How to: Become a Seattle Running Regular

Tanks, shorts, and other comfortable running gear is most certainly acceptable.

Feel like wearing spandex? Go for it! So long as it’s tasteful…

Arboretum

The Arboretum is another great escape from your city running into what feels more like you’re out running in the hills. Located directly south of the 520 and UW, the Arboretum is a great place to get away without having to drive far.

Pros: Trail running, easy to navigate, multiple trails to spice your run up.

Cons: You might run into cruisers looking to get it on!

Myrtle Edwards

Located just north of the downtown waterfront, the Myrtle Edwards run can span anywhere from Interbay down towards the Ferry Dock and all things in between.

Pros: Perfect for those living downtown, great scenery, fairly flat run.

Cons: Running the risk of being accosted by homeless and bombarded by tourists.

Burke Gilman

From Ballard to the Eastside, the Burke-Gilman Trail is one of the most accessible trails in the city. With an almost entirely flat terrain (having been a former rail line) and virtual car-free trail makes this one of the most popular places to run, jog, bike, or blade.

Pros: Relatively flat, almost entirely separated from cars, and accessible to many areas of the city.

Cons: Heavily populated by cyclists (avoid wearing headphones so you can hear them coming!) and strictly pavement.

Strap on a Pedometer

Program your pedometer to measure your running, strap it on, and go! This way you’ll be able to have bragging rights when you’ve just run your first 5 miles without passing out from exhaustion.

Erm, I think we know why not to wear this…

Please no full body spandex – unless you’ve got the body of Michael Phelps.

Lake Union

Nothing like running around a lake, but this run is definitely for the serious runner at heart. Follow the Cheshiasud Loop for a 7.4 mile run… if you think you can handle it!

Pros: Longer distance run, various terrain, mixture of flat land and hills, beautiful scenery.

Cons: Sometimes hard to follow, not always a runner friendly path, and once you start there’s no going back!

Discovery Park

Discovery Park is on the west end of Magnolia and is a park that feels larger than life. Make sure to acquaint yourself with it, as it’s very easy to get lost here.

Pros: Trail running, many hills and terrains, quiet and somewhat excluded.

Cons: Incredibly easy to get lost!

Alki Beach

I know I’ve written about Alki for many different occasions, but running is definitely a reason this place stays so popular. Just west of the city (a quick trek), Alki is at max a 6 mile run on an all flat terrain.

Pros: Amazing scenery (right on the water!), great people watching, neat place to hangout once you’ve completed your run.

Cons: Always busy, often lots of tourists (and stroller moms) blocking the trailway.