Discussion: fun places to run in Boston and Minneapolis?

I'm coming over to Boston next week for a conference and hoping to be able to skip some conference sessions and get some training done whilst i'm out there. Can anyone suggest some good places to run?! I'm staying out near the convention centre.
Then the week after I'm flying straight to Minneapolis for a second conference so looking for good places to run there too. I have the whole of a sunday free if anyone has suggestions of something good to do?!

thanks!

There is a national-level orienteering event this weekend, on October 8-9, in southern New Hampshire to which it wouldn't be difficult to find a ride.

The Middlesex Fells are accessible via public transportation and have both a pleasant set of trails - the Skyline Trail in particular is an excellent run, and can be accessed readily from several locations in the park. CSU has a map of Middlesex Fells, and we could send you a map from past events if you were interested in running courses.

Will you have a hire car? The Blue Hills Reservation is also a nice place to run, though less accessible by public transportation. There also exists an orienteering map of the Blue Hills, by the club NEOC.

There are a number of smaller maps in the region as well if you're looking for something closer to the conference site. Where is the convention centre?

Charles River circuit for cityscapes in Boston taking in Harvard and MIT.
Convention center is located in Seaport area with access from Silver Line or walk to South Station.

thanks guys!
I don't land until afternoon on the 8th and unfortunately have a workshop all day sunday so won't be able to make the o event. I'll check out the programme and see if I can fit in a day off to explore oen of the parks, they look great :)

Hey Rach! It's a shame you can't make it to the races, I'm seeing Pip this weekend in Canada along with AliC. Someone like Ian can probably send you the courses from last year's middle races at the Fells if you fancied O rather than just running. We did a trail race in the Blue Hills too and that route was seriously tough but with some great views of Boston. Hope you have fun!

Rachael, what days will you be in Mpls? Are you staying downtown?

I could send you a map of the BLue Hills race route, and could pick you up if you need a ride. I run there at least once a week.
The running along the Charles is flat and paved, but very entertaining, with lots of others to see, and you can run for a long way.
http://www.soundkeepers.com/running/boston.html

> Becks, that sounds fun! Where in Canada are you going?

> Linear Ice, I land in Mpls late afternoon on saturday 15th october, leave evening on wednesday 19th and am staying downtown near the convention centre. All I have heard so far is that it will be cold!!

>coach, that would be great if I could get a ride to blue hills with you! what time of day do you normally go? I'll check out my conference schedule...

thanks everyone for the tips!

Hey Racheal, Mpls has some brilliant places to run and I don't think it be too cold (it's 84F here right now, but I can't promise that when you come).

Take Linear Ice (Erin) up on her advice or offer to host if and when she posts, she's great.

If she does not post, then don't fret, you're in for a treat regardless. The most popular route, and deservedly so, is to run the chain of lakes. Harriet, Calhoun and Isles are all connected and each have their own personality. My personal favorite is Harriet, but the most iconic is Calhoun, with it's excellent views of downtown.

If you're looking to do trail running only, then let us know. The lakes are urban paved trails, but there are great trail runs to be had!

Thanks for the compliment, FS!

The chain of lakes that FoxShadow mentioned definitely come to mind... they are the "athlete's promenade" of the Twin Cities, beautiful and entertaining. Very Twin Cities and you'll catch the local flavor.

Or, maybe you want to come to the other side of the Twin Cities, past St. Paul, and I'll run with you in Afton State Park.You'll get a good idea of our nature areas---prairie, river, woods, bluffs..... all in one park. There's a permanent orienteering course there too.

I'd also be willing to come out your way and run at Fort Snelling the other Twin Cities State Park (I've been meaning to run there but haven't yet.) It's along the Mississippi River and probably flatter with a few more people, but closer to you.

For actual city running, you might check out these routes as ones close to your hotel.

If we end up having an orienteering training exercise during that time maybe you'd like to join.... but nothing's been scheduled yet.

So that's a start. Maybe others (on that side of town) have comments on these selections or other favorites to share.
Let us know if you want company... would be fun.

Company sounds great! I'm not fussed between orienteerting and running it will just be great to get out of the conference to do some exercise - running in/near cities is always the best tourist activity and I love going running in new exciting places :)

I have all sunday 16th free in Mpls, am in conference 8:30 - 6 monday, tuesday isn't looking that interesting so I can skive out anytime, wednesday I'm in conference 8:30 - 3 and fly at 21:50.

my email is r.elder (at) sheffield.ac.uk

For the Boston part it looks like I get a gap between 12:20 and 2 every day (mon - thurs) for lunchtime running and then finish at 17:20. Friday it finishes at 11:30 so I get the whole afternoon off + saturday morning (flying about 14:30)...

ps, what is a bluff?!

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bluff
definition 4

For sight-seeing running in Boston you could always run along the Freedom Trail. You'd hit all the big historic sights. You would probably not, however, be able to run very fast or continuously. Definitely more touristy than runnable.

Mon, 10/10, is the Tufts Women's 10k, but start is at noon. Goes from Boston Common across and along the river, then back. May be 6000+ entrants to either run along with or watch.

According to toddp's link, in MN (and MB) a bluff is the same as a copse.

I have entered the 10k! looks really fun plus good excuse to miss some conf sessions :)

Great - we'll look/cheer for you.

MNOC has a night adventure run (mass start orange course) at Tierney's woods ( see MNOC ) on the next 3 Thursday nights

A better link...
http://www.mnoc.org/schedule.shtml

Hi Rachael, for a trail run I'd suggest the one of the following: http://cfospruns.blogspot.com/2010/10/mississippi-.... You can take the Light Rail from downtown to Minnehaha Park and follow a number of trails from there. Some are paved, others are not. You can pick your poison. The last route at the link starts very close to the LRT station. I love it, even though you are in a 2.5 million metro area you hardly see a building, a car, a person. Enjoy your stay!

Blue Hills on Friday. Can pick you up. Sent you an email.

> coach, sounds good! I don't have an email from you could you try sending again please? thanks :)

Will try again, hope you don't have a Blackberry!!
If it fails, try me at my email listed on my log.

thanks to everyone who took me running and sent suggestions for fun runs, I had a great trip!

Soooo rachael.......we're on the edge of our seats. Where is running better? New England or the Midwest? :-)