, one if which was lost to arriving late in the evening from Tokyo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Day 1, having found a park on my tourist map I set off from my hostel in Causeway Bay, just east of the main business district. Temperature was around 22C so just a t-shirt & shorts required. Those who follow me on Twitter will know I then proceeded to get hopelessly and totally lost! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 10 minutes or so of navigating countless pedestrian crossings, footbridges, traffic lights and gridlocked traffic I made it to Victoria Park. This Park turned out to be minuscule, with it's designated 'jogging track' taking all of 2 minutes to complete. After a couple of circuits I turned and back to find a new route. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Confident I could find my way back to the Hostel, I headed along the marina as close as I could get to the edge away from the busy roads (not very). Unfortunately, I ended up running around shopping malls, markets and footbridges, meaning a very slow, stop/start and hilly run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two hours later I eventually made it back to the hostel, thanks mainly to stumbling across a western hotel which kindly pointed me in the right direction (the opposite to which I thought). Fortunately it was morning and quite hot, otherwise god knows what would have happened to me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Day 2 I regrouped, and after studying my tourist map, thought it best to head into the business district as opposed to away - this mainly because I identified another potential park, the imaginatively named Hong Kong Park, as well as the Botanic Gardens and what looked like some long, straight roads with few intersections.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst Hong Kong Park, pictured above, turned out to be smaller than some people's gardens, the roads offered up the opportunity to stretch my legs without fear of traffic. The only downside is, as I touched upon earlier, Hong Kong Central area has to be one of the most dramatically undulating city centres I have ever seen, with the exception of maybe <strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/san-francisco-usa.html" target="_blank">San Francisco.</a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I ran for an hour, which was plenty given my quads were burning by the end. Here is my route for you to follow, the second one, not the one where you get lost like me!</span></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary</span></u></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Distance: 12k (approx)</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Start: </strong>Causeway Bay Metro Station, Causeway Bay, HK Island</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Head west along Hennessey Road for approx 4k, running in the Bus Lane to avoid the heavily congested footpaths. I should add here for Health & Safety reasons, watch out for buses, obviously.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Once you reach the crossroads, hang a left into Hong Kong Park. You will run up a ridiculously steap footpath to get into the park, which sits above the level of the skyscrapers and the marina giving views across the district.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After a circuit on the outer perimeter of the Park, exit and continue following signs to Zoological & Botanic Garden. If lost, just keep running uphill and you can't go wrong!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After a circuit of the Gardens, head back on Cotton Tree Drive past Admirality Metro stop, and simply retrace your steps back to Causeway Bay (you will also pass Central and Wan Chai metro stops).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Roughly 12k in total, very undulating, but pretty much as traffic free and scenic as you will likely encounter anywhere in Hong Kong.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana;">#nomoretreadmills</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">You can follow daily updates from the blog on Twitter @runworldguide or on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/arunnersguidetotheworld">www.facebook.com/arunnersguidetotheworld</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">You can also find over 30 city running travel guides, including <strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/melbourne-australia.html" target="_blank">Melbourne,</a> <a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/rome-italy.html" target="_blank">Rome,</a> <a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/dubai-uae.html" target="_blank">Dubai</a> & <a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/stanford-university-california-usa.html#rpctoken=730528471&_methods=_ready%2C_close%2C_open%2C_resizeMe%2C_renderstart&id=navbar-iframe&parent=http%3A%2F%2Frunnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk" target="_blank">California</a></strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/stanford-university-california-usa.html#rpctoken=730528471&_methods=_ready%2C_close%2C_open%2C_resizeMe%2C_renderstart&id=navbar-iframe&parent=http%3A%2F%2Frunnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk" target="_blank"> </a>by using the links on the right of the page.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-70852099263758412502013-03-27T15:36:00.003-07:002015-08-07T05:17:42.437-07:00Tokyo - Japan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you asked non-runners to name a country they associate with running, what would they most likely say?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It would probably be an African country, like Kenya, or the Great Britain, based on watching Coe vs Ovett, Paula Radcliffe win the London Marathon, or more recently, Mo Farah winning double gold at London 2012.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Japan would probably be a way down the list. However, along with Baseball, the land of the rising sun is completely running obsessed!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just from walking around the city for a few days and using the underground, it is clearly noticeable how few overweight or obese people you see. I know that may sound like a silly and crude thing to say, but it is a valid observation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Japanese people are just very health conscious. Not in a desperate, almost self-deprecating way like us Brits, who slave away at the latest fad diet or post-Christmas gym workout, looking at magazines and wishing we looked like the 'celebrities' we see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They enjoy a well balanced, healthy diet consisting of lots of boiled foods like noodles or rice, combined with seafood and beef/chicken, mixed with tons of vegetables, teas, soups.</span><br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-du9o16dPW1U/UVNuQbrOZUI/AAAAAAAABU0/VS-25zb6f7s/s640/blogger-image--167792389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-du9o16dPW1U/UVNuQbrOZUI/AAAAAAAABU0/VS-25zb6f7s/s640/blogger-image--167792389.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst there are still western influences with things like Starbucks & McDonalds, in general all of the fast food outlets and convenience stores sell mainly Japanese foods - none of which are the heavy, calorie packed, grease or gravy soaked meals you would find your local pub or fish & chip shop selling in England.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a result, the vast majority of the population enjoy the benefits of eating light, fresh foods on a daily basis. Now, combine this with the other major factor - everyone is constantly on the move!<br />
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Tokyo boasts the biggest population of any city in the world, and with that comes an incredibly busy, fast moving lifestyle. If you stand still it will swallow you up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The people work long hours, and like most big cities around the world, traffic is awful and the roads are reserved mainly for buses & taxis. This means the daily commute involves walking, running, cycling or the tube.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There could be many reasons why it is so loved as a sport in Japan and in Tokyo - perhaps it is because it reflects the hard working nature of the people and the culture, or the low-cost factor of running in a city where the cost of living is so high. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It could be the Tokyo Marathon, which allows the city to put itself in the worldwide spotlight each year and helps create role models for the young Japanese, or simply the health benefits and getting some freedom in such an overcrowded, hectic environment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As with Kenya, much can be speculated as to why and how one country can love the sport and excel at it so much more than any other country - the answer obviously is much harder to pinpoint and consists of numerous factors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The day I arrived just so happened to be the day of the 2013 Tokyo Marathon, and by the sheer volume of spectators, you can see there is a real love of the sport.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been fortunate to run in twenty four different countries in six continents, and I can honestly say I saw more runners in Tokyo than anywhere else I have been, including Kenya! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All standards, from packs of 8-10 running tempo sessions, to the elderly joggers being overtaken by walkers. Running is ingrained in the daily routine and the way of life in Japan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surprisingly, unlike London which despite it's huge population and gridlocked transport networks has large public parks like Hyde, Regents or Hampstead Heath in which to escape, Tokyo is very short on space to stretch your legs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The green spaces that do exist in the city house Temples and Shrine, popular amongst tourists and still operational as places of worship and pilgrimage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inspired from watching the world's elite complete the 26.2 I used my map to track down some of these parks to run in, despite temperatures down in single figures. However, I quickly found out (on numerous occasions), that running is prohibited in almost all of these parks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Almost instantly upon entry and opening my legs, I was greeted with shouts of "STOP!" or whistles from Park Officers in uniform bearing their famous red sticks (that look light light sabres!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a horrible 60 minute run consisting of countless pedestrian crossings and traffic lights, I showered and decided research was required for my intended 10 mile run on Day 2!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the pouring, sodden rain, I headed for the Imperial Palace, which my research reliably informed me was the running capital of Tokyo. Upon exiting the tube station and jogging the 300 yards to so to the Palace, I was greeted with probably more runners than I would see in a year in my hometown of Woodbridge in Suffolk!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Never before have I seen so many shiny bright coloured tracksuits, fluorescent shoes, ear muffs, elaborate headphones and handheld water bottles!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surrounding the Imperial Palace and the Gardens/Moat is a 5k loop. How do I know it was 5k? Because there are distance markers on the pavement/sidewalk telling you so!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was able to complete three loops, which combined with my journey to and from the tube station each way got me my 10 miles. It was nice for the confidence to pass so many people, although quite demoralising to be eaten up and spat back out by some many packs of flying locals!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Later in the week I was also able to track a park that allows running - Yoyogi Park - and there were quite a few others pounding the walkways, so it was nice to see some greenery on a run, even if, being February, all the trees were looking slightly bare!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tokyo has a strange climate in that Winter is very dry, but very cold, whilst Summer is very hot but very wet. The best times to visit are March-April when the flowers and the trees begin to bloom. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">However, I was here in February and whilst it was cold (around 7-10 degrees C), it was still very pleasant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">You are absolutely fine to run with your headphones, and Tokyo is one of the safest places I have been, so you will be fine to run with your iPhone or MP3 player and Garmin. Still be careful to be sensible though when running at night, and maybe take a business card for your hotel/hostel and some cash in case you get lost - far easier than asking for directions in Japanese!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For anyone lucky enough to visit Tokyo - don't be put off but anything I have said - yes there are not too many places to run, and even fewer open parks to stretch your legs. However, being part of the Imperial Palace daily swarm of runners, which so typifies everything about this incredible city, is an experience you cannot and must not miss out on!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can follow me and my blog on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/fairboyruns" style="background-color: black; color: #7d5106; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @fairboyruns, </span><a href="https://instagram.com/tomlfairbrother/" style="background-color: black; color: #7d5106; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @tomlfairbrother or on</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ARunnersGuideToTheWorld" style="background-color: black; color: #7d5106; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Facebook</span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You can also follow my running progress on </span><a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=464818" style="background-color: black; color: #7d5106; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Power of 10</span></a><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary - 5k Route</span> </u></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Either Takebashi or Kudanshita Metro Stations </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Both to the north entrance of Imperial Palace entrance)</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simply follow the walkway as it circles the perimeter of the Imperial Palace Gardens. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The north side of the Palace is far higher than the South, so depending on how you want your run, keeping the moat to your left hand side will mean the first half of your run is downhill and the second uphill. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Obviously if you want to have the first half of your run uphill, with a downhill finish, you will need to get off the metro at one of the southern stops, so try Sakuradamon or Nagatacho. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The metro stations are all coded (U3, S2 etc) so don't worry about having to remember of translate some of the long Japanese names!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Use the distance markers on the gold plaques to establish the distance, and do as many loops of the 5k as you feel up for! </span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#nomoretreadmills</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can follow daily updates from the blog on <strong>Twitter @runworldguide</strong> or on Facebook at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/arunnersguidetotheworld"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.facebook.com/arunnersguidetotheworld</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have written over 30 other city guides, including <a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/sydney-australia.html" target="_blank"><strong>Sydney,</strong></a><strong> </strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/rio-de-janeiro-brazil.html" target="_blank"><strong>Rio de Janeiro,</strong></a><strong> </strong><a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/paris-france.html" target="_blank"><strong>Paris</strong></a> and <a href="http://runnersguidetotheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/san-francisco-usa.html" target="_blank"><strong>San Francisco</strong></a><strong>,</strong> which you can find using the links on the right of the page!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-55917453033021663612013-02-07T02:06:00.002-08:002013-02-07T02:15:44.273-08:00Kenya - Photo Album<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Due to poor wifi I couldn't add any photos whilst I was out in Kenya - so here they are now! Apologies some are small, was unable to increase their size for some reason...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The iconic arch marks the entrances to either end of Iten - just to rub in that you are on their turf!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Signs of Kenyans love of running are everywhere to be seen in Iten. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Me and Kerio View, which offers breathtaking views over the Rift Valley.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The entrance to the Camp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kamariny Stadium in Iten - currently the only athletics track in the town (a synthetic track is in construction) and where Kiprop, Kipsang, Rudisha and co and the foreign athletes who train in Iten do their sessions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Me and Wilson Kipsang, one of many WR holders/Olympic champs who use the gym in the camp. It was good of him to pose for a photo but he clearly wasn't that interested in me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">St Patricks High School, still home to David Rudisha and his legendary coach Brother Colm</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Alumni wall of fame in the dining hall at St Patricks, featuring all-time greats of the sport - was truly inspiring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A different video of me, Mo Farah, his UK coaches and some Kenyans running home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mo Farah showing off his Arsenal spikes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A video of Mo Farah in the middle of his 600m, 400m, 300m, 200m x 4 session</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My tiny room for four weeks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The town of Iten</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Walking to the track, I bumped into some school children heading out for break time - brought a smile to my face. Wonder how many future champions there are here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>You can read all four of my blogs from Kenya by using the links on the right of the page or on Twitter @runworldguide</strong> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-44145427700890129742012-05-01T07:24:00.004-07:002012-05-01T07:24:38.972-07:00Stanford University, California - USA<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It's not difficult to see why Stanford University has been voted top college sports programme 17 years in a row</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a teenager, going to school at Stanford University, life must be good. This is not a College, this is heaven on earth!