Trail Running in the City

A while ago when I was shopping for trail shoes, the salesperson asked me where I did my trail running.  I replied that I did a few organised events, otherwise most of my off-road running was around town.  I don't think he really believed me, but it is true!  Even though I live in the centre of a city of 1.5 million people there are plenty of areas to run off pavement.  You just need to know where to go.

I managed to run 9.5km today (thank you ITB!) and a lot of that was off-road.  After a couple of k's of pavement and grass verges, I ducked down some steep steps into Jagger's Bush:

 My spirits instantly soar as soon as I hit this little oasis - it is short, but sweet!

I emerged at the sports field, ran around the crunchy gravel track, then crossed Meola Road into more bush - this time alongside the water's edge and a tangle of mangroves:

I introduced my immaculate white Wave Riders to some lovely mud, then it was out onto some open grass with a track - obviously somebody else runs this route!

At the tip of this peninsula Meola Reef runs right out into the harbour - it is actually an old lava flow and you can walk all the way out there when the tide is low:

Not today though - instead I continued around the peninsula and returned home via Western Springs park.  No pics from there today though, so that can be another story!

So many city parks are linked by great running routes, allowing you to reduce the amount of pavement you pound.  I keep discovering more and more of this secret network as my distances increase and I venture further.  I thought I knew Auckland well - until I started running!

If you have a choice, which route do you prefer to take - the trail or the pavement?