Jogging in Paris?
 

Okay, this is a bit of an odd question, but are there any places in central Paris where my sister would be able to go running without looking really odd or getting hit by a taxi or something? She is on her high school track team and thinks she will not do well in her next meet if she doesn't run for the whole week while we're in Paris....We're staying in the 4e, but can of course take the metro somewhere else if need be.

When we were in Paris several years ago, we stayed in the 6e, not too far from the Seine. I had several glorious mornings running from the hotel to Ile de la Cite, and around Notre Dame (I think I ran at about 7 am). I only did about 2 miles, and made quite a few picture stops, but it was wonderful to be in front of Notre Dame at that hour; a streetcleaner was the only other person on the square.

I felt safe running anywhere in that neighborhood; as I recall, I ran for a bit along the Seine, but can't remember on which bank or for what distance.

I did feel a bit odd, convinced everyone who saw me was thinking I was a crazy American, but I did pass some Americans and even some Parisiens (based solely on their running atire) also running. At that time of day, there weren't many cars out, and on the Iles, at least, there weren't so many street crossings.

I've been told the Luxembourg Gardens are great for running.

The Luxembourg Gardens are quite a long way from the 4e, but I have seen many joggers there in the mornings. There are métro stations nearby. Boots

I'm not a jogger, but some visitors who are used a strip park in the median of Boulevard Richard Lenoir, heading north from Place de la Bastille. Your sister would be running on pavement, sidewalk, a good bit of the way, I believe, since there are "stops" here and there in the park itself, but she would be out of the traffic, and it's lovely. Farther north, Richard Lenoir turns into Jules Ferry, and you are on the quays of the Canal St. Martin with its charming footbridges and locks. Great to visit but the quays are cobblestone, so not so good for running. But a wonderful place to cool down.

That's park pavement I was referring to, not city sidewalk.

How far does she run? I've jogged around the Luxembourg Gardens and while it was lovely, if you're out for distance it can get monotonous. Another nice morning jog is in the Champ de Mars, leading up to the Eiffel Tower. Many joggers go there.

I agree that a jog along the Seine might be nice, not to mention it's paved.

Make sure she says "bon jour" as she passes fellow runners!

From the 4th, I would think the nearest would be through the Tuileries. If you or your sister would like to practice your French you might find the Mairie website interesting on sporting facilities:
http://www.paris.fr/fr/sport/equipem...fs/default.ASP

It looks as though a monthly pass of 3Euro gives individual access to athletics stadiums in a range of the outer arrondissements, but whether that's limited to permanent residents of the city isn't clear.

The Jardin des Plantes is a much better venue for jogging. Central, larger, and much more likely to have other joggers. Not monotonous at all. In fact quite lovely with great views.

My daughter in law ran in the Tuleries. She started alone, but was shortly joined by three good looking young male Parisiens. It's not just strange Americans who jog.

Close to the 4e is the Ile Saint-Louis. I think that would be a good place -- jog around the island a few times. It will be beautiful.

My sister and I were staying on Ile Saint Louis. We would run from our apartment, along the Seine for a while, towards and through the Jardin de Plantes and back. It wasn't a great distance, but it was pretty and we certainly weren't the only exercisers.

Wow, I didn't think I'd get this many responses to my wacky question. Thank you all so much, my sister will be very happy to learn that there are so many good places to run and that she won't even be the one running!

There were alot of joggers in Parc Montsouris.