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was in Palo Alto, California for the WTA Tennis Stanford event taking place on the College campus. I can honestly say I had never heard of the place before arriving, assuming it was just a small generic American town. I soon realised I was wrong!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although a relatively small town, it is home to Silicon Valley where you will find the headquarters of Facebook, AOL & Xerox. Notable current and former residents include the late Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Condoleezza Rice and Larry Page. It is located under an hour away from San Francisco on the Cal Train.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was my first ever first-hand experience of American colleges, having previously only seen them in teen films like American Pie and Old School. A University Campus in England is obviously much bigger than a high school, but very similar in terms of what is there, just on a larger scale. But man this was like a small city!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regularly voted in the top five universities in the World, for a starters, there is a 50,000 seater stadium where the College American Football team play their matches. To put that into context, that is bigger than 17 of the 20 English Premier League football stadiums and has hosted a Super Bowl and several World Cup 1994 matches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then you take a look at the Alumni, and it shows you the calibre of athletes who have attended. John Elway, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods& John McEnroe as well as a total of 182 Olympic medals won by former students. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not just sports stars either, Larry Page & Sergey Brin founders of Google studied here, as did the founders of companies including Nike, Hewlett-Packard, & Cisco Systems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In addition to 17 Nobel Prize winners, former US President Herbert Hoover attended as well as a Japanese Prime Minister. You get the idea now, basically this place is pretty incredible! </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was staying in a Days Inn located on El Camino Real just 2.6 miles south east of the University campus. As it is open to public, I was very keen to take a nose around on my run!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Out of my hotel I therefore headed north west along the street, which runs through most of the town and straight to the campus - no chance of getting lost here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are a few crossings on the busier roads so depending on what time you run you may have to wait, or if it's quiet you could try your luck in between cars (if the police ask, I didn't tell you to jay-walk!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would suggest running early or late as being California it gets seriously hot here for probably 8 months of the year. This is a really well lit road too so there are problems in running after dark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Upon reaching the campus on your left hand side, there are a few different entrances but I took the entrance which you will see at the main crossroads left on Galvez Street just as you pass Palo Alto High School on your right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now on campus, part of me was very jealous of all the students I saw who study here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I followed Galvez Street south past the Stanford Stadium which is a really cool looking stadium (for a school!) and then the athletics track (top photo). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carrying on south I picked up Campus Drive passing the Tennis Stadium on your left hand side, with my plan now to complete a loop of the campus and head back to my hotel - This place is much bigger than I anticipated.</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I followed Campus Drive as curved to the right and the right again as it began to loop round the back of most of the buildings and classrooms, picking up Junipero Serra Boulevard as the roads merged.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not content with world-class stadia, there is also a lake and a golf course on campus (obviously). I passed both of these along Junipero (lake on your right, golf course on your left) as I began to turn for home. When you reach the driving range on your right hand side, take a right where you will be back on Campus Drive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From here, you simply stay on the road all the way as it snakes north east towards the campus exit, passing some large greenhouses on your left and then a hospital. Before you pass a large wooded area (Frost Ampitheatre), take a left on Palm Drive. This is the main entrance to the campus and must offer an adrenaline pumping experience for new students on their first day as they drive up it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then simply take a right back on the El Camino Real and follow the route from earlier once again passing the high school now on your left, all the way back to the Days Inn. In total the run measured just under 8 miles. Great running conditions, mainly dry, all concrete and sidewalks most of the way. Minimal traffic on campus, lots of sports stadia and activity to inspire you mid-run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you can't motivate yourself to run here, you won't anywhere!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Summary: </b>Start – Days Inn, El Camino Real, Palo Alto CA<br />Journey – North west towards Stanford University Campus on El Camino Real for 2.6miles. Enter campus on Galvez, pick up Campus Drive. Follow all the way around campus, briefly pickup up Junipero Serra Boulevard before rejoining Campus Drive. Pick up Palm Drive the main road into the campus and then turn right and return along El Camino Real.<br />Finish - Days Inn, El Camino Real</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-30354035838025595072012-04-29T09:21:00.001-07:002012-04-29T12:19:07.818-07:00London - England<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay I know I am biased being English and all but London is surely the greatest city on the planet?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes it rains a lot, the roads are carnage and everybody is in an almighty rush, but there really is just something for everybody.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether you like sightseeing, sporting amphitheatres, Oxford Street, the West End, museums, galleries, striking architecture, innovative leading commerce or vibrant nightlife and elegant parks, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All and more can be found in London.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Tube can be both frustrating and crowded for Londoners but for tourists it offers one of the best public transport networks in the world. In addition, connections to both Heathrow and Gatwick Airports meaning you can be North America, Europe, Asia and Africa in as little as 6 hours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For this route I tried to capture as much of London's wide reaching appeal as possible...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The run started at the Tower of London, home to the crown jewels on the north side of the Thames (nearest tube stop is Tower Hill on Circle Line) and led me east only a matter of metres to Tower Bridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After crossing over to the south bank, I turned west staying close to the public walkway as much as possible, passed Belfast and Hay's Galleria until I reached London Bridge.</span></div>
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There were some works taking place on the Thames footpath on other side of the road so I decided to cross back over to the north bank using both the wide pavements and cycle lanes.</div>
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Back on the north bank, simply follow the signposted Thames West Path all the way to St Paul's Cathedral. The imposing dome will shortly be visible to your right but instead you will continue under Southwark Bridge to the Millenium footbridge.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I crossed back over to the south bank on Millenium Bridge upon reaching Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and Tate Modern. Dubbed the wobbly bridge because of initial problems when opening in 2000 to mark the millenium, the bridge closed for two years while engineering work took place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From here it was just a case of kicking on further west towards the Southbank Area, a hotspot for tourists, passing London Television Studios and the National Theatre en route.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once you reach the London Eye & London Aquarium, just be careful as there will be a lot of congestion on the footpath on weekends in particular. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you no doubt have noticed by now to your right - it's only BIG BEN!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking in the historic views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, turn right at <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Westminster Bridge and cross the Thames for the fourth and final time - beware though that it is difficult not to stop and stare in appreciation of its sheer beauty at this point!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Continuing west past Westminster Abbey to St James Park on Great George Street, real London first-timers can take a right for two streets and have a look at Downing Street before looking back to Great George.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Westminster is probably my favourite part of London as it combines everything foreigners typically love about the UK - the monarchy, the iconic sites and British traditions - with beautiful parks such as St James Park and Hyde Park, separated by Marble Arch & Buckingham Palace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carrying on west you will reach beautiful St James Park before getting your first glimpse of the world famous Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria was the first Monarch to live in the Palace in 1837.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Passing the Palace to the right you will now be faced with Marble Arch. A long straight gradual incline to the monument flanked by the Gardens of Buckingham Palace and Green Park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From here it is just straight across the roundabout using the underpass and into Hyde Park. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is where you can see lots of other runners as you begin to run west towards High Street Kensington where this route ends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Park is glorious all year round and hosts several concerts throughout the summer. Famously in 1969 the Rolling Stones performed with well over a quarter of a million people in attendance.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span>There is also a memorial for the victims of 7/7 terrorist attack in 2005 and the Park will also host the triathlon in the London 2012 Olympics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The downside of running from east to west means you tackle a very long relatively steep incline for the best part of a mile! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Passing the Royal Opera House as you cross the road into Kensington Gardens, you will then exit to your left out of the Queen's Gate entrance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now on Kensington High Street, the tube stop is just ahead of you on your left hand side. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The route in total was around 6.8 miles and is certainly one of my favourites. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The downside is that in the early part there is quite a bit of congestion on the footpaths so it is hard to get into an early rhythm, but by the time you reach Westminster Bridge you can open your legs and take in London's finest landmark and some spectacular parks to get you away from the hustle and bustle of the city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you are visiting London for the first time, 100% take in this route as you will not be disappointed!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Not London's biggest park but certainly one of the most popular - Hyde Park</span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Tower of London/Tower Bridge</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - Cross Tower Bridge to south bank, run west along river wall. Cross London Bridge and follow north bank to Millenium footbridge. Cross and continue along south bank to Westminster Bridge. Follow Great George Street to Buckingham Palace, west to Marble Arch and into Hyde Park. Follow park through to Kensington High Street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - High Street Kensington Tube Station</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-32K4aw_Zv5E/T51WDdeWJ6I/AAAAAAAAAX0/g58rHE7Phuo/s640/blogger-image--614549688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-75457931124919671402012-04-27T03:46:00.000-07:002015-08-07T01:07:37.660-07:00The Algarve - Portgual<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The Algarve in Portugal may be world renowned as a haven for golf lovers, but it certainly has a lot to offer runners too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is not actually a city itself, but a group of towns and small cities. Located on the southern most coastline of Portgual, the area mostly has good weather all year round making the most of all the beautiful sea walks, beaches and golf courses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was here on a golfing trip but made sure to pack my trainers. Our hotel was located in Carvoeira in Lagao, a small quaint coastal town set on a bay, with dramatic clifftop views out to sea. A really cool little place, the kind you would just stumble across rather than plan to visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In case you are thinking I am some kind of high roller, let me just say now that I won this holiday in golf tournament, otherwise I would be probably be in the airport holiday inn!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wanted my run to try and incorporate some of the cliffs and beaches as I knew with so much golf lined up during the day, there wouldn't be much time to visit them otherwise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Setting off from the hotel on Estrada do Monte Paraiso, I travelled eastbound from the middle of the town and towards the more rural part of the coastline. The idea of this route was that with this would let me get a better view of the coast without the obstruction of the hotels and villas that line the cliff tops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're going to run in Portugal, it goes without saying bring your sunscreen because it gets VERY hot...The sea breeze often disguises the fact and next thing you know you are burned, so definitely be prepared. Nobody wants to look like a tomato by the pool!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The western part of the Algarve is full of secluded coves and beaches like this one near Carvoeira</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The street was one way but soon joined up to the main road running through the town. However because this is such a tiny town in every sense of the word, the 'main' road is nothing more than your average single carriageway with pavements on either side. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The road does though connects a lot of the resorts and residential areas to the town so it gets quite busy in the evenings with people heading out to eat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Now running east parallel to the coast on Estrado do Farol, you get glimpses of the bay with all of the fisherman and yachts through gaps in the buildings to your right, but the best views will come later - be patient.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another feature of the Algarve is the cuisine. Man the seafood is so good here! With so many tourists, there are a bunch of good restaurants and you don't need to pay silly prices because there is so much competition. Being a seaside town, you know it is all going to be fresh (hopefully!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The road travels through the central shopping area full of gift shops and local independents, and then the further east you travel the more you come across first hotels, and then villas and retirement accommodation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As it heads east, it really gets interesting as the road begins to weave left and right up and down some really surprisingly big hills. However your reward at the top of each climb is a spectacular out to sea.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIyho9IrCx0/T5mOsfRzS-I/AAAAAAAAASA/2YapTV02CoQ/s1600/1154625726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIyho9IrCx0/T5mOsfRzS-I/AAAAAAAAASA/2YapTV02CoQ/s640/1154625726.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A beach near Vale Do Lobo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As to probably be expected on the cliff tops, this is one of the most undulating of all of the routes I have created so be prepared for some real steep climbs. Probably best to run in late afternoon before dinner or early in the mornings. I ran at around 4pm after golf.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 4.9km, the road came to an end at the top of one of the cliffs. I allowed myself a short break to really take in the coastline. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Similar to many clifftops, the formation and erosion of the rocks creates several small coves and caves below, with at least ten or more secluded little beaches. Some have been manipulated to offer tourist friendly beach bars offering deck chairs etc whilst others are 100% untouched, with only natural gradual stepping stone like access.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Satisfied, I simply followed this route back to the hotel. Not one of the longest, measuring in at just under 10km in total, but with the heat, the hills and golf it was just about right. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Another great route if in the Algarve is to pick up the beach at Vale do Lobo, follow all the way west to Vilamoura and then weave your way back. The beaches here are more traditional so you can include an actual run along the beach without running into a cliff or a cave!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Offering some fantastic views along one very quiet road, it is a nice little run that I would certainly repeat if I went back. Now for some seafood!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can follow me and my blog on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/fairboyruns" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @fairboyruns, </span><a href="https://instagram.com/tomlfairbrother/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @tomlfairbrother or on</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ARunnersGuideToTheWorld" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You can also follow my running progress on </span><a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=464818" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Power of 10</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Summary: </strong><br />
