Is there any place in Paris where people jog in the morning? Is there jogging etiquette that I should know about?
Is there any place in Paris where people jog in the morning? Is there jogging etiquette that I should know about?
Sure, any of the parks in town (Tuileries Gardens, Luxembourg, Champ de Mars) lure early morning joggers. No etiquette as far as I know, and I jog in Paris from time to time. You just don't see people jogging down the street, etc..
Seriously, while in Paris, you'll do more walking than you can possibly imagine. You really don't need to find a place to jog.
If you prefver jogging in fresh air, as opposed to jogging in pollution, head for Parc de Sceaux (take RER B to Crox de Berny). Jogging trail has been laid out through the woods, low-impact surface (old tree bark) so it's easy on the joints. Plus shade from trees on a hot sunny day.
I also want to go running in Paris when we visit at the end of June. I am training for a few races including a marathon, so all the walking in the world won't replace a good run. Plus, I like to run in every destination I travel to, it is such a cool perspective of the city.
When I was an exchange student in Normandy 15 years ago, the family I stayed with thought I was a freak for running alone. The dad would not let me, so he tried to go running with me. I lapped him around the park, it was kind of funny because I am not sure what type of safety he was providing me. A couple of the girls that I went on the trip with were on my track team, so we would fit a workout in during the day on the school "track," all the French kids would smoke outside the school and laugh at the crazy Americans.
If you don't see people running in the streets, should we walk to the park beforehand? We are staying in the Latin Quarter, I wonder if there are good parks near by.
Le Jardin Luxembourg is a great place to jog. You will have lots of company on the track around the perimeter. There's lovely scenery to enjoy all around the parc too.
hoya: I think it depends on where in the Latin Quarter you're staying. The Luxembourg Gardens may be the most convenient for you. Locate your hotel on a map and see where it is in relation to the Gardens. However, if you are staying closer to the river or over in the direction of the Orsay museum, you would also have the option of crossing the river and running in the Tuileries. You will also not be all that far from the Champs de Mars, where the Eiffel Tower is located. Also, although the French may not run much in the streets, I don't see why you couldn't. I have seen some people jogging in the streets, and may have done it myself once or twice.
I've asked this question before and have been assured that the parks are good for running and that you will be quite safe, taking the normal precautions. I was told that the biggest concern is watching the traffic while crossing the streets to get to the park.
The Unofficial Guide to Paris has a good chapter on running.
I agree that all the walking in the world isn't the same, physically or mentally, as getting in that morning run!
We returned from 8 days in Paris on the 16th of May. We started every day with running early in the morning.
Starting from the Concorde Plaza, our favorite route was down along the Seine to the islands, and looping back. We also went the other direction along the river past the Efffiel Tower.
One morning we took the Metro out to Parc Butte Chaumont, it was hilly, but very scenic and I highly recommend it. One morning we ran through Parc Monceau. It was a Saturday morning, and it was there we saw the largest number of runners.
We utilized the bike paths, and were extra mindful of traffic, but found Paris to be a great city to run.
People jog in parks and along the Seine but I see people just jog out of their hotel every morning.
The Buttes Chaumont park often gets overlooked by tourists or non-Parisians...but it is EASILY accesible (Pyrenees, Buttes Chaumont, or Botzaris metros) and BEAUTIFUL. The biggest park in Paris, and the most beautiful, in a natural way, in my opinon.
Happy jogging.