Hit the ground running
Indulgent Christmas and New Year’s celebrations usually mean that healthy eating and fitness regimes go out the window. So, come January, many of us have made a resolution to get back on track with our health and fitness to minimise the damage. Running is an easy, accessible and free way to get fighting fit, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Whether you’ve always been keen on running or are a complete novice, there’s no time like the present to start a positive, active routine with Barcelona as your backdrop.
Running can be a social activity, but it can also provide an opportunity to spend some time with yourself and your thoughts, conditioning your heart and lungs and relieving stress while also developing an increased self-awareness. If you’re going it alone, take advantage of the city’s many running routes and diverse scenery to push your limits and realise your goals. A word of caution, though: balance is key to making your health kick sustainable. Hitting it hard for the first month and then giving up from sheer exhaustion won’t do you much good. Instead, try making gradual changes to your diet and fitness routine, and remember to allow for rest days. This will make running far more enjoyable and your routine easier to stick to in the long term.
Buddy up
As well as improving fitness, running can be a way to meet like-minded people and the city has a number of clubs to join if you’re looking for workout buddies.
RunBCN has more than 100 members of all ages and fitness levels, who meet three times a week to run together. Whether you’re looking to discover new running trails or you’re training for the Barcelona marathon, as long as you believe that running is meant to be enjoyed—which is the group’s philosophy—you’ll fit right in. Running routes cover various terrains, and differ in length and difficulty, so you can choose the session that best suits you. Sessions last between 60 and 90 minutes, and are always guided by a coach, who is there to map out the route and help improve your performance.
Formed in 2009 by a couple of computer geeks who wanted someone to run with, Barcelona Casual Runners is a Meetup group that runs every Tuesday and Thursday. Members gather at 8pm in front of the main gates of Parc de la Ciutadella and run between nine and 11 kilometres each night—although there’s no pressure to finish the whole route. Chatting is an integral part of their workouts, and some members even head out for a beer afterwards to rehydrate and continue socialising.
Moon Runners, another Meetup group, puts a quirky twist on running. They gather once a month, at 10pm, for a full moon run. There are no lights allowed, no GPS, no phones, no music. Just you, your running shoes and your five senses. As their mantra says: ‘Night is our territory, Moon is our guide, Our battle cry: aauu!’
Running routes
Parc de la Ciutadella. 2km
The city’s urban green lung, Parc de la Ciutadella, offers a flat two-kilometre loop, perfect for beginners. Sights en route include Castell dels Tres Dragons, a castle-shaped building crowned with battlements that later housed the Museum of Zoology; the Hivernacle, or ‘winter garden’; the waterfall, designed by 19th-century architect Josep Fontserè; a mammoth and a lake. Pick a place to start and off you go!
Beachfront. 6.5km
You don’t have to worry about getting lost on this run. Starting at the W Barcelona, follow the shore until you reach Parc del Fòrum. The route is mostly flat, and this time of year you’ll avoid the pedestrians and rickshaws that dominate this path in high season.
For more inspiration, check our article Wheels in Motion—many of the featured cycling routes are also ideal for running.
Get kitted out
When you start to get serious about running, it’s worth investing in the essentials of the sport—a pair of trainers that suit your feet and running style, decent leggings and a windbreaker that will keep you warm in the January cold but is breathable and not too bulky. Asics (Diagonal 543) specialises in running shoes and activewear. At its flagship store, you can have a proper gait analysis done to ensure you buy the right trainers to suit your running style. While you run on a treadmill in the shop, a sales associate will check your stride and assess your weight distribution so he or she can advise you on the perfect shoe to best support you. Bikila (Pg. de Pujades 7) also has knowledgeable staff and a good selection of top running brands, from Saucony, Adidas and Nike to K-Swiss and Brooks. And Intemperie (Villarroel 184) is a haven for all outdoor activities. Alongside essential footwear and clothing for running and hiking, the shop also has a useful library with guides and maps of various routes.
READY, STEADY...GO!
Need some motivation? Barcelona has a busy annual calendar of road races that will give you something to aim towards.