Start - Estrada do Monte Paraiso, west Carvoeira</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - East on Estrada do Farol, follow road all the way until it finishes at dead end 4.9km. Repeat route home. Spectacular views of coastline and out to sea.<br />
Finish - Restaurante O Boteco, Estrada do Monte Paraiso, west Carvoeira</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-37493548033355442432012-04-26T07:42:00.000-07:002015-08-05T05:07:24.352-07:00Beijing - China<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ready to run? The view from my hotel window in Beijing</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay first of all, if you are reading this in Beijing, congratulations, you got a Visa! After two seperate trips to London filling in various forms, obligations and photo sessions, I got in. And boy was it not worth the effort. I previously described Luxembourg as grey and bleak. But compared to Beijing that place looks like paradise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Probably a little harsh, but there is just such a huge difference in cultures that I cannot see why you would come here for anything other than business. That may sound like a typical English thing to say as we are renowned for liking our comfort zones, but I am usually very open to experiencing and seeing different ways of life. But China was just a step too far for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favourite city is Rio de Janeiro, so I guess I should have expected China to not be my thing, and man this is not Rio! Everything is so controlled, there seems to be no freedom, character, spontaneity. Almost a feeling of fear. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is just such a methodical, disciplined feel wherever you go, which is very surprising as the Chinese are such fantastic innovators when it comes to architecture, construction and technology. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway back to the running, which is why you are reading this. I arrived at night, I was here with my friend, and after looking out of my window in the morning, (see above) I have to say, and I really shouldn't, this is one place where the treadmill actually looked reasonably tempting!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aZI4c5rAqT0/T5gdg3jclhI/AAAAAAAAAQo/8eTEaluq-FQ/s1600/9223_160492750903_509040903_3158330_5393077_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aZI4c5rAqT0/T5gdg3jclhI/AAAAAAAAAQo/8eTEaluq-FQ/s640/9223_160492750903_509040903_3158330_5393077_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Resisting, we laced up our trainers and hit the streets, assuming it was okay to run on the roads in China. From our hotel in Dongxiaokouzhen in the north side of Beijing we set off south towards the Olympic Park. The reasoning for this was that if exercising in public is going to be okay anywhere, surely it would be there!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />We stumbled across a park, which Google Maps later revealed to be Dengsheng Culture & Sports Park (our Mandarin is not the best!) and preceded to navigate our way from the northern tip in a full circuit, exiting the park through the south eastern exit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now you may be thinking this was some ellaborate spectacular high-tech park. Let me tell you it was not! A concrete walkway made it a nice clean surface for running but there were really no points of interest or highlights, other than a couple of small lake/ponds. NY Central Park this is not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being 6 foot 2" and 6 foot respectively, wearing shorts and woolly hats, it is fair to say that we probably didn't blend in too well, so it was good thing that the place was absolutely deserted. Okay it was a weekday but I cannot recall seeing a single soul in the whole park. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Proceeding south on Heiquan Road, which crossed over the River Qinghe before becoming Lincui Road, we reached the Olympic Park - although there was still no sign of the 2008 Olympic Stadium dubbed the Bird's Nest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">With asking for directions out of the question and neither of us having our phones on us just for precaution, like Forrest Gump we just kept running!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Having now travelled 2.5km to this point, we were both still fresh despite the usual poor night's sleep after a fly day and arriving in a new country/time zone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">W</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">e followed Lincui Road all the way south until it eased left (east) becoming Ao Lin Xi Lu Road, meandering through the middle of two relatively small green areas which I presume are more parks (obviously to keep up with the demand from people using them!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 6.2km we got a glimpse of the Nest much to our relief and one final push south on Thanchen East Road and a left on the imaginatively named National Stadium North Road saw us reach our destination.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The 2008 Beijing Olympic Stadium, dubbed the Bird's Nest - for obvious reasons</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The highly impressive stadium holds 91,000 people and it has to be said, is absolutely extraordinary. Allegedly almost 5,000 local residents were forced to move from their homes from near the site, something which seem ridiculous given the sheer size of the city.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Satisfied with our morning's work. We set off back north towards our hotel. Neither of us said it at the time, but I am not sure either of us was 100% sure of the way back!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Probably even more spectacular than it's more infamous neighbour is the National Aquatics Center. In a city of pathetic fallacy where the grey gloomy weather seems to mirror much of its surroundings, these two achitectural beacons stand out as what could be possible if the state allowed the people to flourish. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Looking like a gigantic series of bubbles, it is one of the most imaginative and striking structure I have ever seen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The temperature in Beijing can get very cold so definitely pack your cool weather running gear. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It was now just a case of following our tracks along the same route, which by the time we reached our total measured at just over 15km. Further than perhaps we had planned, but actually in the end what turned out to be one of the better runs overseas.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can follow me and my blog on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/fairboyruns" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @fairboyruns, </span><a href="https://instagram.com/tomlfairbrother/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @tomlfairbrother or on</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ARunnersGuideToTheWorld" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You can also follow my running progress on </span><a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=464818" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Power of 10</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Dongxiaokouzhen</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - Through Dengsheng Culture & Sports Park then south on Heiquan Road, Lincui Road and east on Ao Lin Xi Lu Road. Finally south on Thanchen East Road and east on National Stadium North Road. Lap of Bird's Nest Stadium, past Aquatic Center and follow same route home. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - Dengsheng Culture & Sports Park north exit.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-11172800758795994782012-04-25T08:16:00.000-07:002012-04-26T12:50:38.502-07:00Lyon - France<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A really underrated city. I had heard very little about Lyon before departing and was really surprised at just how grand and chic it was. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lyon in central east France is the country's third city, and although it is heavily made up of banking and commerce, there are also of tons of boutiques, courtyards, alleyways, historic architecture and museums with fantastic views. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two rivers, the Rhone and Saone meander from the north to the south of the city where they create a beautiful peninsula. Its location also means it offers great transport links to central Europe especially by train. The two rivers then meet at the southern point of the city.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was January when I was in Lyon so it was quite cold but dry, so nice conditions for running. Where possible I like to run in shorts and when it is cold I will just wear some running tights underneath, which I did here. I did however layer up my upper body with a woolly hat and a thermal shirt. No gloves though - never!!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was staying near Rue Carquillat to the north west of the city and wanted to incorporate both rivers in my morning run so I set off along Rue des Chartreux which eases east.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cut through a park and then headed down a large stone-stepped footpath to pick up the road again as it turns south as it merging with Rue du Jardin des Plante and then Rue Terme. I continued on Terme south until the road turned back to the right heading west where I took a left on Rue Sainte-Catherine.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unknowingly the road brought me out into Place des Terreaux where the elegant grand city hall, Hôtel de Ville de Lyon was located. Definitely a spot for a photo!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hôtel de Ville de Lyon (city hall). This photo gives you an idea of the layout and architecture of Lyon and the running conditions, generally flat and concrete</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can see most people where wrapped up warm, so it goes without saying if you visit in January or winter months, bring your cool weather running gear.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just over 1.3km to this point, from here I continued east hoping to pick up the River Rhone by running on Rue Puits Gaillot and then de la Comedie which brought me out on the east bank of the Rhone.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Rhone is the east of the two rivers that divide Lyon, with the Saone to the west. I crossed Quai Jean Moulin which is a road running parallel to the Rhone, north to south where it becomes Jules Courmont.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The river walkway running all along the west bank offered some great views as there are numerous bridges that cross it. The photo at the top typifies this. I followed the river wall as much as I could, occasionally have to use zebra crossings and the edge of roads in parts where the path met bridges and narrow or busier roads.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In total to reach the southern point where the two rivers meet, I had travelled just under 6.5km from my hotel. It was now time to head back along the Saone, north along the east bank, hoping to take in some of the dramatic views of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière located to the west of Lyon looms ominously over the city</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E7SX4mlzkqk/T5cgmegwFOI/AAAAAAAAAPk/VBQHw5BJa9Q/s1600/12638_168742395903_509040903_3246548_134325_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now heading north along the west bank of the Saone from the southern tip of the peninsula, I travelled on a minor road, Quai Rambaud until I reached the walkway along the river parallel to Quai Marechal Joffre.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I followed the river path north for just under 4km, passing seven bridges of different shapes and sizes, all unique in their own way. At the 6th however I stopped briefly to take in the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Construction was finished in the 1870s and whilst arguably not one of France's most well known landmarks, most of which are in the capital Paris, it certainly fits the landscape and the rest of the city as if it had risen out of the ground.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Not wanting to get too cold (I lied earlier when I said it was nice conditions, now around 11.30am and bitterly cool!) I stepped up the last 2.3km leaving the river pathway at Rue de la Martiniere heading east.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">From here, I picked up Rue Terme which I headed south on earlier and followed my route back to the hotel, including another failed attempt to replicate Rocky up the steps, looking no doubt like a ridiculous Englishman wearing tights!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Out of all of the cities I have run in, I would say this ranks level with Salzburg in Austria as the two which have taken me by surprise the most. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The majority of the others have been big famous cities where you would expect to be impressed, tick them off your list and then not necessarily revisit.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lyon however, like Salzburg, I would be very disappointed if I did not return to at some point in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide</span></div>
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<br /><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Rue Carquillat, north west Lyon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - South east along Rue des Chartreux, through park and south on Rue </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">du Jardin des Plante and then Rue Terme. Head east where roads merge through Place des Terreaux, past the City Hall to west bank of River Rhone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow river walkway south all the way to where rivers merge. Run north along east bank of Saone River taking in views of Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière to you left across the river. Exit river east on Rue de la Martiniere picking up Terme and follow above route to Hotel, close to Park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - Close to Jouve Park, north west Lyon</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another example of the magnificent grand architecture which is evident throughout Lyon</span></td></tr>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-54762087598679220622012-04-24T10:28:00.001-07:002015-08-06T01:19:59.577-07:00Barcelona - Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sagrada Familia, the unfinished Roman Catholic Church, is probably Antonia Gaudi's masterpiece. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all, be very careful with your personal belongings, Barcelona is regularly number one in polls of cities most likely to be pickpocketed. On our trip, one of the group had his wallet stolen before we had even reached our hotel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is quite is quite a cool city. But to be honest I was a little disappointed. I visited in September so not too long after Rome, which probably meant the bar was set a little too high. Maybe if I came here first I might have a different opinion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However don't let my humble opinion deter you from booking, or if you have already, you will have a great time as there is still a ton of stuff to do and see. I was staying in a hostel which meant I could get close to centre without paying expensive rates at a hotel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In England there is often a negative stigma attached to hostels. People are worried about safety and hygiene, and probably thought the film Hostel was a documentary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can honestly say though that I have had more bad experiences in hotels than in hostels and usually the staff who work in hostels are much more friendly and helpful, usually as they are travelling themselves or they own it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Passeig de Gracia , my first stop had to be the iconic Sagrada Familia located just north east of the very centre where my hostel was located, around 1.8km away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those who haven't been to Barcelona, the city is effectively divided in two by one long avenue running diagonally from west to east, known as Avinguada Diagonal. It's great for tourists as you always have a point of reference on your map or smart phone, and you can plan where you want to go using this as a starting point. You can also find your location much more easily if you get lost. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One street south and I was on the Avenue heading east. Being September, it is still very warm in Spain at this time so I was wearing just a t-shirt and shorts. Most other runners I saw were too, so I guess that it must have been warm even for the local residents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quite a nice street for running on as there were plenty of Zebra crossings and it was very wide so there were not too many problems with congested sidewalks. It was also smooth concrete which after the cobbles of Rome felt like running in a foot massager!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After around 900m, take a left on Carrer de Provenca. Just beware as this is a one way street so ensure you stay on the paths. From here it is only 800m straight to Sagrada Familia. Pretty easy on directions so far.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It really is a fascinating piece of architecture. Despite construction starting in 1882, the work only passed the mid-point in 2010 with the an estimated completion date set for 2026. Visually very striking and in your face, I just love the way that they have just refused to give up on it and it will almost be a shame when it is finished.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a real hot spot for pickpocketers, so again beware especially if you have a bag or digital camera. Apparently some will use scissors to simply cut the straps, especially with cameras, which is a real shame.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To get there, around 2.5km south, after completing a lap of the Familia head south west along Carrer de Mallorca (which runs parallel to de Provenca you ran along earlier), this will bring you back to Av. Diagonal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cross straight over here and continue in the same direction along Mallorca still and then take a left on the second street you come to. It will be called Carrer de Girona. It if's not, then you are lost my friend!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Girona will continue for just over 1km and by now you are very close to Las Ramblas. Still got your wallet? Nice! Swing right on Carrer d'Ausias March and follow it all the way and you will see it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lined by glorious trees which frame all the little stores and stalls, it is a lovely setting at either day or night. Be prepared for an annoying bit of weaving in and out of people. The Spanish for "Excuse me" is "Permiso, por favor!". This will come in handy here. And for when you ask for your wallet back later.