This post is also available in: 
French
Running is a physical activity that will cost you nothing, but is very, very efficient: you only need a good pair of trainers, the right pace of breathing and you are ready to run.
Running is not just healthy, it is also a great way to release your mind from stress and set your thoughts free.
In the last few years the number of passionate runners grew fast and now many cities organize marathons. Moreover, many charities organize non-competitive runs to raise funds for their activities.
Would you like to start running, but you don’t know exactly where to go? The Internet may help you!
A great site for runners is Map My Run: it collects paths and tips in different cities in the world and finding your running route will be a piece of cake.
Parks
Obviously parks are the best place where to run. Short-cut grass is the best ground: it is soft, it absorbs the impact of your steps and so it doesn’t affect your articulation. And you can see where you put your feet; so you will have few occasions to fall in a hole.
London has a great amount of parks, from the most famous Hyde Park, to one of the most hidden local parks in the suburbs. Here’s a site that will help you to find the best park for your training.
One of the most popular choices in Dublin city centre is the track around the cricket pitch of Trinity College. And we cannot forget to recommend St. Stephen’s Green.
Cork on the other hand can be proud of its Fitzgerald Park, that faces the left bank of River Lee and of its small (but very suggestive) Lough (a nice lake surrounded by a little park).
Marathons and Charity runs
As we already mentioned, nowadays every city has its own Marathon. London is already organizing the 2015 edition of the run that is going to take place on 26th of April.
Dublin will see its street run by athletes on the 27th of October and Cork Marathon is fixed for 2nd of June.
So, you like to run, but you cannot really call yourself an athlete? There are plenty of opportunities for runners like you. For example you can run for charity. Both in Ireland and in the UK, it’s quite common that charities organize runs as fundraising or running association decided to give the best part of the registration fee to a charity.
In November, in various cities of the UK, Ireland and the world, Run in the Dark will take place: a run held in the evening, when the darkness fall and the cities turn on their lights. Run in the Dark collect money for the research on spinal cord injuries.
During spring the international event, The Color Run, has become a major appointment for a lot of cities around the world. During the race, coloured powders are thrown on the runners to celebrate healthiness, happiness and individuality. The race take inspiration from the Indian festival called Holi. Usually every venue of this event decides which charity to help.
Would you like to start running, but you don’t want to go solo? Then visit Meetup and look for a running buddy. Or write on our Facebook wall, you’ll find someone who shares your desire to run.
And which are your favourite place for a run? Any tip for a running route in one of our EazyCities?