January 14th. Mitja i 7è Quart de Marató de Sitges
The 35th edition of the Sitges half marathon and the seventh annual quarter marathon are the first events to kick off the New Year, just a short train ride away from Barcelona. The runs make a great day out, taking in scenic views along the coast. mitjasitges.cat
January 21st. Cursa Moritz Sant Antoni
This 10-kilometre run takes place during Sant Antoni’s annual festa major, starting and ending along Floridablanca, between Viladomat and Calàbria. The route winds its way around the neighbourhood, and then up to Plaça de Catalunya and back. cursasantantoni.cat
February 11th. Mitja Marató de Barcelona
Sponsored by eDreams, the Barcelona half marathon starts and finishes on Passeig de Pujades, alongside Parc de la Ciutadella, and involves a large loop that runs along Gran Via and back by the seafront, from Paral•lel all the way to the Fòrum. Register by February 5th. edreamsmitjabarcelona.com
March 11th. Zurich Marató de Barcelona
This year marks the 40th edition of Europe’s fourth most popular marathon. It follows an urban circuit that takes you by many of the city’s most emblematic buildings and provides beach views along the seafront. A day to be enjoyed by runners and supporters alike, with live music and street food dotting the route, and thousands on the sidelines cheering on the runners. Registration closes on March 5th. zurichmaratobarcelona.es
April 1st (TBC). Cursa El Corte Inglés
Also in its 40th year, Europe’s biggest fun run attracts over 60,000 participants and registration is free. If you’re not quite fit for a marathon, this is a good alternative, as it is one for all the family—young, old, fast, slow, fancy dress, celebrities and even pets. The highlight is the opportunity to run a lap of honour in the Olympic stadium as part of the 10.76-kilometre route. cursaelcorteingles.cat
April 22nd. Cursa dels Bombers de Barcelona
Founded by the city’s firefighters, some 15,000 participants are expected to turn out for the 20th edition of this race, which starts and ends along Avinguda del Marquès de l’Argentera and roughly skirts the Ciutat Vella district. This year they are hoping to break the record for the number of uniformed firefighters taking part. cursadebombers.barcelona
May 20th. Ironman Barcelona
Not for the faint-hearted, this triathlon takes place in Calella on the Maresme coast. It starts with a 3.8-kilometre swim in the Mediterranean, followed by a flat and fast 180-kilometre bike ride, and finishes with a 42.2-kilometre run along the seafront. eu.ironman.com
September 27th (TBC). Cursa DiR Guàrdia Urbana
The Guàrdia Urbana’s answer to the Cursa dels Bombers, you can’t get lost on this one, which runs the length of Diagonal. Starting at Palau Reial de Pedralbes, it’s all downhill from there, as runners head 10 kilometres towards the Med. You can opt for the shorter, five-kilometre route if preferred. cursadiagonal.dir.cat
October 7th. Barcelona Triathlon
The city’s triathlon event attracts around 6,000 athletes and starts on the Platja de la Nova Mar Bella. You can enter as an individual, couple or team and choose from three different distances: Supersprint (12.85km), Sprint (25.75km) and Olympic (51.5km). barcelona-triathlon.com
October 16th (TBC). Cursa de la Mercè
Part of the annual city-wide festival of La Mercè, this 10-kilometre run starts and ends in Plaça d’Espanya, passing through the Eixample to Parc de la Ciutadella. There is a two-kilometre option available for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility. lameva.barcelona.cat/cursamerce
November 24th (TBC). Barcelona Trail Races
A large loop of the Parc Natural de Collserola—the world’s largest metropolitan park—this 75-kilometre mountain trail starts and ends at the Velòdrom d’Horta. bcntrailraces.com
November 25th. Cursa 10k Jean Bouin
The Jean Bouin annual 10k has been a fixture on the Barcelona sporting calendar since 1920. It starts and ends near the Magic Fountain, following Avinguda de Paral•lel and Passeig de Colom and returning along Gran Via. A five-kilometre route is also available. jeanbouin.mundodeportivo.com
December 31st. Cursa dels Nassos
This 10-kilometre run is a memorable (and healthy) way to start your New Year’s celebrations. Starting and finishing just outside Selva de Mar metro station, the route takes you along the beachfront, past Parc de la Ciutadella, and returns via Diagonal. cursadenassos.barcelona
Other runs
5k Colour Run
Sponsored by Skittles, this is a playful run starting and ending in Parc del Fòrum and suitable for all ages and levels. Be prepared to get messy as you run through the different zones, getting covered with colours as you go.
15k Midnight trail run
A night-time, mountainous trail run starting and ending at Tibidabo.
7.8k Carrera de la Mujer
Dress in pink for this female-focused race, which aims to raise breast cancer awareness. Barcelona is one of eight participating cities in Spain.