My GF and I are spending eight nights in Rome in mid-May, which is wonderful, but also just a few weeks before my first half-Ironman triathlon. As a result, I need to get some running in while on vacation.

Does anyone have experience running/jogging in Rome? Any suggestions for safe routes? We're renting an apartment near the Piazza Farense. I usually run about 6 miles a day, but also need to get in one 10 mile run, ideally.

Hi Mari - Your best bet in Rome itself is Villa Borghese park, I think.

For a longer traffic-free run I suggest you get out of town.
My cousin regularly runs around the lake at Castel Gandolfo. Here's a view:
http://tinyurl.com/5rffyy

Hope this helps ...

Steve

My knee was wrecked so I was unable to run during our trip last month. However, I did look at the city with "a runner's eye". Here are some suggestions and comments:

1. As previous poster noted, the largest park in Rome is the Pincio Gardens, where the Villa Borghese is found. Note however that it is criss-crossed with roads, fences and other barriers. You'd do well to get a map and plan out your route in advance.

2. Once you get out of the immediate centre, there are lots of open spaces. This is especially true along the Tiber, where you sometimes have the option of running at water-level (on totally empty quays) or at street level -- your only interruption will be the occasional bridge.

3. If you were to run north along the Tiber (say, on the west/ Vatican side) you would have a pretty clear path to the Ponte Milvio, where you could cross and return by the eastern side. Not perfect but not bad either.

4. If you are not bored by doing laps, there's the Circo Massimo. It was a chariot race-course, after all!!

5. The high places always have the least traffic: eg the park atop the Gianicolo, the Aventino...

I know there have been other threads about this but can't find them now with a search.
A lot of people have recommended the Circus Maximus track (the circus is now a long oval-shapped grassy recreation area)
My guide book suggests the Villa Doria Pamphilj park in (on?) the Janiculum and the in addition to the Villa Borghese
There are a few suggested routes on this website
http://www.run.com/country.asp?loc=IT

Meant to say
My guide book suggests the Villa Doria Pamphilj park in (on?) the Janiculum and the Appian Way in addition to the Villa Borghese
The upper part of the Appian Way from Porta San Sebastiano to the catacombs is very narrow and has traffic except on Sundays, but beyond that is a park like area good for walking, biking

I'm not a runner, but a cyclist, so am often looking for routes in different cities. Here is a spot that's been helpful to me, but is actually for runners! You put in the city and it suggests routes, or you can map your own route. Give it a try... http://www.mapmyrun.com/

The quay at water level along the Tiber was not a very pleasant walking experience for us... obviously a homeless campsite and, since there are no public facilities down there, well.... ick.