By: Kim Manning
Trotting down the uneven cobblestone road, the trek is much more strenuous than satisfying. Weaving in and out of fanny packs and parasols, I get funny glares and absolutely no sympathy of my mission.
Running in a foreign country is exactly that, an entirely different experience. There are no smiles from oncoming fellow runners, no polite “I’ll let you through” gestures from pedestrians and absolutely no water fountains along the way.
To me, running is therapeutic; it’s calming. However, the hustle and bustle of Florence makes it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. In the city center, tourists run amuck with map in hand trying to decipher what each street is called and where the street sign even is. It makes for many obstacles.
Here are a few tips to make your run a little better:
1. If you have trail running shoes, bring them. The uneven pavement makes for an uneasy run. Bringing trail shoes or shoes with good stabilization will help to prevent injuries.
Running in a foreign country is exactly that, an entirely different experience. There are no smiles from oncoming fellow runners, no polite “I’ll let you through” gestures from pedestrians and absolutely no water fountains along the way.
To me, running is therapeutic; it’s calming. However, the hustle and bustle of Florence makes it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. In the city center, tourists run amuck with map in hand trying to decipher what each street is called and where the street sign even is. It makes for many obstacles.
Here are a few tips to make your run a little better:
1. If you have trail running shoes, bring them. The uneven pavement makes for an uneasy run. Bringing trail shoes or shoes with good stabilization will help to prevent injuries.
2. Go early in the morning, or late in the evening in the summer months. Make sure to stay in well lit areas, but it is much cooler at night and not nearly as many tourists that you will need to weave in and out of.
3. Drink lots of water through the day. Runners always need to stay hydrated, but with temps that can reach the 100s it is especially important.
4. Find a buddy if you can. No matter how long you are in Florence for, the roads can be confusing and some are tight and dark. Stay with a friend and try to stay in areas that you are familiar with or just continue down one road the entire time.
5. PAY ATTENTION. Keep your headphones on low volume and make sure you are watching where you are going, because the tourists in Florence will not watch you! (I nearly tripped over a suitcase because someone didn’t move out of the way but saw me coming.)
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