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Camp Nou, the ultimate place to play football. So long as you're not on the other team. You're gonna lose. If you're lucky they may let you touch the ball.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once you have picked your route around here, exit to the north of the street on Rambla de Catalunya. Around 1.5km north along the street you will reach our friend the Diagonal Avenue again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a massive football (soccer) fan, I wanted to get a look at the Nou Camp before the match that I had a ticket for that night. I figured it would be too busy to really appreciate it later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our old pal Diagonal takes you right there. Around 3.5km and you will reach the roundabout (there will be one earlier in the road but stay on it until this second one). From here just swing left on Avinguda de Joan XXIII. The Camp Nou will now be straight in front of you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now being an Englishman, for me Wembley Stadium is the ultimate home of football, but this is pretty close in second. A monsterous bowl of a stadium, sure it could do with a lick of paint and maybe a roof, but it is something special.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After completing a loop around the stadium, which has a fantastic museum, it was time to head back to the hostel. Easy to get back, follow your footsteps on Joan XXIII and then back along, yep you guessed it, Mr Diagonal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To mix it up I ran on the opposite side this time. There are plenty of points of interest along it such as a tram line, metro stations, the University of Barcelona, lots of shops and cinemas as well as the Torre Agbar skyscraper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now I am a bit biased I know, but this is clearly a rip-off of the Gherkin in London! The architect obviously was struggling a bit, liked the Gherkin and just said, "Build that. Siesta anyone?".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After 3.8km you will reach Passeig de Gracia where the run started around 13km previous. Quite a nice run, you get to see some Gaudi, a bit of the culture and of course the Camp Nou. However a few too many roads for my liking really.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Overall, a good city for a weekend away, you know what you are going to get (robbed), but I think there are plenty of other cities in Europe and even Spain that I would rather visit, especially to run.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #666666; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can follow me and my blog on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/fairboyruns" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @fairboyruns, </span><a href="https://instagram.com/tomlfairbrother/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @tomlfairbrother or on</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ARunnersGuideToTheWorld" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You can also follow my running progress on </span><a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=464818" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Power of 10</span></a></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Passeig de Gracia, north side of Diagonal (one street)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - North to Sagrada Familia on Avinguada Diagonal and then Carrer de Provenca. Leave Sagrada Familia and head south to Las Ramblas on Carrer de Mallorca and west on Girona and finally d'Ausias March. Exit Las Ramblas north west on Rambla de Catalunya then Diagonal west to Camp Nou on Avinguda de Joan XXIII. Follow Joan XXIII back to Diagonal and then 3.8km to de Gracia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - Passeig de Gracia</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mN4k8tDIv-8/T5a3TRyin1I/AAAAAAAAAPc/a2uIYOsQ5tw/s1600/378470_10150422171553873_506583872_8588920_1568921787_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mN4k8tDIv-8/T5a3TRyin1I/AAAAAAAAAPc/a2uIYOsQ5tw/s640/378470_10150422171553873_506583872_8588920_1568921787_n.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-57984660700531468482012-04-23T16:15:00.001-07:002015-08-13T01:04:00.846-07:00Rome - Italy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Built in 72AD, the Colosseum could seat 50,000 people. A global icon true masterpiece of engineering</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first thing I discovered about my trip to Rome was that I wouldn't get to meet Maximus from the film Gladiator. Turns out that whole movie is make believe. "Strength and honour", Even the bit when he takes off his mask. Totally made up. I know, devastating right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That earth-shattering news aside, this is probably the place in Europe I always wanted to go to the most. To me looking from afar it had everything. Amazing food, beautiful architecture, great weather, a plephora of museums, tons of history and full of passionate, charismatic people who love their sport. And only a two and a half hour sleazy-jet flight away. Perfect?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At this point I should say that the reality is actually the opposite and it is a horrible place to visit. But the thing is that it really is incredible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was here in June so the weather was stunning. I have heard that it can rain a lot and get quite cold in the winter, but most of Europe does. And with so much to offer tourists, even the most unpleasant of days couldn't ruin this place because it has what super-rich cities like Doha, Abu Dhabi & Dubai will never have. Authenticity and identity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Rome for only a day and a half, much like San Fran the objective of my run was to try and see some sites so I could enjoy the day taking in the city and the atmosphere and not have to sprint around ticking them off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was staying near the Piazzo Navano to the north west of city, just east of the River Tiber that runs north to south of Rome, around 0.6km from the Pantheon and approx 2.5km from the Colosseum. Unsurprisingly I set off south east to <strike>find Maximus</strike> see the sites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I ran this route very early in the morning, before 7.30am so just bear in mind the later you run the busier the streets will be. With authentic hand made pizzas, breads and pastas, carbing up prior to your run in Rome is not particularly difficult.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This route may well be a first for me, as it contains neither a Park or River!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Piazza Navano, I headed south and then east for 50 metres until I picked up Corso del Rinascimento, at which point zig zagged my way east along Vias del Staderari and Dogana Vecchia for 0.5km until I could see the Pantheon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a piece of architecture. Built in 126AD, getting on for 2000 years ago, it has the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. One can only imagine just how spectacular it must have looked then if it looks this good so long after construction.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wherever you go in Rome, there is a sense of drama and you can't help imagine what it must have been like to be there at the height of the Empire</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the Pantheon, I headed south with the Colosseum next on my list. The streets in Rome, especially around the tourist hotspots, are cobbled and uneven, so I would say take it steady, especially if it is wet. Don't go flying out the traps like a lunatic - Nobody wants a broken ankle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leaving the Pantheon, with it now on my right hand side, I headed east along Via del Seminario for over a kilometre past the beautiful Sant'Ignazio all the way to Via del Corso where I took a right, turning south ever closer to the Colosseum.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of a sudden I was greeted by a phenomenal white marble building that I have to say I have never heard of; The Monument of Victor Emmanuel located where Via del Corso meets Piazza. For anyone visiting Rome, make sure you see this for your own eyes, I won't ruin the surprise for you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew at this point I was close to the Colosseum as there was an increasing number of people dressed as Gladiators and posing for photographs with tourists, even though it was not yet 8am. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the Monument, the Via del Fori Imperiali takes you all the way there, only 2km from the Pantheon. The great thing about Rome is that if you get a central hotel you can walk to most of the sites and attractions, saving you lots on taxis and public transport.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">With parking skills like this, it's no surprise Italians excel at motorsports</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The road is almost completely straight and from at least 700-800 metres away on the horizon you can this beautiful grey structure. Immediately I sped up. It wasn't a conscious decision, it just seemed to happen as a surge of adrenaline kicked in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To some it may look like a run down derelict piece of rock, but for me it is probably the finest combination of architecture and engineering you could ask to see. Considering how long ago it was built, even today it has an aesthetic beauty, with much of the core of the building in tact despite being just shy of 2000 years old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But most of all it just has a presence. It may sound odd to say a building has an aura but it just does. There is almost a hush around the outside as the millions of tourist who pose for a photo in front of it take in just what an achievement it is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reluctantly, I complete a lap of the outer walkway and depart back along del Fori Imperiali. Next stop, the Trevi Fountain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was advised by my hotel not to take my phone with me, which I use as both ipod and camera, so my snaps in this route were taken later in the day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Personally though I would say there is no risk in it at all, especially during the day, so long as you stick to the main streets. Running at night however I would not recommend, but mainly due to the utter chaos, sorry I mean traffic, that is on the roads. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the Colosseum to the Fountain like most of Rome is a relatively short straight forward journey north for 1.8km. This time, instead of passing the Monument, where the road forks in front of you take the right route on Via Alessandrina. A pretty good road for running along, which goes for most in Rome. Maybe not for quality of surface but simply for the romantic feeling on show much like Paris.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It can get very cold out of season - it was June around 8am when I did this run so I just wore shorts and a long sleeve lightweight top with an undershirt. Even then it was certainly not hot, so I would say pack a thermal top or hat if coming any time but summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Right (east) on Via delle Tre Cannelle and then left onto della Pilotta takes you all the way north to the Fountain. I know this is getting a bit boring by now but...this is pretty special as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not your average fountain, legend has it if you throw in a coin you will be sure of a return to Rome. It must be true because I had no money on me and I've never been back! Plenty of people do though, as on average 3000 Euros is thrown in each day (straight into the Berlusconi party fund no doubt).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was quite surprised to see so few other runners out. I know it was quite early, but when compared to many other European cities it seemed to be eerily empty any joggers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the Fountain it is just a case of heading west 1.3km on Via del Muratte which will lead you all the way back to Piazza Navano. A nice gentle route taking some of Rome's best sites, leaving you with some energy for a day strolling around the city. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay so Italy has no money - what, it's true alright. At the time of writing, they're even worse of than we are and that is saying something! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their economy may be as doomed as an underwater hairdryer or inflatable dartboard, but when it comes to a weekend break in Europe for someone looking to continue training while away, the Italians done good. Look no further than Rome. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can follow me and my blog on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/fairboyruns" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @fairboyruns, </span><a href="https://instagram.com/tomlfairbrother/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @tomlfairbrother or on</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ARunnersGuideToTheWorld" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You can also follow my running progress on </span><a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=464818" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Power of 10</span></a></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Piazza Navano, north west Rome</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - Head south east to the Pantheon, than continue east on Via del Seminario and south on Via del Corso. Passed The Monument of Victor Emmanuel, south on Via del Fori Imperiali to Colosseum. Then north to Trevi Fountain on Via Alessandrina and della Pilotta. Then west from Fountain to Piazza Navano for 1.3km on Via del Muratte </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - Piazza Navano</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-22064055176104020362012-04-22T14:28:00.000-07:002012-04-26T12:46:18.492-07:00New York - USA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wasn't sure what to expect with New York. All you hear from people who have been is "Oh my god it's amazing!" but I have always been someone who likes to make my own opinions. And I have to say... It is pretty damn cool!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now to live here must be an absolute nightmare, but as a tourist there are few better places. You may not have the guaranteed hot weather as you do in some other cities, the traffic is a horrendous and everywhere you go it is super busy, but what major city isn't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What you do have though is landmark after landmark of epic proportions which make you forget about all of that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The one thing I quickly realised, much like London, is that running on the roads here would not be a good idea. I was staying in Clinton on 10th Avenue, mainly because it was like a budgie....cheap!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The good thing about it my location is that I was only one mile south from Central Park, so I headed set off from my hotel north along 10th Avenue up to west 57th Street across to 8th Avenue and then exited the park through the south entrance.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Central Park offers glimpses of its iconic skyline throughout Central Park</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was struck by just quite how big it was. Whenever I had seen it on TV or in books and magazines, it always appeared quite small but once you are there you realise that it is just the size of the surrounding buildings that dwarf it in pictures, because in real life it is huge!<br />
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I also don't think I have ever seen so many runners, skaters and cyclists in one place. After looking at one of the signs, I noted it was approx 3.1miles from end to end so I navigated my way east to head north along the Central Drive and then the Central Loop. <br />
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It dawned on me later that this was lucky, because I soon realised that everybody else I saw was running in the same direction (anticlockwise) and I therefore avoided looking too much like a tourist!<br />
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Now this not just a regular park. To me in England, a park is a bit of grass, a few benches, some swings and a see saw. However Central Park includes a zoo, a reservoir, a theatre, a lake, a wood, baseball fields, a turtle pond and a museum among many others!<br />
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Continuing north, the Park offers some stunning views of the surrounding architecture as it slowly reveals itself from through the leaves and branches of the huge trees and foliage.<br />
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I was also quite surprised at how undulating the park was, as you expect a city centre to be extremely flat. The park offered lots of variety in terrain and several different 'loops' signposted all of different lengths and difficulties.<br />
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The park is also closed to traffic, Monday through Friday from 10AM - 3PM and 7PM - 10PM and also on the weekends starting at 7PM on Friday through 6AM on Monday, so you can relax and take in your surroundings.<br />
Continuing along the Central Loop, which funnily enough loops all the way around the Park so you don't have to worry about getting lost, I reached the Jackie Kennedy Resevoir.<br />
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This is one of the most beautiful spots in the city. As you look out over the water, you have the tops of the skyline in the distance framed by the great expanse of green. It almost feels like you are looking at the city through a window.<br />
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With the reservoir now to my left, I carried on along the Loop north as the path snakes it was through the trees and past Harlem Meer, another large area of water. I reached the north entrances having run just over 4 miles from my hotel to here and decided to follow the path back around the west side (partly for fear of running head on towards New Yorkers).<br />
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The Loop weaves its way south through what seems like 100 baseball fields and a market and back along the west side of the resevior, which once again looks incredible with the city backdrop.<br />
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It was a nice clear dry day when I ran through the park, but with smooth sloping concrete pathways I can imagine it gets a bit slippery in the non-Summer months so just beware, especially with so many cyclists on the prowl.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ground Zero is a fitting memorial for those who were victims of 9/11</span></td></tr>
