Runs In Barcelona, 8 To 21 Miles. Type Of...

Barcelona, Spain

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Posted:  Friday, September 30
Runner:  Caslav (Chas) Pavlovic

Runs in Barcelona, 8 to 21 miles. Type of runs: easy pace; appropriate for marathon training; various distances. Course: The mix of flat and hilly sections. GPS: reliable along the described course (diversions into narrow streets of old city will interrupt the reception). Other: extremely scenic courses. While it may be difficult to find an appropriate place for marathon training in Barcelona if you need fast runs, the city is ideal for the long distance runs at a relatively slow pace, as well as for easy short or medium distance days. These runs could be done either along the beautiful seaside road described below, or in combination with spectacular sightseeing town runs. The GPS signal is very reliable except if you run in narrow town streets of old Barcelona or Barceloneta. Water can be bought everywhere where you can run. You can also find energy drinks in some stores along the way. The course which is described below is a full closed loop covering practically all beautiful sites in Barcelona. Since Barcelona is probably the most beautiful town in the world, you are very likely to have the run of your life! The total loop is exactly 21 miles. If you want a shorter run, skip the Montjuic hilly tour, and you will end up with aproximately 14 miles. Finally, for an exactly 8 mile beautiful run just go back and forth from the Columbus' column to the Diagonal Mar shopping center. Do not forget to dip in the sea at the end of the run in any case. This will relax your muscles and please the soul. The course description starts and ends at the Diagonal del Mar shopping center (next to the Convention Center, referred to as Forum). Being a loop you can start anywhere else on the course, and most notably at the Columbus' column in the city center. The total loop is exactly 21 miles; the leg 4 is exactly 4 miles; other leg distances are approximate. You should study the map of Barcelona before doing this course. Also, please read about the sightseeing attractions you will see along the way. Most important of these sights are mentioned and highlighted in the rest of this text. Leg 1 (just short of 5 miles): Diagonal del Mar Shopping Center to Park Guell. Start at the Diagonal del Mar shopping center (Metro Forum) at the intersection of Carrer de Josep Pia and the Diagonal del Mar. The run in the pedestrian part of the Diagonal del Mar in the middle of the road is extremely pleasant. Take right turn at Carrer de Sardenya; go to and around Temple de la Sagrada Familia. Come back the same way to Diagonal del Mar. Continue on Diagonal del Mar to Saint Jean where you turn right. You will again be running in the middle of a spectacular street. When the street ends in a T intersection, turn right and immediately left into Carrer de Escorial. The street will eventually change name but keep going straight until the sign for Park Guell where you turn left and run up the hill to Park Guell. Do not take the stairs but run for a few hundred meters on a serpentine road to a gorgeous terrace with a beautiful view on Barcelona. Enjoy Gaudi's work all round, and have water in the café. Return the same way to the entrance of the Park. Leg 2: Park Guell to the Colombo statue (approximately 5 miles). Come back the same way to Diagonal del Mar and continue until the intersection with Passeig de Gracia, where you turn left and run down the street. Make sure you notice Gaudi's masterpieces: Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. The latter is most likely the best residential architectural creation this world has ever seen. At the Placa Catalunya cross the square diagonally to the right and continue down the tourist overcrowded Rambla to the Columbus' Column. There is a café there where you can stop and drink a bottle of water. There is also a toilet. Leg 3: Columbus statue to and around the Montjuic hill (approximately 7 miles). This is the hilliest part of the course. From the Columbus Column continue to the right to Paseig de Josep and then right to Passeig de Montjuic. After that take the first street to the left and serpentine up the hill to the Piscina Municipal (the 1992 Olympic swimming/diving pools). Continue to the Miro Museum, then up the hill leaving the Olympic Stadium to your right. Go around the stadium, around the covered Palau Saint Jordi, and around the Baseball stadium. Make sure not to go left here but close the circle around the stadium (take a peak into the stadium). The trick is to focus on the huge Olympic Tower (the symbol of the 1992 Olympics) and make sure you stay as close to it but have it always to the right of you until you reach the stadium. Continue back to the swimming pool. There, turn right and serpentine up the hill to the Castle (follow the signs "Castle"). Make sure you remember this section of the road as you will need to come back the same way without the help of the sign "Castle". Particularly towards the end, notice the other big road from the left – you should not take that one by mistake when you come back. When at the Castle, run the loop around the castle which starts just right of the Castle gate. The loop is approximately 1 mile long with great views of Barcelona. When finishing the loop around the castle take a short staircase up to the big cannon in front of the gate rather then going all around, and then enter the castle. In good weather there is a café there with water. Also a toilet. After the drink go back the same way to the Columbus Column. Leg 4: The Columbus Column to the Diagonal Mar shopping Center (exactly 4 miles). This is probably the most enjoyable run in Barcelona at almost any time of the year and any time of the day. Run along the water line to the Meseu d'Historia de Catalunya, and continue further along the water line until Barceloneta at your left ends at the beach. There is a store there where they have electrolyte drinks. Do not continue along the dockyards, but turn left along the beach for about 3 miles. You will pass the two "towers" and the Olympic village. Continue just beyond the beach ends and then turn left towards the Hilton Hotel and the starting point along Carrer de Josep Piu. When done, walk back to the beach, take a swim, and sit in the café for the deserved rest, drink, and a bite to eat.

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