Not everyone finds running a pleasurable pastime, but bear with us: running in Nose Hill Park is a new kind of running experience. Rather than pounding concrete and taking in traffic noise, take your next run off the beaten track.
What is Trail Running?
Trail running is running off of paved roads or sidewalks. It can be as gentle as running in a wooded park or as extreme as running kilometre after kilometre in the mountains. Novice runners can also take to the trails – this isn’t any more difficult than your usual route – although it does present a new set of challenges, which makes it more engaging than just running around the block.
Why We Recommend It
If you’re new to this kind of running, we recommend you start off in Nose Hill Park. Nose Hill Park is 2,784 acres of grassland and has plenty of accessible trails, none of which are too extreme for the novice runner to handle. And, even though it’s right in the middle of the city, the knee-high grass and tree groves make it feel like you’re on an adventure way out of Calgary.
Trail running is also easier on the joints than running on concrete. With your knees and hips taking less of a pounding, you might find that you’re able to run for longer – and enjoy it for longer.
Perhaps best of all is the view of Calgary from the top of the park. After running trails uphill, take a break and enjoy the view of your city’s skyline.
How To Get There
Nose Hill Park has five parking lots. Take 14th Street to park at the Berkley Gate, 64th Avenue or 14th Street parking lots. Take Shaganappi Trail to park at Edgemont Boulevard or take John Laurie Boulevard to park at the Brisebois lot.
Make a Note
Keep in mind that the centre of Nose Hill Park is a multi-use zone. Stay present when you’re running: keep an eye out for cyclists and off-leash dogs. Also, slow down and watch out for obstacles that could trip you up; you might want to take shorter, quicker strides than usual. And finally, remember that there is no shame in walking up steep hills!