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Past the resevoir is arguable the Park's most famous feature, the Great Lawn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A huge oval shaped expanse of grass, it was packed out with people having picnics, playing music, throwing frisbees, and looked like a great place to wind down after stomping all over the city seeing the sites and has also hosted several high profile concerts, including Bob Marley (who apparently collapsed whilst jogging through the park?).<br />
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After passing Turtle Pond and then another Lake, at this point it dawned on me that I must be lost. Simply because it felt as though the last 20 minutes of the run had gone: Grass, Tree, Lake, Baseball Field. Grass, Tree, Lake, Baseball Field. Grass Tr....<br />
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However I was relieved to see a sign post signalling the direction of south exit which made me realise I was not going mad. A further mile and I had reached the point at which I had entered 6.4 miles previously, and followed my route south back to the hotel.<br />
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Unlike some of my other routes, this one doesn't take in any of the major sites. However, you have 6.4 miles of by far the greatest park in the world, a great setting for a run when in New York and something that all runners should experience.<br />
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Now for one things Americans do best.....An almighty breakfast!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Summary: </strong><br />
Start - 10th Avenue, west 49th Street, Clinton<br />
Journey - North on 10th Ave, west on 57th street to South Park entrance. Follow Central Park Loop for 6.4 miles round outside boundary of the park. <br />
Finish - New York Athletic Club, 7th Avenue, west 58th Street<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I'm not sure if these are official Government issued or not, but either way I passed...</span></td></tr>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-60738883255828319812012-04-22T08:38:00.003-07:002015-08-05T12:43:47.639-07:00Monte Carlo - Monaco<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The famous Monte Carlo Grand Casino was the inspiration for Ian Fleming when writing the James Bond novel Casino Royale. Another Bond film, GoldenEye, was also filmed here.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is definitely one for Formula One fans! The millionaire's playground that is Monte Carlo is located in the principality of Monaco on the C'ote d'Azur. With all that said, I am not too sure how I ended up here...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not somewhere you will find any bargains. One word of advice, definitely bring your wallet. No seriously, bring it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having watched countless Monaco Grand Prixs over the years, there was no way I was coming here and not running the race track, around the Grand Fairmont Hotel hairpin and through the famous tunnel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our hotel was near Place des Moulins to the north east so I immediately head west along Boulevard du Marechal Leclerc and then south on Boulevard Princesse Charlotte to Boulevard des Moulins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I am directly behind Casino Square which is a beautiful setting on any day or night. I continued through the square with the Casino itself now on my left hand side as the route carries on south towards the harbour as I pick up the race track travelling east along Avenue des Spelugues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1.9km to this point - Now the fun starts!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Resisting the huge temptation to make racing car noises as I sweep down the hill and enter the famous Fairmont Hairpin, the slowest corner in F1 racing, the road then descends around a double right hander (Portier for F1 fans) where Ayrton Senna once crashed while leading the grand prix.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From here, you will nwo be staring straight at the entrance of the infamous tunnel which travels underneath the Hotel. During the race, the F1 cars will travel through here at around 260km (160mph) in almost darkness. I had the darkness part okay, but I was travelling fractionally slower than the drivers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After roaring through the tunnel at a frightening 10mph, the stunning harbour and the brightness of the daylight now greet you as you travel west along Louis II Boulevard adjacent to the water's edge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are now well and truly on the race track and it is simply a case of following along it as it sweeps left (south west) mirroring the shape of the harbour as you travel through through the part of the track known as the swimming pool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A sharp right hand turn brings you out on Albert I Boulevard which acts as the home straight. Come race day is lined with royalty and A-list celebrities alike and the road has the markings of the race start which really gives you an idea what it must be like to be one of the drivers waiting for the green light.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through the first corner and now charging up the hill solely on adrenaline at this point, like a kid playing on a playstation, I could not resist the temptation to complete one more lap and a full circuit of the 3.36km track, so I followed D'Ostende Avenue east, left and then right past the Casino to Avenue des Spelugues which is where I had picked up the track earlier in the run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The lap record of 1 minute 14 seconds is held by Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari. I was just a shade slower than that unfotunately, but I would challenge anyone to find a better 12 minute run than this!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the end of the lap, I exited the track at the casino square and simply followed my earlier route past the grand gardens that stand in front of it back to my hotel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall the route from door to door is around 10km, so certainly not the longest of my guides but without doubt one of the most iconic and special runs I have experienced.</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HsNVEajmtkw/T5P5kOXoUqI/AAAAAAAAAMc/CFjK9avAoBE/s1600/2763_74737550903_509040903_2069907_2602041_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #666666; color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can follow me and my blog on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/fairboyruns" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @fairboyruns, </span><a href="https://instagram.com/tomlfairbrother/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @tomlfairbrother or on</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ARunnersGuideToTheWorld" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You can also follow my running progress on </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=464818" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;">Power of 10</a></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Hotel Boeril, Boulevard du Marechal Leclerc</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - West along Boulevard du Marechal Leclerc then south on Boulevards Princesse Charlotte and des Moulins. Pick up race track on Casino track, complete remainder of lap and then one full circuit. Exit at Casino and follow earlier route back to Hotel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - Hotel Boeril</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My future mode of transport. (The scooter, not the yacht with helicopter!)</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-70484535503116757112012-04-21T10:27:00.001-07:002012-04-26T12:42:57.912-07:00Abu Dhabi - UAE<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swy69GE-FKA/T48gMdfiJXI/AAAAAAAAAJU/L4tctnksZns/s1600/DSCN0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swy69GE-FKA/T48gMdfiJXI/AAAAAAAAAJU/L4tctnksZns/s400/DSCN0021.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The ever-changing skylines in the UAE are some of the most surreal you will see</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One word of advice - Pack your sunscreen! I was here on a flying visit for New Years Eve which is the low season in UAE, but it was incredibly hot. In the 30Cs each of the 3 days, although it drops rapidly after the sunsets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The heat aside, despite the fact there is a lot of construction taking places, it is a beautiful area. Around a couple of hours from Dubai, Abu Dhabi has all of the ambition of its neighbour but a touch more class and elegance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was staying to the north in the Tourist Club Area near to As Suwwah Island so a little bit out of the way. I decided to head west to Corniche as I had heard it was a nice quieter part of the city. Also much like Dubai, very few of the roads in Abu Dhabi have pavements, so I wanted to get off the sand as quickly as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I set off north west along 10th Street and then left at the roundabout south west on Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street, edging nearer towards the waterfront. At the large intersection, take a right and follow 6th Street west all the way until you reach Formal Park. To this point is 3.2km and you will now have great views out across the water to Lulu Island.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Elwqgkm40Us/T5QGO88vzeI/AAAAAAAAANM/7pXNu5WujBU/s1600/DSCN0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Elwqgkm40Us/T5QGO88vzeI/AAAAAAAAANM/7pXNu5WujBU/s640/DSCN0093.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The terminal building at the Airport sets the tone on what is to come</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The park as you would expect is immaculately kept, with grand gardens and fountains. Corniche Road seperates the Park from the water's edge so I exited north and crossed over the road to pick up the bike track that runs parallel to the shoreline.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Along path, with the water to your right, a nice breeze cools you down slightly and there are some exceptionally clean beaches running alongside. The great thing about Abu Dhabi, similar to Dubai, is that very few if any of the locals actually use the outside space to exercise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I imagine this is due to the heat and that most hotels have huge state of the art gyms. The result of which is there is a sense of freedom while running simply because it feels like you are the only one here.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tODYr05Y3vY/T48f2QJNa4I/AAAAAAAAAJM/-AK63-YahFE/s1600/DSCN0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tODYr05Y3vY/T48f2QJNa4I/AAAAAAAAAJM/-AK63-YahFE/s640/DSCN0092.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque bears more than a passing resemblance with the Taj Mahal in India</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I continued along the path 2.8km until I reached Family Park (It seems as though I am obsessed with Parks I know!). At this point, it dawned on me that it was now very hot and the whole time I had been running away from my hotel!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After completing a lap of the park, which by now won't you be surprised to know was immaculately maintained and completely empty, I exited through the north east corner and picked up Al Nasr Street to take a more direct inland route home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After turning right (north) on to Electra Street at the crossroads, I just continued along Electra Street for 3.3km until I reached my hotel. Along the route, not the most exciting I must say, it seemed like a scene out of the Fast and the Furious with the amount of high performance cars that passed me.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tX_XUM75A8A/T48LAAD6K3I/AAAAAAAAAIU/Nkd8f7z4DFg/s640/blogger-image--851494089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tX_XUM75A8A/T48LAAD6K3I/AAAAAAAAAIU/Nkd8f7z4DFg/s640/blogger-image--851494089.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The New Years Eve Fireworks at the Heritage Village, the venue for the start of the Volvo Ocean Race</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back at my hotel I was able to then kick back, relax and take in New Year's Eve at the official start of the Volvo Ocean Race.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quite a nice run, around 12km all in taking in the sea wall, a couple of parks and a chance to take the surreal nature of what is a state of the art metropolis, like New York on LSD, in the middle of a desert!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be warned....this place is hot and not cheap!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Abu Dhabi Mall, 10th Street, Tourist Club Area</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - Head north west along 10th Street, south west on Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street and west on 6th Street to Formal Park. Exit north and cross Cornice Road to pick up the bike track. Follow for just under 3km until you reach Family Park. Exit through north east gates and head north along Al Nasr St and then Electra St </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - Le Meridien, 10th Street, Tourist Club Area</span></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-4223872504370146052012-04-21T07:17:00.002-07:002012-04-26T12:38:02.942-07:00Tallinn - Estonia<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/---3WJ4q20Vo/T48KjelghoI/AAAAAAAAAIM/wJ1RqBo3wWc/s640/blogger-image--1412765001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/---3WJ4q20Vo/T48KjelghoI/AAAAAAAAAIM/wJ1RqBo3wWc/s400/blogger-image--1412765001.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A view of the Old Town in Tallinn</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, had to be one of the most underrated cities in Europe. I was invited here on a friend's Stag Party weekend, and to be totally honest I knew absolutely nothing about it prior to arriving.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly, the weather (it was June) was absolutely spectacular. Temperature stayed in the high 20s for most of the day and I don't recall seeing a cloud in 4 days. However the most unusual aspect of Tallinn is that eerily it never gets dark. At 11.30pm, it feels like 2pm and at 4am it feels like dusk.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The result is that this is probably the safest city I have ever visited, especially as the locals are very friendly and accomodating for english speaking tourists. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Food & drink, as long as you don't eat in the Town Square, is so cheap. If you are staying in a hostel I would recommend cooking for yourself simply because the supermarkets are such good value for money, assuming you are exchanging pounds for euros.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Similar to Bratislava but not quite so developed, Tallinn looks like something straight out of Robin Hood movie or a chocolate box, with narrow cobbled streets, wonky buildings and a large traditional town square which hosts local markets, open air music shows and street performers. One of the restaurants on the square was serving Bear meat, which I am yet to see anywhere else!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before the inevitable Stag activities got underway, I thought I would try and get a short run in to make the most of the city. There was a group of 10 of us on the trip so with so many people, you usually end up not doing an awful lot as there is a lot of waiting around for people who wander off or get lost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I set off from our hostel which was located on the corner of Hobusepea and Lai Streets in the Old Town to the south of the city centre. There is very little traffic in the Old Town due to the incredibly narrow cobbold streets and large number of tourists.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I headed east along Suur Kloostri Street to the northern entrance of Toompark, a pretty recreational park with a large pond running from end to end. I followed the walkway east to the eastern boundary and then south parallel to it, travelling 1.6km to this point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A further 400m saw me reach the south exit and and back onto the roads of Tallinn. With the Toompea Castle, probably the top tourist attraction in the city, now on the horizon to the east that was my next stop. Tallinn is an extremely undulating city, with lots of hill tops and sloping streets, so I wouldn't recommend choosing a route much longer than this.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DzwVaTHOfYY/T48KiLqCqNI/AAAAAAAAAIE/_v7MQ5jDFwU/s640/blogger-image-1130642425.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alexander Nevsky Cathedral</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I travelled along Falgi Tee Street with two more parks either side of the road and at the cross roads turned left (north) back towards the Old Town. This is by far the prettiest part of Tallinn, with the Castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (pictured below) and the Estonian Parliament Building all within a few yards of each other. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The downside is that man these streets are steep! To get to these big 3 attractions involving winding cobbolds which really makes you feel the burn in your calf and quad in both legs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the Castle, I followed Toom-Kooli Street north and then Kiriku Street east, both of which offer gradual inclines. Continue along Kiriku over the crossroads and simply follow the road as it loops north, west and then south back to this point. </span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It may seem silly to run in a circle, but it is in doing so that you will reach highest part of the city offering the most sensational views of the Old Town (see top photo). </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now you begin your descent in the hub of the Old Town to the Town Square. To get there, from Kiriku continue south along Piiskopi. The feeling of running down the slopey cobbolds will be one of the best feelings you can ask for as you can gather speed whilst conserving your energy.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rqS3YG1Efx4/T5LDF9kHVgI/AAAAAAAAAME/fd21StXpLv8/s1600/184149_827728819582_193110288_43460471_5056719_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rqS3YG1Efx4/T5LDF9kHVgI/AAAAAAAAAME/fd21StXpLv8/s640/184149_827728819582_193110288_43460471_5056719_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Toompea Castle</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me when I run, I am always looking for a bounce. That may sound silly but I run my smoothest and quickest runs when I feel as though I am bouncing. It allows me to not exert to much energy each time I push off and I find I can tackle most steep slopes quite easily and really lengthen my stride going downhill.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Piiskopi, take a left (east) on Pikk Jalg street which after 350m becomes a pedestrian zone as you head north east. Once you reach the end of the pedestrian zone, take a right and head south Rataskaevu past several restaurants and cafes. </span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you come to a sharp left, take the bend and head north on Dunkri Street. The Town Hall will now be directly in front of you. