In The Southern Moldova Town Of Cahul, Several Running...

Cahul, Moldova

In the southern Moldova town of Cahul, several running courses can be very safe and pleasant. If you are staying at the local health spa and are a fan of trail running, the area and grounds around the spa will suit you fine. However, if you are staying downtown at one of the small hotels (or at the spa), all you need to do is find the main drag Stephan Sel Mare. If you choose to go east the course will be 100% uphill out of town and along a country road toward the Ukraine. The scenery is very nice and on both sides of the road are farmlands with huge vineyards. The shoulders are quite stable, but you have to watch for the animal droppings since the road is also used to move cattle and such. A 5-mile run in that direction will take go to the highest point in all of the Cahul region to a communications tower where you can turn around and cruise downhill back to the downtown area and your hotel to finish a 10-miler. As an option a good run is to go west out of town on Stephane Sel Mare and down into a very flat agricultural area towards the Romanian border. The border guards will be somewhat surprised to see you approaching on the run and sweaty, and do not be surprised if they get their weapons ready as they try to find out why you do this kind of activity. The return trip from the Romanian border is about 8 miles. Enjoy your runs in Southern Moldova in the town of Cahul and whether you go east or west, do not forget to bring your own bottled water.