I’m going to Seattle for a long weekend and would like to get some running in. I’m staying downtown (5th/Spring) and will have to run to/from the hotel (no driving) in the early mornings. Due to time constraints I can only get in 3-6 miles per day. Are there any decent routes of that length in the area that I won’t have to travel to? I’ve never been to Seattle so I don’t even know where to start. Can you run along the water (Alaskan Way?)? Or there any nearby neighborhoods or parks good for running?
Thanks!
Call Brian or Scott at Seattle Running Co. They are basically downtown and can put you on a nice run from your hotel. I know Wednesday night is their group run. You could basically jog over the mile or so and join them. (206) 329-1466
My daily run is along the waterfront north through Myrtle Edwards park. Depending upon where you start downtown, the out and back is about 5 miles if you turn around at the park restroom/fishing pier. It’s very scenic with views of the Olympics, Elliot Bay and a sculpture park to boot. You won’t be disappointed.
edit: There’s a paved trail adjacent to Alaska Way. The run is a no-brainer if you just keep going north.
Your best bet downtown ,with no car, is be the water. You won’t want to run on Alaska Way, actually you can’t. You might have to zig zag some (not all the streets go through), but simply run West down hill until you hit the water, then run North, eventually the sidewalk stops and a park with a paved trail starts (Mertle Edwards park). Look for harbor seals and crab boats.
Not sure where Spring is, but I was at 6th and Pike this past weekend, and I ran south about 2 blocks to University, then west to the Harbor Steps which led down to the last road before the shore. The ocean side had a concrete sidewalk and the other side had an asphalt path. Run north toward the park and turn around when convenient. It was approximately 3 miles from the harbor steps til I turned around which included a mile or so in a lovely park with a restroom and water fountain.
The waterfront is a good run (it’s flat and fast and has nice views). I run it fairly often at lunch. You can continue running past the fish shack (The Happy Hooker), it winds it’s way through a train yard then if you head left goes to the waterfront again. I’m thinking that’s roughly 8 miles round trip from your hotel. Another good run is to go to Madison (1 block south) and just run east. It’s not flat by any means but after roughly 3 miles you hit the lake which is pretty nice.
Another run would be to head to volunteer park. It’s supposed to be pretty nice but make sure you go during daylight hours. I’ve heard it’s a little ‘unsafe’. My daughter’s HS team runs there so it’s not too unsafe.
You could run south on Alaskan Way (I do often) but it’s through an industrial area and I suspect it’s easy to get lost going that way.
One more good idea is to catch the West Seattle Ferry (I think it’s 3 dollars one way) and run along Alki Beach.
Cheers,
John
Here is a favorite 10 miler with a large portion out and back that you could cut it short. I travel there often and usuall stay at the Sheraton downtown.
Nice hills getting to and from the water!!
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1496219
Cheers!
Thanks all! I’ll do a waterfront run one day (and my friends can cut it short, but we can all run together, so perfect) and then do a loop around Lake Union another day? Looks to be 9 miles there, around, and back. Is this a decent run, or too trafficky? It seemed to be popular on mapmyrun.
A tri club I’m in does 6am Thursday morning runs, starting right by Pioneer Square. The downtown waterfront runs are good, and right at the distance you mentioned. (The trail goes for a long way north, just turn around when you are halfway done)
Volunteer park is great (I used to live a couple of blocks away and I love it)… It is perfectly safe even at night, don’t bother the nice people who are walking around and they won’t bother you.
The Seattle Running Company runs are in the evenings evenings: Tuesday & Thursday, and early Sunday morning is a 13mile(ish) trail run on a nearby mountain, carpooling is provided. I used to do their runs, they are good guys.
If you are looking for other routes:
Going to Boren Park & Interlaken Park looks like 6.0 miles round trip
-Head east up Madison, turn left at 19th, this will fork in front of the park, run through the park on the trail that starts at the fork in the road, head back… 6.0 exaactly according to google maps)
Going to Washington Park Arboretum looks like 4.6 miles round trip to the park entry, add as much or as little of the park as you like.
-Head east up Madison go all the way down to Lake Washington Boulevard, this is the south end of the park. You will see the park at the left of the intersection. The park runs NNW with LWB going through the middle. There are plenty of trails and other spots to get out of traffic if you are looking for it. Do as much as you like, head back… 4.6 miles+whatever.
PM me for more, or if you want to hook up with the tri-running group. there are between 2 and 5 of us most thursdays.