"I'd rather be seen on my bicycle than on a park run" - Quote from the dark side

Monday 13 December 2010

My Top Five Favorite Places to Run

ajh at Age Groups Rock did a post about her five favorite places to run. She inspired me to do the same, so here is my list.


1. Drakensberg Amphitheatre – Northern Drakensberg.
If you read my blog you will know I love running in the mountains. There are many fantastic places to run, but if I have to choose one place in the Drakensberg it is here. The Mont-Aux-Sources 50km Challenge runs to the top of the amphitheater and back.



2. Kruger National Park.
I’ve been lucky enough to run races here a few times but even if it is not a race, just running in the camp where we are staying is still incredibly special. This is just a special place.



3. Trails close to my house – Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve.
These are my favorite trails. I know them extremely well and do most of my trail training here.



4. Johannesburg CBD.
This will surprise a lot of people but I love Johannesburg. I’ve lived here my whole life and running through the CBD is exciting and different.


5. Next to the ocean.
This can be anywhere at the coast. I live inland so running at the coast while looking at the ocean is always special. It also means lots of oxygen as Johannesburg is at altitude!:) My next race is the Odyssey Ultra and will follow the coastline for 90km…exciting!


Have you got a favorite place to run?

Have a fantastic week everyone!

31 comments:

Andrew Opala said...

absolutely awesome!

Jason said...

Those are great pics. Thanks for sharing.

Big Daddy Diesel said...

OH MY GOSH!!! Do you really run into elephants while running????? That is sooooooo freaking cool!!!!!

Abby @ Have Dental Floss, Wil Travel said...

South Africa is on my top-five list for places I want to visit in the world. I can't wait to check out some of these running routes!

misszippy said...

I think you get my vote for best location for running! Would love to have those places to run in.

Tim Wilson said...

You have some awesome places to run. Is Kruger National Park one of the biggest wild game preserves around there? I think that is the place that my parents took us while we lived in Johannesburg before we moved to the US.

HollyV said...

so beautiful... what a fantastic place to be a runner!! I am lucky to have oceans, mountains, and rainforest here.

Julie said...

Greetings Johann,
Your posts never disappoint:) Running by elephants would be pretty cool! You have so many great places to run...beautiful and scenic! That last picture is amazing, I could totally see myself sitting in that grass watching the water and taking it all in:)

ultra collie said...

great looking and varied places johann..i think variety is key to keeping up the enjoyment factor

Julie @ HotlegsRunner said...

would love to run at Kruger National Park. I'd probably run faster if there were lions or cheetahs. LOL!

Great photos!!! You get to run in all the cool places! not fair! haha!

Molly said...

I love how you threw Johannesburg into your rugged mix!

Giorgio said...

Great post Johann. Beautiful places to run! I remember that you showed Drakensberg Amphitheatre in another post.

The photo number five shows an ocean: you make us envious of your environs because in South Africa you can choose to run along two oceans :)

Ewa said...

I am coming to SA for a run. Well, maybe one of these day. Gosh, this is amazing. Running in Kruger? I know, in the camp but still, running in Kruger? Wow!

KovasP said...

I always hope my next destinatio nis my favorite!

Alyssa said...

Elephants, too?! You have the best running life ever.

Unknown said...

You're very lucky to have such beautiful places to run in. There are so many people sitting at home in front of their TV's who would never experience anything like that because they choose not to put on their shorts and get out there. Enjoy!

Thanks for sharing :-)

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Detroit Runner(Jeff) said...

The pictures are beautiful. Great areas to run! Hey - what about your snow run! LOL!

Unknown said...

I love to run by the sea, there's just something about the ocean. So constant.
Thanks for the great pictures. Elephants, really??!!

ajh said...

I love this post. All of your choices look great I like some city running too. What is the CBD? And how close are you to the elephants? Amazing!

Jill said...

Breathtaking, simply breathtaking all the amazing places you run! I don't have the ocean near me, but when I do visit California, it is one of my favorites. Of course, I can't help but not love all the places Colorado has to offer - one day you will be out here to find out!!! :)

The Green Girl said...

I think you have the best running scenery hands-down.

I'd love to run anywhere that you run!

Lauren said...

I would LOVE to run any one of those places. Great pictures! I'm wondering about the elephants too! Can they run very fast?

Nathan said...

OK, You put Elkton to shame! :) Those are some beautiful places.

Char said...

Kruger National Park is on my bucket list.

4 Winds said...

on mine too, now!

LMC said...

Those are all amazing locations! You are lucky to be able to run at any one of them, let alone all of them. I hope you have many more good runs at each of these locations! Thanks for sharing the pics!

Amy said...

Beautiful! I was also wondering what the CBD is...

HappyTrails said...

Spectacular running places you have. I'm with you on the oceanside views plus lots of oxygen running!!! I think you share similar altitude to us.

Black Knight said...

Great pics of beautiful places to run through. My favourite is a route between Civitavecchia and S.Marinella, part in the country and part near the sea. With Giorgio we call it "Giro D'Emilio".

Kevin said...

I wish my run locations were that pretty.

Kevin
http://halftriing.blogspot.com/