by InTrieste
Running in Trieste is extremely rewarding, can be tough and is surely never dull! For Triestini, being a runner is almost like joining a secret club. Now we are not talking about the Sunday-in-the-park runners, but rather those who hit the pavement, uphills and downhills, a few times a week in search of the next to forgotten corner or wisteria soaked alley, while in training for their next race. Luckily this spring in Trieste is full of races to choose from.
April 21 : 10 km Mujalonga Run
A 10 km of flat fun in the neighboring Muggia town. Mujalonga is considered the first race of the pavement running season, a great way to test your speed running. More here: https://mujalongasulmar.com
May 5: Trieste Half Marathon
Is there anything better than having Costiera Road traffic free all to yourself (and a couple of hundred other runners) to run down from magnificent Duino Castle to breathtaking Piazza Unità? A downhill race all the way to Barcola beach, with the last 4 km of the race flat and thus tougher, making your finish in the grand piazza all the more rewarding. More here: https://triestespringrun.com
May 19: 10 km Corri Trieste Run
Another great race downtown Trieste. Now in its 20th edition, it’s a flat race around Porto Vecchio and back. More here: https://promorun.it/corritrieste/
Remember, to take part in running races in Italy as a competitive runner, you must be in the possession of a medical certificate for atletica leggera and a running card (a club membership or a Runcard).
Where To Run
Barcola
There are a few steadfast routes you can run on your own while in Trieste and they vary from street to super green park runs. A 5 km run through Barcola beach in spring time will take you through Trieste’s arguably most beautiful paths. However, beware of the early spring tanners and bikers. For the best 10 km running experience, start around 7 am from Piazza Unità, run to Miramare castle and back.
Bike path Cottur
If you are looking for a challenging yet beautiful run, look no further than bike path Cottur. It starts (with slight uphill) in San Giacomo neighborhood and goes all the way to Slovenia. A great place to train for your half marathon races.
Passeggio St Andrea
On a 10 km loop through this beautiful park you will find yourself running alongside a formerly famous cinema Ariston and various cafes. This park is just a stones toss from Sacchetta where you can continue your run along the beautiful Rive. This park is great for practicing drills and there various uphills and downhills. For the best running experience go early in the morning or late in the evening.
Napoleonica
Perfect for views, trail running and race preparation. Napolenica, above Trieste, is loved by local runners. The trail of about 3.5 km offers you the possibility to train for short distance races, all the while enjoying breathtaking views of Trieste.
Parco Farnetto
A beautiful park, with a 1 km look. Great for trail running race preparations, as well as short distances.
Parco di Villa Giulia
Great for short distance running (1 km loop training), a centrally located park (in Via Giulia, 2) perfect for easy runs or jogs.
There’s a symbiotic relationship between cars and runners in Trieste. Because of the occasional unreliability of sidewalks, due to parked cars, tree roots or other obstructions, runners make use of the road. This can be difficult for first-time Trieste runners but once acclimated, you become comfortable with both running alongside and against cars and even crossing the road. In return for sharing the space, runners remind the automated world of driving etiquette – crosswalks, stop signs and stop lights!
When all is said and done, seeing Trieste on foot is the best and only way to experience the city. The sights, smells, and sounds of this living urban epicenter are caught in all their enigmatic brilliance. You can run past the Piazza Unità, through a political demonstration in Piazza Oberdan, over a centuries-old bridge in Ponterosso and grab a coffee with a new-found running friend all before sunrise.
What are you waiting for? Go lace up!