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pick you route around the square, it will be very busy with tourists so you will need to duck and weave you way through and exit in the opposite corner to that you entered through (north east corner) this is where I ended my run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quite an awkward route for one so short, simply because of unique nature of the city. A good mixture though of parks, smooth roads, narrow cobbold alleyways, very steep rise and falls in incline as well as panoramic views of the Old Town and the major tourist attractions.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A charming city that will probably not be top of any wishlists but one you will certainly not regret visiting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Alur Hostel, corner of Lai and Hobusepea Street, Old Town</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - East along Suur Kloostri Street to Toompark. Around north and east boundary walkways of park and exit south. Head east up steep hill to castle, cathedral and parliament building and follow pedestrian zone north for outstanding views. Descent down the hill to the centre of the Old Town and the Town Square.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - Town Hall, Old Town Square</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-51454110862689230792012-04-20T12:19:00.002-07:002012-04-26T12:30:31.793-07:00Munich - Germany<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Allianz Arena, home to Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich. Glows red or blue at night depending on which team is playing</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Incredible city this, probably in my top 3 with San Fran and Rio. Something for everyone, beautiful architecture, tons of history, great nightlife, modern technology everywhere, brilliant public transport and a very clean safe feel.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With that said, it wasn't that difficult to get out of bed here and run. Our hostel, the interestingly named Easy Palace, was slap bang in the centre of the city, just a few yards from Haubtbahnhof, the central train station.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were only here for and rather annoyingly we were leaving on the day the world famous Oktoberfest was to begin, so the three of us had to be the only people flying out of Munich that weekend.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Much like Bratislava, where we had come from, Munich was experiencing one of the hottest Septembers in history, with temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s. Combined with the commencement of Oktoberfest, it meant that the city has crazy busy with tourists from inside and out of Germany.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite that, from our hostel I set off towards Marienplatz which is the main town square in Munich and about 1.3km east from the station. Once the pedestrian only zone finishes, pick up Bayerstrasse east until you come to the crossroads. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From there, simply cross over and rejoin the pedestrian only zone on Neuhauser Strasse south east for 0.8km and then Kaufingerstrasse. You will know you have reached Marienplatz because you will be greeted by this little beauty of a building...!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Neues Rathaus (New City Hall) is located in the city's main square</span></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At night, when illuminated, this is easily one the most visually striking buildings I have ever seen and is arguably Munich's biggest tourist attraction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After manouvering through the square with the Rathaus on your left, take the first left passed it, Dienerstrasse, so the building is to your left as you head north and away from the square. True to form I then went off in search of a park!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 300m the street will reach a T-Junction, at which you just take a right and head east on the one way street called Hofgraben which then bends left northwards. At the next T-junction, take a right along Maximilianstrasse until you reach the Louis Vuitton store on your right, at which you then take a left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It seems like a fiddly route so far but stick with it, it gets much smoother very soon. The road you are now on will be called Alfons-Goppel-Strasse unless you are hopelessly lost, in which case I apologise!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a nice long straight road where you can open up your legs (hurray) as you head towards Hofgarten, a really pretty garden similar to Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Entering the gardens in the south east corner, pick your route through the gardens and exit through the north east corner. You should now see signposts for the Englischer Garten (yes yet another Park!), just continue north from here. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Once you reach it, your first impression will be that it is absolutely huge. The park is 3.7km<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2 </span><span style="font-size: small;">and is larger than New York's Central Park, making it one of the biggest urban parks in the World.</span></span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As I was unsure until I got back to the Hostel just how big it is, I picked a route relatively through the middle, but as long as you head north you can again pick as long or as short a route as you wish depending on how you are feeling to this point. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">To the centre of the park from the Marienplatz is 2.4km so to this point the run is 3.7km.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is an artificial streams running through the park at the mouth of which you can actually surf, something I didn't think possible in a park in the middle of a city, although after snowboarding the in Dubai desert I probably shouldn't have been so surprised.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Two things Germans love: Beer and terrible trousers</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once I reached the Chinese Restaurant and Beer Garden, I was unsure what was to the north so to avoid getting stranded too far from my hostel, I took a left and headed east over the stream and out of the park back towards the city centre along Ohmstrasse which crosses over Kaulbachstrasse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Continuing east, once I came to the busy Leopoldstrasse I decided to cross rather then head north or south along it. Now on Georgenstrasse, I continued east across two street before reaching Arcisstrasse where I took a left south back in the general direction of the central train station.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Munich is such a well organised and efficient city that even running on the roads, which in London can be very dangerous and chaotic, is really enjoyable. The pavements are large and very clean so there are no issues with pedestrians or cyclists.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fortunately, and by total luck, the street actually headed straight to the station. 1.9km in total, Arcisstrasse took in several features typical of Munich. Well maintained green spaces such as Konigsplatz and Alter Botanischer Garten, fantastic architecture - both old and modern, and lots of what I would call typical German shops and bars.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is not meant to be derogatory, the opposite in fact. By that I mean really authentic cave like wooden fronted stores where you imagine the locals would often visit as a whole family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now back at the hostel, the route in total was 9.8km according to my Nike+ chip. A really mixed run, very flat but a good variety of tourists sites, green spaces and narrow streets, incorporating concrete, gravel, grass and sand.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The route itself may not sound aweinspiring, but this is definitely that everybody should visit in their lifetime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide<br /></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Haubtbahnhof, Schützenstraße</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - From the central train station, head East 1.3km to Marienplatz. From Rathaus, turn left north towards the Englisher Garten. Pick your route the centre of the park and exit east at the large Chinese Garden and Beer Garden. Pick up Ohmstrasse and then Georgenstrasse 2km to Archisstrasse where you take a left and continue 1.9km.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - Alter Botanischer Garten</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVHj0rf7Jqk/T47LZ7SyW_I/AAAAAAAAAH0/LBUL83o6RRg/s1600/IMG_0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVHj0rf7Jqk/T47LZ7SyW_I/AAAAAAAAAH0/LBUL83o6RRg/s640/IMG_0481.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dachau Concentration Camp - The darker side of German history. The first of its kind in Germany, it is estimated that over 25,000 prisoners were executed here during World War Two</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-41489566808931856302012-04-20T07:31:00.002-07:002012-04-26T12:29:12.261-07:00Sydney - Australia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Forget what I said about anywhere else, this place is damn hot!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was here in January so obviously I was expecting it to be warm, but nothing can prepare you for 40-42C until you experience it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My trip meant I was only in Sydney for a long weekend. I landed late on Friday night, I had a ticket for the SCG for a One Dayer between Australia and Pakistan on the Sunday and was flying to Melbourne on the Monday, so I only really had one day to run just like in San Fran.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For those Americans reading, Cricket is like Baseball, but much much better</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was staying in a hostel in Kings Cross, on the south side of the city near Potts Point. It was dark when I landed so I had not seen any of the sights, so I was up at 8am on Saturday in an effort to try to cram in everything I could in one day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Kings Cross Station, I headed east towards the harbour. It was still early but already the temperature was touching 30C, so shamelessly the vest came off pretty quickly :-)</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The route travelled along Bayswater Road and then north on Brougham Street. With so many different travellers in Sydney there seemed to be a really relaxed friendly atmosphere wherever you went.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The route continue to travel north east, from Brougham St to Sydney Pl, then north on Downing Street (no not that one, the other one) until the water was now in sight.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The one thing Australia does better than most, with the expection of BBQs, is naming its places.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The end of Downing Street brought me out in a part of Sydney called Woolloomooloo! From the water's edge I then just followed a public footpath right the way to the entrance of stunning Royal Botanic Gardens, pictured above, which is the oldest Botanic Garden in Australia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had run 1.7km to this point, and the number of tourists had noticably grown so I knew I was close to the Opera House. I travelled north along the path running parallel to the eastern boundary of the park. It was then I stumbled across this breathtaking view of the harbour, which actually made me stop running to take it in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went on a tour of the Opera House and apparently the Danish Architect who designed it never saw the completed building.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I immediately found an extra bounce in my stride as I headed towards it, and a further 2.2km through the hugely undulating gardens and greenery past Government House saw me reach the concrete walkaway on the Harbour's edge just a few metres from the Opera House. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like most major tourist attractions, there seemed to be a sea of people posing for photographs outside despite it not yet being 9am. With Harbour Bridge on one side and the Opera House on the other, it really is a great spot as the two are so different yet seem to compliment each other perfectly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the Opera House, I continued along the main tourist pathway around the harbour where numerous boat tours depart from. Now on the west side of the harbour close to the bridge and with the Opera House now on the opposite side of the water, I continued east towards Darling Harbour.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly on Argyle Street and then south on High Street. until I picked up the public walkway away from the roads where the traffic was beginning to pick up. The pathway takes you past Sydney Aquarium and the huge Imax Theatre, home to the world's largest Imax Screen (approx eight stories high).</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having run the 3.3km from Harbour Bridge to here and the 3.9km to that point in what was now over 30C heat, I decided to head back towards the Hostel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I elected to take the same route back, for both ease of not getting lost and because part of me wanted to take a second look at both the Bridge and the Opera House, this time from the opposite direction.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I thought this was a cool photo as it shows the Opera House's unique design and its sheer size compared to the people in the foreground</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">By the time I reached the hostel, located just by the Station conveniently, the run totalled just under 15km in just over an hour and ten minutes, in which I had managed to get my bearings of the city and see two of the finest pieces of architecture and engineering you will ever see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now time for a cold shower, breakfast and off to Bondi Beach!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Kings Cross Metro Station, Bayswater Road</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - North along Downing Street to Woolloomooloo. Follow footpath north east to Botanic Gardens and continue along the footpath on the east side of the park to capture stunning views of the harbour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From there, continue north east to public tourist walkway east to Opera House and then Harbour Bridge. From there, follow Argyle Street east and then High Street south to Darling Harbour past Aquarium to the Imax. Exact same route home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Finish: Kings Cross Metro Station, Bayswater Road</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-39094958276712111992012-04-19T16:02:00.002-07:002012-04-26T12:27:35.829-07:00Bratislava - Slovakia<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Great views across the Danube river of the Castle and Cathedral from from Stary Most Bridge.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a really cool city. Lots of great architecture in the Old Town like so many Eastern European countries but also lots to do and plenty of sights to see. Plus food, drink and most amenities are really cheap, especially in supermarkets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our hostel was located on the east of the city, just on the fringes of the old town where some new developments are evident. It was a great spot though because we were no more than 10 minutes away from most of the sites by foot and it cost under £15 per night for a shared dorm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although increasingly popular with tourists, there is not a huge amount of provision for us english speakers and so things like road signs, menus and shops made for some entertaining translations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the hostel located on Spitaliska Street, I headed south west towards the Old Town and the Danube. The weather was absolutely perfect with temperatures around the high 20s, which was apparently an all time high for late September when I was there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spitaliska then became Sturova as the road bent west with the Danube now in view. It was a Sunday and the place was completely empty making for stress-free run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 1.2km I reached Stary Most Bridge, a narrow railway bridge with a footpath on either side of the track, not the safest, thankfully there were no trains running! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once on the other side (the south bank) the views across Bratislava and the Old Town were spectacular (see top photo). Often these developing countries are belittled as pokey stag party venues but they have a lot more to offer without the over inflated prices of some of the other major capitals in Europe like Paris or Vienna in neighbouring Austria, just an hour away on the train.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The south bank has been cleverly turned into a tourist hotspot thanks to a large artificial beach which is constructed for the summer, and wide expanses of grass and trees with temporary bars for adults and childrens play areas for the kids (and the adults after a few drinks!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now on the south bank 1.9km into the run, I continued south along Jantarova Cesta and then turn right (west) onto Krasovskeho. Now in the park via the south east entrance, the walkway runs parallel to the Danube for 2.1km until the park ends and the Novy Most Bridge takes you back north over the Danube into the very heart of the tourist district that is the Old Town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now back on the north bank, I figured there would be an excellent view from the Castle so I immediately turned left (west) along Zizkova from where the Castle is signposted and there is a pedestrian footbridge up into the Old Town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was then just a case of following the footpath up some majorly steep narrow cobbled streets and the entrance in the Castle's outer wall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now in the grounds, the paths turned into a fine sandy gravel but it was still a sharp incline to reach the main Castle buildings when I just followed the public walkway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The run to this point is 6.3km and now descends back down towards the Old Town along Zidovska and past St Martins Cathedral which has a huge advertising billboard stuck to the top of it bizarrely which you will probably not see at the Vatican or St Pauls!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Castle strangely has an underground trance music nightclub, built into a nuclear bunker which was installed well after the castle itself. Well I suppose it is eastern europe after all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the Cathedral I head back east towards the hostel but this time incorporating the Old Town which is a pedestrian only zone, although completely cobbled and very undulating. There streets are full of lots of boutique stores, art galleries and cafes which gives it more of a feeling of being in a little french or italian village.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Views from the castle show the contrast between the historic Old Town and the newly developed areas of Bratislava</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The route meanders though the winding alleyways and come out on Venturska street and then Zelena (both heading east) until I come across the town square where the Old Town Hall is located. There are lots of tourists here and several traditional market stalls and street entertainers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the Town Hall, simply continue east along Urluninska and then Klobucknika, and the route finished once you reach the end of the pedestrian zone, just 350 metres from the Hostel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In total the route measured around just over 10km although it could be more or less depending on which route you take through the Old Town and how much of the Castle grounds you choose to take in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall a really nice run, mixture of bridges, the Danube, parks, great views, and the main tourist sites, and very little traffic to speak of. It is also seemed a very safe place to although I am sure if you head off popular areas it may not stay that way. Just beware of the cobbolds and the hills if you have dodge ankles!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Summary:</strong><br />
