Image credit: Jess Stenson, lululemon Ambassador for Road to Trail
Celebrate Global Running Day by lacing up your shoes and running with the world! Whist the treadmill may be tempting with the cold weather setting in, running outdoors is a great chance to get some fresh air and explore the scenic views that Australia has to offer.
Olympic marathon champion and lululemon Ambassador, Jess Stenson, has shared her favourite spots to run in Adelaide, with a trail for everyone to check out no matter your skill level.
River Torrens Linear Trail – My go-to trail that never gets old
I have lived near the Linear Park trail for 8 years and despite running or walking along it on most days, I admire its beauty every time. This bitumised 35km trail follows the River Torrens at Henley Beach to the Adelaide hills, north-east of the city. It is an oasis in the city and suburbs which boasts picturesque views of the river, Adelaide Oval, manicured rose gardens, old river red gums and native birds. There are numerous playgrounds, picnic areas and duck-feeding spots along the route for families to enjoy. The trail is generally flat, making it perfect for those just starting out on their running journey or those wanting to push the pace.
The Uni Loop – Perfect for sessions
Located at North Adelaide’s Mackinnon Parade, this relatively flat 2.2km loop is well-known amongst local running and sporting groups – I have been training on it weekly for over a decade! There is a signpost at every 200m checkpoint, which makes this gravel track an ideal option for runners who want to measure their distance. Its close proximity to the Linear Park trail and LeFevre Park provides additional benefits to those searching for variety. Runners can enjoy views of manicured fields, the River Torrens and rows of gum trees, which provide valuable shade in summer.
Belair National Park – Into the wilderness
This National Park is a 20-minute car drive from Adelaide’s CBD. It is where my squad likes to venture for the Sunday long run (which for me, is anywhere between 90 minutes to 2.5 hours). There are numerous trail options within the Park that feature varying degrees of undulation and difficulty. Highlights include cascading waterfalls, an impressive echo tunnel, a variety of wildflowers and furry friends (if you’re lucky, you may even come across the endangered southern brown bandicoot). This is a great choice for advanced runners looking to push their limits and get their glutes and quads burning!
This month, to celebrate Global Running Day (June 7), lululemon has also launched a three-week Strava challenge for community participants to run a collective 1 million kilometers. In honour of the running community’s efforts, lululemon’s Centre for Social Impact will make a $1 million USD contribution to the Girls Opportunity Alliance, a program of the Obama Foundation, to empower adolescent girls globally. So it’s the perfect opportunity to take up Jess’ suggestions and get running!
More details on the challenge can be found here:
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