In Monterrey, The Most Popular Running Route Is Perhaps...

Monterrey, Mexico

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Posted:  Wednesday, August 10
Runner:  Adrian de la Garza

In Monterrey, the most popular running route is perhaps the 2.5 kilometers stretch along Calzada del Valle. People usually walk/run along this path starting from Av. Humberto Lobo in the west, reaching Av. Gomez Morin in the east, and then back to Av. Humberto Lobo for a total distance of 5 kilometers. This path intersects the other calzada or boulevard, Calzada San Pedro, which runs 1.5 kilometers from the Fatima church on Av. Jose Vasconcelos up to the replica of Michaelangelo's David statue on Av. Fuentes del Valle, just before the Miravalle bridge. I particularly like this extension to the more popular route because this one is far less crowded and because it is a bit sloped up and not flat like Calzada del Valle, so it is a nice variation. An alternative to the Calzadas is Chipinque National Park. To reach the park, drive north along Av. Gomez Morin until you reach the toll booth. To access the park, you will need to pay (as of spring 2005, I think the fee is $ 15 pesos or U.S. $ 1.25). You can follow the paved route all the way to the top (7.2 kilometers). A better alternative, though, is to take the trailing routes (Brecha del Chile, etc.) that also go all the way to the top - the "top" being the place where the paved road ends; the Hotel Chipinque and a recreation area lie at the end of this road. There is a third alternative that reaches this recreation area at the top, which is the staircases. This makes a nice cardio routine, although I would not advice to run it, especially downhill, as you might hurt your knees. Finally, once you reach the recreation area at the end of the paved road, there are several trailing paths you can take that go further up the mountain - they do not go all the way to the mountaintop, as there are some private areas beyond the park boundaries. Look for the path that goes to El Pinar, it is quite challenging and offers great views of the city! And once you are done with the run of your choice, go buy an agua fresca (literally, "fresh water", a sort of fruit juice of many kinds) to La Tocumbo (there is a branch at the intersection of Rio Mississippi and Rio Tamazunchale)... try mango or horchata (rice water) or you can mix horchata and coco (coconut) or sandia (watermelon) and limon (lime)!

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