Start - Hostel Blues, Spitaliska Street, north bank<br />
Journey - South towards Danube, cross bridge to south bank, through the park east towards second bridge, back to north bank, through grounds of Bratislava Castle and then back east down through the Old Town via the Cathedral, effectively one large loop of the city centre.<br />
Finish - Corner of Klobucnicka and Spitalska<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-9369968708968280162012-04-19T05:27:00.004-07:002012-04-26T12:25:54.518-07:00Dubai - UAE<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This place is weird! Far more developed and tourist focussed compared to nearby Doha, there is something for everybody in Dubai.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The climate as you would expect is very dry, great for golfers and those who want to relax on a sun lounger or the beach. There is also what seems like an endless amount of shopping malls, restaurans cinemas and theme parks to keep everyone entertained.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Such is the bizarreness of Dubai, on the Sunday I had arranged to play golf. However due to a huge sandstorm, my round was cancelled, so I ended going for my first ever snowboarding lesson. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not on any old dry ski slope like you would find in England though, but an indoor resort inside a shopping mall complete with a 60 metre high mountain, real snow, five slopes, a temperature ranging between -1C and -6C and actual real penguins....I sucked!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was staying in Port Saeed, very close to the airport (and cheap!) and probably twenty minutes in a cab from downtown Dubai where most of the big Malls and attractions are located. The good thing about the UAE is that taxis are outrageously cheap. The 11 mile journey from my hotel to the Burj Khalifa (photo above) cost 23AED, which works out at around only £3.90.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trouble with running in Dubai and especially Abu Dhabi, both in the UAE, is that the vast majority of the roads do not have sidewalks. I imagine this is because it gets so hot in Summer and most residents are very well off that everybody just drives everywhere. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was able to get in a run each morning before it got too hot. Due to the heavy amount of traffic, I was keen to find a park or some green space so set off west from the Deira Shopping Mall in Port Saeed along 8th Street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was a signpost for Dubai Creek Park , Al Ithihad Road heading towards the city so I continued west over the Floating Bridge and past the Dubai Court Rooms. Then I was able to get a look at the park to my left which seemed to be huge and offer great views over the creek.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the traffic lights I beared left (south) along Al Riyadh Street until I reached the entrance to the Park. 3.1km to this point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In true Dubai fashion, the 'park' resembled more of a small town, with a cable car system running end to end overlooking a small theme park style childrens area called the Dolphinarium Children's City.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was quite surreal, but refreshing, to see so many locals in their traditional burkhas just doing regular things like playing cricket, throwing a frisbee and having BBQs using the various free equipment dotted around the Park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I turned left at the entrance and followed the western boundary path back north parrallel to the road I had just ran along. The locals seemed fascinated to see someone clearly of western descent exercising, as though it was the strangest thing they had ever seen. I was wearing a long sleeve top and shorts to avoid causing offence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The pathway in the park was very undulating and mainly concrete, although there were patches of gravel and sand. After 1.5km I reached the north east tip of the park and turned to head south along the eastern boundary. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were awesome views out across the Creek as I was now running along the creek wall were several locals were fishing. The breeze off the creek was a welcome relief to as the temperature was in the high 20sC despite it not yet being 10am.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Atlantis Hotel on the man made Palm island. A little bit better than where I was staying</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In total, one lap of the park measured 5.3km and it was nice be surrounding by water and green space, away from the futuristic look of the horizon and contsant sound of cars and their horns. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I left the park through the exit in the south west corner and turned left (south) along Riyadh Road rather then right and back north where I had come from. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 1.6km I reached Garhoud Bridge which offered views of both the creek and the park as I headed east. I then simply followed Sheikh Rashid Road north for 3.8km past Dubai Creek Golf Club and to my hotel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not the most exciting run, but my location plus Dubai's infrastructure made it difficult to find any quiet roads or walkways. At least the Creek Park offered an escape from the amass of concrete and skyscrapers.</span></div>
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<br />Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide</div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Deira City Centre Mall, Port Saeed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - East towards city centre, over Floating Bridge to Creek Park. Lap of Creek Park, exit south and head east over Garhoud Bridge and then north along Sheikh Rashid Road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - Deira City Centre Mall</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-25758971877062340952012-04-18T15:51:00.001-07:002012-04-26T12:21:32.964-07:00San Francisco - USA<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Contrasting architecture can be found all across San Fran, typified by this photo from the front door of my hotel where the run starts</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is one place I could live tomorrow, probably only number 2 behind Rio on my bucket list, so it goes without saying that this is a breathtaking run and the longest route of all the guides.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A lot of American cities lack identity and character and are all just full of huge chains like Starbucks, Walgreens, Burger King, Subway and all resemble each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">San Fran on the other hand is like several different mini towns all thrown together. I was staying in Chinatown on the corner of Stockton Street and Broadway. It was a really vibrant part of the city, within walking distance of both the main shopping district and the famous piers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was July when I was here, so the weather as you would expect was glorious. California has blue skies like nowhere else I have ever been before or since.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From my hotel at 8am sharp I headed east towards the bay. I was only here for one day and it was a Sunday, so I wanted to take advantage of the quiet roads and take in as many sights as possible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 0.8 miles I reached the waterfront, which is lined with 45 Piers, some still operational, others closed and the rest converted into major tourist hotspots due to the brilliant views they offer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Broadway leads to Pier 9 where I picked up the generously wide sidewalks making for a good smooth flat running surface. After a further 0.6miles I reached the famous Pier 33 where tours to Alcatraz Island Prison depart from. Obviously this meant the pavements were really busy, but again I was here in Summer so it is to be expected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alcatraz really is one of those places that until you see it in real life you will never appreciate it. It must have been really something when it was still in operation with the likes of Al Capone on the island.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was only another 0.7miles from Pier 33 to the final Pier, 45. That was when I got my first glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. With that now in sight and the sun on my back, it felt as though I could have run for days!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the great things about San Fran is the fact it never feels as though you are in a city, which is probably because it seems as though each block is unique rather than a sprawling mass of identical streets. There are also a lot of green spaces which break up what is a hugely populated city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Pier 45 I picked up Jefferson Street and headed west towards the Golden Gate. However it is not the only attraction on the route.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Jefferson I entered the San Fran Maritime Park which was full of people playing all kinds of sports and lots of other runners. The park's footpath then picks up Van Ness Avenue and then Fort Mason which was a former US Army base but has a large recreational park.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now 1.7miles from Pier 45, I continued from Fort Mason towards the bridge along Marina Boulevard, and then Mason Street which takes you all the west to the Bridge tourist centre (3.4 miles). I have been to some huge tourist sites before but I don't think I have ever seen so many buses, coaches, cars, bikes, people and dogs in such a small area!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Without letting this put me off, I am now at the south side of the bridge, still not feeling any kind of burn despite having run 7.2miles to get where I am standing. The sheer size and stunning beauty of what is just a metal bridge is not something that can be described or shown in a photo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was then I had the ingenious idea to run across the bridge and back - I figured I had got this far and may never have the chance to comeback so why not. What a terrible idea!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am pretty sure that almost every cyclist in the whole of USA was on that bridge. The wind was also very strong and was whipping across. Another thing is the length of the bridge. From the south bank it looked no more than half a mile. However halfway across it dawned on me that this was a little wide of the mark...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After 8.9miles in the California sun, I was considering an early exit but this sign saved me</span>!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 1.7 MILES (!!!) I reached the north bank. It was only then that the decision to run across seemed completely the right thing to do. The views of the bridge, Alcatraz and the sprawling bayside metropolis that is San Fran were fantastic. The only problem was, now I had to do it all again to get home!</span></div>
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When I am away I usually run with the equivalent of £10 and the hotel business card on me just in case I get either lost or into any kind of trouble. Yet for some reason the one time I could do with a taxi I had left both in my hotel room.<br />
<br />So off I trudged along the route, retracing my footsteps back through both parks, the piers and back to Chinatown where I had probably my most satifsying ice bath to date!<br />
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Joking aside, this is probably the best way to see San Fran, especially if you are only here a short while like I was. You get to see the two main attractions from lots off different view points as you follow the Piers and bay north. <br />
<br />Only shaded by Rio as my favourite run simply because of what finally being in Rio meant to me. Cannot speak highly of both the city and this run.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Corner of Stockton and Broadway in Chinatown</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - East towards Pier 9, follow bay north to Pier 45. Through parks and Fort Mason westbound until you can see the Bridge. If you are feeling brave then simply cross over, take in the views, and retrace your steps home. 17miles in total or if you choose not to cross the bridge, approx 13miles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - The Stinking Rose, corner of Broadway and Columbus Avenue</span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-80772304394233564212012-04-18T06:55:00.002-07:002012-04-26T12:20:36.581-07:00Luxembourg City - Luxembourg<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only two words can describe Luxembourg City - Grey and Bleak!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was here in November and all week the temperature never got higher than 5C, with morning lows some days as cold as -8C. I was told it was unusually cold for that time of year but either way, it was pretty bleak.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Weather aside, this is probably the most uninteresting city I have ever been to! </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had imagined a quaint unique place full brimming with character but as soon as I left the portacabin, sorry I mean airport, it was clear I was very much mistaken! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to the IMF, the country has the highest GDP per captia in the world and so unsurprisingly there was a huge amount of financial presence, with what seemed like every major building having a bank's name and branding plastered all over it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It may have been due to the influence of the bitterly cold weather, but it seemed as though wherever you looked, all you saw was grey. Grey skies, grey buildings and a sea of concrete.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was staying at Hotel Carlton on Rue de Strasbourg on the south side of the city, so it was always my intention to head north, as I had passed over the Adolphe Bridge on my way from the airport and it looked like an okay area to run in.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below the bridge was a large park, set in a steep valley, which looked as though it might have some interesting hill climbs.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I set out from Rue de Strasbourg at 8am, with the temperature gauge on my phone reading -7C. I left my shorts in my suitcase!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My hotel was just opposite the central Train Station in the city, so the congestion on both the roads and pavements made it difficult to get into any sort of rhythm for the first 500 metres, but it soon thinned out and I was able to try and get some warmth into my toes and fingers.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Approx 1.1km north west from the Train Station along Avenue de la Liberte I reached the Bridge, which to give it some credit, is a really impressive piece of engineering. I managed to find a set of steps down to the park, which sits 138ft below the bridge. Needless to say it took a while to get down there.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grass was still frozen in most places as were the paths, so the pace was definitely down compared with most of my other runs. From the bottom of the stairs, I headed towards the west side of the park, with a relatively pleasant setting for 1.4km until I reach the boundary. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The path navigates itself around the outside edges of the park with several other walkways forking off of it. There is a small stream that runs the heart of the valley so there are also several small footbridges.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the west side of the park, I then followed the footpath around the outside of the park to the eastern point, which measured 2.2km from end to end. I then just continued along the path back to the bridge. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall the park was relatively flat, obviously nearer the valley base it was a bit more undulating but overall there were very few hills. The path was solely concrete.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was feeling brave so decided to tackle the stairs without stopping. If you are having visions of Rocky, don't, I probably looked more like a dying swan by the time I reached the top! Most of my runs are relatively flat so the burn in my quads was unbelievable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To that point I had only covered around 6.2km and was only 1km from my hotel, so I took a right and headed east along Boulevard Franklin Delano Roosevelt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The road then picked up Avenue de la Gare and after 2.1km of fairly uninspiring pavement, I came out at the Train Station, and my hotel. The ice bath was replaced by a very very hot bath for a very long time!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sorry to anybody who gets to try this run as it means you are in Luxembourg - Dude, what the flip...you were warned!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Luxembourg Central Train Station, Avenue de la Gare</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - 1.1km to Adolphe Bridge, descend stairway into park, 4.7km lap of park with views of the bridge from 136ft below. Leave park, continue along Roosevelt and de la Gare for 2.1km.