There’s something magical about seeing a city on foot. I remember many of my favorite vacations were really just extended walking tours of cities- looking into shops, grabbing bites to eat at a dozen different cafés (and the occasional gas station), eavesdropping on locals’ conversations and taking in the somewhat crafted pedestrian experience of each urban area.
Now, there are those that argue that Detroit is not a walkable city. They say that the street level is not properly activated, that destinations are islands of activity, or that it is just too big and too motorized to experience on foot. And while I agree that Detroit is vast (139 square miles is no laughable number), somewhat pocketed and perhaps designed more for cars than for aimless wandering, what I’d like to suggest to these naysayers is instead of walking, try running!
What Detroit lacks for amblers, it certainly makes up for in varied and captivating activities for the urban athlete. I recently registered for the Detroit Free Press Marathon and have been logging my miles all over Detroit, gaining a new appreciation for the changing landscape of the city. Most of my short runs have been on the Detroit River Walk where there is never a lack of people watching and usually a nice breeze off the river. The River Walk also has plenty of fountains and other water features to help cool off both my dog and me.
Another, more recent favorite run has been through Detroit’s north end where I find myself tackling most of my longer runs with my Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training group. Weaving through Wayne State’s campus, jogging past the mansions of Boston Edison and cruising through the museum district makes the miles fly by (at least when we’re on the shaded side of the street).
If you’re new to running, like me, I suggest running with a group to explore the best routes in the city. If you like early morning runs with lots of options, I’d suggest heading to RUN Detroit in Midtown on a Saturday morning where groups of runners meet up to tackle 3, 6 and 10 mile runs. They’ll even store your keys and give you some free samples while you’re out!
If you’re more interested in killing two birds with one stone and doing some business while you run, you may want to check out Run This Town, a group that meets on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings to both network and exercise- a combination that is surprisingly natural. The event is always free and always a great way to get motivated and find others who are running for the same reasons you are!
Detroit has so many opportunities for those who want to live healthy, balanced lifestyles, so don’t let them pass you up! Whether is it committing to a run or walk once a week or signing up for the Free Press Marathon, I can ensure you that you’ll get more out of running in Detroit than just a work out.