Austin makes list of best trail running cities in the world

Joe Prusaitis runs through the pines on a ranch east of Austin. Pam LeBlanc photo

Like trail running? Welcome to Austin.

This week our city made it to Map My Run’s list of “Best Cities in the World for Trail Running.”

Also making the list were Flagstaff, Arizona; Whistler, British Columbia; Boulder, Colorado; Washington, D.C.; Salt Lake City; Santa Fe; Seoul, South Korea; Queenstown, New Zealand; and the Via Valais through the Swiss Alps.

That’s some pretty hefty company, especially considering the 140-mile Via Valais (which isn’t a city at all, by the way) was designed by runners, for runners and cuts through gorgeous mountain terrain.

I’ve run through Chautauqua Park in Boulder, which made my quads burn in a very happy way, and have heard the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail in DC makes for good running all the way to Pennsylvania.

Joe Prusaitis started a series of trail running races around Austin. Pam LeBlanc photo

Here’s what the company had to say about Austin:

“With more than 20,000 acres of parks inside city limits, there’s plenty of space to run in Austin, even with the booming population. Barton Creek Greenbelt is always a favorite — it starts at Zilker Park and provides a 15-mile round-trip route. The path that runs alongside downtown’s Colorado River is easily accessible and provides views of the water, though it can get crowded. And Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park in north Austin offers an extensive trail system allowing for many different distances, with paths ranging from smooth to technical.”

Nice, and it doesn’t even mention the stuff just outside of town like Bluff Creek Ranch and Rocky Hill Ranch.

Look for my story about trail running in the September edition of Bluebonnet Electric Co-op’s magazine.