Running Melbourne

Melbourne, Australia is the second most livable city in the world following Vancouver, Canada according a 2011 survey of The Economist. Lucky for family members who now live or will live in this second biggest city Down Under. Hoping to be a city regular henceforth, I tried exploring some of its running places during a recent visit. My starting point was the iconic Flinders Station, at one time the busiest railway station in the world.

During my first visit to Melbourne in 2002, I rode the City Circle train to be familiar with the landmarks of the city center or Central Business District. I reckoned, why not run the same route this time around? Of course I could have chosen to run in Melbourne's beaches and hills, of which there are aplenty. But why not try something different? And so I did and found the complete City Circle route to be a little over 6K.

Along the way, there were at least three parks where one could do some decent running, using trails within and along the parks' perimeter. But serious park runners should consider running the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne or RBG Melbourne, one of the best in the world. Providing a backdrop to the 36-hectare run setting will be physical specimens of over 50,000 plants and 10,000 species from around the globe. That's almost unbeatable!

And a Melbourne Run wouldn't be complete without running along the banks of the Yarra River. The river itself has been a favorite destination or meeting point of travelers both in olden times as today. Riverboat tours operate several times daily. A riverbank run will afford majestic views of Melbourne's skyline and a glimpse into the lives of the city's rich and famous as they wine and dine in high-end riverfront cafes and restaurants.

After your run, a good place to rest and relax is Federation Square. Also known as Fed Square, this modern day plaza boasts of world-class cultural events and year-round tourist attractions aside from hosting a diverse array of restos, bars, and specialty shops. The clown performing when I arrived even spotted me and invited me to come and join him play. Of course, I ran away!

This City Circle/Yarra Riverbank running route that I took spanned around 15K. It will be interrupted by numerous street crossings and stops to get a closer view of the city's landmarks. The running distance is adjustable and can be tailored accordingly. Just run longer and farther along on one or both sides or ends of the Yarra and/or mix this run with one done inside the RBG Melbourne. But picturesque RBG Melbourne deserves to be run separately.

But if one is keen in participating in formal races, the city has lots to offer year-round.  Just a few weeks ago, for example, a half-marathon and a 10K event was held in the city- Run Melbourne, sponsored by The Age, one of the city's main dailies. On October 9, the Bank of Melbourne will host the Melbourne Marathon Festival, with distances of 42K, 21K, 10K, 5K, and 3K. Along with the Great Ocean Road Marathon, the Melbourne 42K is on my list of marathons must-run in Victoria, Australia someday.