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - Luxembourg Central Train Station</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-89829056504903693882012-04-17T16:41:00.005-07:002015-08-10T04:03:28.252-07:00Miami - USA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The bridge on the route offered a great view of Downtown Miami, and a random 4x4!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man it is so hot here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am informed that it can get quite cold in Miami, but on both occasions I have been in the city, I cannot see how. I am pretty sure I nearly melted one day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sheer humidity and heat combined has made it feel uncomfortably hotter than any other place I have been to. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was staying in Coral Gables, near the Key of Biscayne, so not in the very heart of Miami compared to say South Beach or Downtown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From my hotel on Franklin Avenue, I headed east towards the Keys along Main highway and McFarlane road where I was met the the view below. The distance to here was approx 1.2km.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A beautiful view across the Key of Biscayne early one morning </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From here, I passed the City Hall and headed for the Key of Biscayne. The pavements in Miami are non-existant, instead on one side of the road there was a wide section of the road marked for pedestrians, effectively acting as a third lane with some interesting road kill on route!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My organised self had planned this journey the night before, so I knew where I was going (roughly). To reach the Rickenbacker Causeway (great name) bridge which connects the Key to the mainland and to cross it totalled 4.5miles from the City Hall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Along the way, I passed through two parks which were full of people working out. The thing with Miami, much like California, is that image is everything. Where in Woodbridge I may pass 3 or 4 runners, in Miami on an hour run you could see 100, plus exercise classes taking place outdoors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where as Doha I was greeted with some strange looks in my vest and shorts, in Miami wearing the same gear made me feel like an overdressed frumpy aunt. Never have I seen so many people exercising wearing so little. It is like a Friday night movie on Channel Five!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This poor guy clearly had too much time in the sun</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some would say it is due to vanity, but for whatever the reason, it is great to see so many people enjoying the beautiful environment they live in, something which we in England do not do enough of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Past the two parks, en route to the bridge is the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, currently ranked number one on Trip Advisors top sites in Miami. I did not run through the grounds but the views of it from the bridge were stunning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the bridge, the humidity becomes more bearable with the sea breeze in your face, however after a while the crazy head wind that whips through the Key soon becomes like running down a wind tunnel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The views from the bridge make for some spectacular images of both the Key and Downtown Miami, it is just a shame that the causeway was so busy with traffic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The loop home with the wind at my back was like something out of a dream! I was able to cruise the 5.7 miles back to the hotel, take in a beautiful ice bath before stepping back out into the sauna that is a typical Miami morning for a well deserved Dunkin' Donuts!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can follow me and my blog on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/fairboyruns" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @fairboyruns, </span><a href="https://instagram.com/tomlfairbrother/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> @tomlfairbrother or on</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ARunnersGuideToTheWorld" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You can also follow my running progress on </span><a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=464818" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Power of 10</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Summary:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - Coconut Grove, Convention Centre, Coral Gables</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - North East towards Downtown Miami and the Key of Biscayne along South Bayshore Drive. 4.9 miles to reach Rickenbacker Causeway bridge into prevailing headwind. Return journey home with tail wind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - City Hall, adjacent to Convention Centre</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-15378837730898210552012-04-17T14:48:00.004-07:002012-04-26T12:18:43.873-07:00Marmaris - Turkey<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A view across Marmaris and the bay, I managed to capture this during a rare moment when there was no rain!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay so upon arriving I realised why I managed to get such a cheap deal. Turns out it can rain A LOT in Turkey!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This planned sunbathing relaxing holiday quickly turned into a running trip. It was lucky I had backed my trainers and some jumpers as they saw more action then the sun cream and swimming trunks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In its defence, it was April so out of season, but with a high of 16C for the week I had hoped for slightly better. It didn't help that the one meal we ate out of the hotel (all inclusive you see) led to all four of us spending the evening getting to know our toilets very well from both ends (sorry ladies).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As with most holiday resorts out of season, there always seem to be a stange atmosphere, a bit like turning up to a party an hour early. Very few people and nothing is quite finished.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the hotel, located on 186 Street (all minor roads are just numbered, no names) I headed south towards the bay which leads to the Mediterranian Sea along 164th Street. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marmaris is set amongst the mountains so everything slopes quite sharply towards the water, meaning a nice gentle downhill start to the run, which obviously means a steep hill to climb to finish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only major road to cross was Kemel Seyfettin Elgin Boulevard but the traffic was minimal for reasons mentioned above, so this was not an issue. From there I got to imagine how pretty the area would be when it actually saw the sun, as there were dramatic views out to see of mountains (pictured above).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The major tourist area is in the west of the town, where you will have plenty of opportunities to buy sunglasses, aftershave and jewellery - just don't expect a receipt!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Running conditions were surprisingly similar to England, with a nice cool temperature and moisture in the air, so in Summer I would advise running early or in the evenings. However, it did not feel totally safe in some areas when compared to most other countries, so maybe avoid carrying your ipod or jewellery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bay pathway takes you free a nice park (which was soaking wet) and then through the marina, which is home to a lot of traditional fishing boats and several tours, which you will be sold 100 times in one run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However it is very poorly maintained and I had to dodge pot holes most of the way on the slippery surface. Overall, from hotel to the end of the Marina was 4.9km, and due to the uneasiness of the atmosphere in some parts, it was probably the fastest 4.9km of my life on the return leg!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am sure the area comes to live in season with the sun shining, but in summary, I would say book a hotel with a treadmill just in case you get bad weather if you want to run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To rub salt in the wounds, my friend Chris was robbed by the taxi driver en route to the airport during a comfort stop, so Turkey will not be on my list of places to revisit!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - 186 Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey - South East to pick up the bay, follow the path the beach to the marina for 4.2km. The path ends there and I would not suggest taking a different course back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - Miramer Beach Resort on the bay</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-53565669897903260492012-04-17T13:59:00.000-07:002012-04-26T12:15:15.987-07:00Melbourne - Australia<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Flinders Street Station on Australia Day in the heart of Melbourne</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melbourne has a very much European feel compared to other cities in Australia. Set on the banks of the Yarra River, Sport is at the heart of almost everything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Within a mile radius you have the Olympic Park, Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne Park (home of the the Australian Open Tennis), the gigantic MCG Stadium, Hisense Arena as well as countless training pitches and rowing clubs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's not difficult to see why Australians consistently contend for major honours across so many sports. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the better cities for running as traffic is very minimal with such a well organised tram and train network. It is also extremely clean and has a really safe feel to it, unlike Rio or even Sydney.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was staying in the city for two weeks and my hotel was located on the corner of Flinders Street and Spencer Street, close to the Etihad Stadium and the Melbourne Aquarium.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As will become a trend with me and water, I was keen to take advantage of the close proximity to the Yarra River. I imagine it may have something to do with always living so close to the River Deben in Woodbridge - who knows!</span><br />
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Anyway, from the Aquarium on the North Bank of the Yarra, I followed the crazy busy river path towards Flinders Street Station and Federation Square, where the majority of tourists and students (for the free public wifi!!) congregate, day and night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Unfortunately in Melbourne there is just one pathway for both pedestrians and cyclists and bizarrely some of platform exits feed out onto the walkway, creating a lot of congestion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">That said, it is a glorious run. It is a city which possesses some extravagant contemporary architecture but it just seems to work. Combined with the lazy pace of the river, there is plenty of motivation to keep going should the temptation to stop crop up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The distance from Aquarium to Fed Square is 1.4km, all of which only metres from the water, something no doubt the UK Health & Safety officers would have nightmares about!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">From Fed Square, the river meanders towards the hub of sporting activity in the city, with the route of my run taking in views of all the major sporting arenas and stadia. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The rest of the 4.6km route from Fed Square to Loys Paddock Reserve along the Yarra offers an escape from the abundance of tourists and this section of the Yarra is largely unoccupied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">At this point, I looped around back and headed towards the city centre. 1.6km into the return leg, I crossed over a footbridge away from the Yarra towards the MCG and AAMI Stadiums, through Riverside Park. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Each day I followed this route, there seemed to be a different sport being practiced in the park, from football, to Aussie Rules and what looked like both Rugby League and Union.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Upon exiting the park, I picked up Olympic Boulevard which runs alongside Hisense Arena, Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne Park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The footpath picks up a footbridge that is designed to help deal with the crowds attending the MCG when in use, so I decided to follow this to mix up the route home, and the views from the bridge of both the MCG and the Eureka Tower (highest viewpoint in the Southern Hemisphere) are excellent.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The iconic entrance to Luna Park in St Kilda</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">From there the path leads to Fed Square and back to the Aquarium where I finished my run.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In total the route is 12.1km and very much flat. There's a mixture of gravel, sand and concrete paths, as well as grass in the park so there is a range of terrains. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As a huge sports fan, the views of the city and the various sporting venues make this a great route for anyone spending time in Melbourne.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Just watch out for the cyclists, these Aussies don't stop for nobody, especially a Pom!</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Summary: </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Start - Melbourne Aquarium, North Bank of the Yarra off Flinders Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Journey - East along the bank of the river towards the Olympic Park and beyond. Loop back at the Nature Reserve and pick up the Riverside Park which neighbours AAMI Stadium. From there great views as you head back to the city past the major sporting venues. Back along the Yarra past Fed Square.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Finish - Melbourne Aquarium</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542640759712769766.post-63105004407815819402012-04-17T13:06:00.001-07:002012-07-18T06:32:49.218-07:00Doha - Qatar<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CgMshF9K83U/T43NR03h_LI/AAAAAAAAAF8/AfEN759WG6c/s1600/blogger-image-142769277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CgMshF9K83U/T43NR03h_LI/AAAAAAAAAF8/AfEN759WG6c/s640/blogger-image-142769277.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Doha from the plane shortly before landing</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a horrible place! (Sorry if anyone has booked to go there soon...). Luckily I was here for only 3 days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unlike it's UAE neighbours, Doha still has some way to go on the hospitality side.The locals' English was about as good as my Arabic and the public transport network is very poor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am amazed that Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup ahead of the likes of Australia and USA but that is another debate all together!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like most countries in the region, the climate in Qatar is very dry and extremely hot. In January, it was at least 30C each day with very little cloud coverage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would strongly advise running early, no later than 10.30am, and wear a lot of sunscreen. It is also highly frowned upon to have too much skin on show, although shorts were okay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was staying in the 'old' part of town, in Musheirib, the other side of the bay to the new highly developed area where the main western hotels, shops and financial district are all located.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unsurprisingly, with this said I set off North out of my hotel towards the other side of the bay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This part of the city is very true to is past; the roads were sand and dust with no road markings or pavement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stay with me here, it gets better!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Approx 0.6km north I reached the grand Government Palace in Corniche, where the road network dramatically improved to that of any other major city. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1.2km into the run along Banks Street and I had reached the bay. A really beautiful part of an otherwise characterless city.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WeNkrN9nDr8/T43NRIkxOQI/AAAAAAAAAF0/x2gHZCuQ3hU/s640/blogger-image--1920466832.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The South side of the Bay offers some great views of the city's ever changing skyline</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The wide and immaculate pedestrian only zone around the bay was deserted and it had quickly become a very quiet and peaceful place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From one side of the bay to the other was 4.1km. Now an incredible amount of money has been spent on huge skyscrapers of every shape and colour, but what Doha lacks is soul and an identity, something which can't be bought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I simply then looped back on myself and headed for home. I took a different route once I reached the Palace by running along Al Asmakh Street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was a good move as it resembled a less chaotic scene to that I had witness 50 minutes previous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a shame there are so few parks or green areas which would have at least broken up the mass of concrete.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A pretty bland run, but the best of what little the city has to offer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To rub salt in the wounds, my brother and I decided to escape the hell-hole and relax in one of Westin Hotels. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a 25 minute taxi journey, we arrived to find we needed our passports just to get in! Early night for us...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For anyone hoping to go to the World Cup, your money would be better spent on a comfy sofa and a big TV!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow me on Twitter @runworldguide or at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ARunnersGuideToTheWorld">www.facebook.com/ARunnersGuideToTheWorld</a> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I also write for Athleticos at <a href="http://www.athleticos.org/">www.athleticos.org</a> and Vinco Sport at <a href="http://www.vincosport.com/">www.VincoSport.com</a> </span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start - State Government Palace in Musheirib. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey- 0.6km north to bay on Cornice road. 8.2km return loop around the bay walkway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish - State Palace</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252781169976757003noreply@blogger.com0