The view on the run is truly one of the unexpected gifts of the sport. From the sunrises on your neighborhood route, to the beaches of a tropical island, so much of my running peace of mind comes from the view.
I’m super lucky to live very close to a variety of views. From my driveway, I can basically get to several neighborhoods, as well as some rural property. The beach is just 20 minutes away, and in less than 30 minutes, I can choose an urban downtown or a more historic one. The trails aren’t too far off, either, so it’s really just a roll of the dice.
While I’m still on my quest to run a race in every state, I’m sharing some of the best views I’ve had while logging my miles.
Castaway Cay
Ever race on a tropical island? The view on Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, is truly one to remember. Temperatures were brutal that day, but come on. How often do you get to pose with the Disney Dream in the background, against clear turquoise water and white sands, with Minnie at your side? It was a day, and a view, to remember!
Bar Harbor, Maine
Running in Bar Harbor was truly a special treat. I confess that I was not equipped to take on the trails, but I did love the downtown and the waterfront. The northern Atlantic coast looks a bit different from the Atlantic down south, so it was a pleasure to get to run alongside it.
Beachwalk, Florida
Florida is full of all kinds of subdivisions and planned communities, which has its pros and cons. Usually, I wouldn’t get all giddy over yet another one, but Beachwalk is something else. I shared about my Rockin’ New Year’s 5K at this venue, and I still say these are some of the best post-race photos around. Running near that gorgeous, crystal blue lagoon was truly spectacular.
Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World
Love Disney or hate it, the sight of Cinderella’s castle during a runDisney event is pretty darn spectacular. I’ve only had the opportunity to run through it twice (once during the WDW Marathon, and then again for the Princess Half Marathon), but it was something I will never forget.
Banner Elk, North Carolina
Mountain running? It’s a thing, and while it might not the easiest thing in the world, running in Banner Elk yielded views that were just beyond. Trees, drop-offs, clouds, fog, I saw it all. And while my knees and quads screamed for mercy, I wouldn’t have traded the view for the world.
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Bridges are some of my favorite architectural features, so running over them is always a special treat. Running the Golden Gate Bridge was the cherry on the San Francisco sundae a few years ago, and I hope to have the opportunity to do it again one day.
I am linking up with Kookyrunner and Zenaida this Tuesday for Tuesday Topics!
Tell me about your favorite running views!
Oh wow, Jenn, the look of your new blog design is awesome! I especially like the colour palette. And I can now see the comments again! Yay!
I absolutely love running in Florida. I’d love to be there right now! Unfortunately, the US is still closed for tourists. You are very fortunate to be running around there. Enjoy!
I’ve also done a few of the Disney races. So many great views there!
Never done a Disney race but I have loved the views from all my Florida races. Ocean views are the best.
The Golden Gate Bridge was one of my favorite views for this post too! I found it rather scary, ha! The railing seemed too low…But it was still very cool!
The beaches right in your backyard are the best. Lucky runner!
Such fun photos! I have run in San Diego for a race but would love to run in San Francisco over the Golden Gate bridge. I know the views must be amazing from there!
So many great destinations! I visited Bar Harbor but did not get to run in the area, so nice! I really enjoyed running through Epcot when I did the Disney Princess 10K a few years back!
You’ve seen some great sights from your running shoes! I got to run across the Golden Gate a few years ago…totally an awesome experience! I’m hoping to go back, someday, and run the San Fran 13.1 (26.2 miles of all those crazy hills would be too much, even for this hill enthusiast LOL).
I’ve always wanted to run over the golden gate but I wonder if I’d be scared? Usually I’m ok with moderate heights, but just walking over the bridge on the way to my mom was kind of creepy. And it’s much lower!
When we lived in VT we went to Bar Har several times. Loved it! We’re kind of hoping maybe to get there in the fall, actually, we have friends who live not far away. I can only imagine how wonderful it is to run there!
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