I’m traveling to Vancouver and staying with family for the week of May 24th, and I’m looking for running options from the house and places I SHOULDN’T miss while I’m out there. I guess the obvious would be Stanley Park, which I will go to at some point during that week.
Based on google maps, I seem to be away from the action - “Renfrew Heights” area (Normandy Dr.). Can anyone help me out with suggested run options from here? I may have access to a car a couple of days too. Sadly, I won’t have a bike with me…
cheers.
Too bad you don’t have access to a bike as you could do the North Shore Triathlon on May 24 - http://www.northshorespringtri.ca/. Not hugely scenic (pool swim, 20km bike is 4 loops, but the trail run is nice) but it’s a decently run race. La Bicicletta rents Cervelos if you’re tempted. There are also so very good bike routes in the area if you can borrow a bike, just keep in mind that theft is huge in Vancouver so lock it up any time you walk away from it. If you get access to a bike PM me and I’ll point you in the direction of some good routes.
Not a lot of great running in that part of East Van (I’m in the general vicinity and still looking for good routes). If you want trail running close(ish) by then Central Park in Burnaby would be good - it’s East of Boundary Road and to the South of you. I often run on the trail under the Skytrain as it’s Asphalt and usually pretty quiet - to get to it run North on Rupert, I think it’s signed as the Central Valley Greenway, and head West on the trail as that will take you further.
Otherwise you can bus/Skytrain to downtown very easily and hit the seawall. The part around Stanley Park is the most famous but the seawall goes all the way around downtown, around False Creek and out to Kits. One of these days I want to run the whole thing in one go. Any part of it is beautiful, if you start/stop by Granville Island then you have access to great food as well.
Kits pool opens on the May long weekend - 137m outdoor pool with a spectacular view of downtown and the North Shore mountains. It’ll likely be cold, but that means it’ll be less crowded. I believe New Brighton pool also opens that weekend - it’s almost due North from where you’ll be. It’s a smaller outdoor pool but in a neat little park almost under the Second Narrows Bridge.
Ok, so you are close to the skytrain which is handy for hitting up the city… here are some options for running;
Gotta do Stanley park seawall once. Is about 9.5km loop. lots of info on the net about this. In addition to this you can also catch the sky train to main st/science world. Get out there and run along the seawall to Stanley park, loop it and come back. This would be about 15 to 16km. Another option is to run the seawall from the sky train to kits and if you are adventurous to Jericho. The seaside bike trail is essentially the route that has all this. Is a mix of packed gravel an off road pavement.
http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/transport/cycling/documents/bikeRouteMap.pdf
You are also close enough to Burnaby central park and deer lake park. Some foresty trails around these. If you wanted to “run to the city” you are also close to the central valley greenway. A little urban but an option for running - maps on this link
http://www.translink.ca/en/Cycling/Central-Valley-Greenway.aspx
Also google pacific spirit park - awesme trail running in there - love this place myself. You are also here at the time the famous grouse grind is open- not the best trail run on the north shore but worth it for beer and nachos up the top.
This would hopefully be open by the time you arrive - trail conditions at
http://www.metrovancouver.org/region/grousegrind/Pages/default.aspx
go to grouse mountain website for other details.
Lastly google kits pool which opens up the week you arrive. 137m long lengths is something to be had with views of the mountain when you breathe.
That is a quick brain dump, feel free to ask specific questions - needless to say lots of options.
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Thanks for the replys guys. I REALLY wish I could bring my bike, but I don’t think the amount of riding I’ll get in will justify hauling it around - plus I don’t want to turn this into MY vacation - bad form on a family visit.
I may look into renting a bike though for a least one ride - thanks for the cervello rental place; as that’s what I ride (this is ST after all!).
I’ll definitely check out the trail running that has been recommended, as this is the type of running I enjoy most.
Thanks again.