My husband & I will be visiting Paris in August and staying at the Marriott Champs Elysees. He is a runner and is interested in interesting routes, if it is indeed acceptable to run down streets in Paris! (Or is running generally restricted to parks?) He runs about 8 miles. Does anyone have interesting routes or suggestions?

I doubt any serious runner would enjoy running the streets of Paris - too much congestion - although one does see the odd jogger here and there. Better to head to the parks - the Bois de Boulogne, for example, has miles of paths to run on. The Parc Monceau is a favorite venue for Parisian runners. Even the Champs de Mars would do. You can get to any number of parks easily on the métro - I'd suggest he do that rather than risk getting bludgeoned by a taxi Parisien or a late-to-work scooter madman on the streets of Paris.

Kathy, if you do a search I think there were two threads on this subject earlier this year. <BR> <BR>If your husband gets up at the crack of dawn to run, then running thru the streets of Paris is not bad. He could run down the Champs Elysee and do part of the Paris marathon route, a fairly straight shot all the way down to the Bois de Vincennes.

I suggested before on a similar thread--check the web site for the Paris branch of the Hash House Harriers--they may have a run going he could join; if not, the members will be able to give you some great route suggestions, especially interesting off-the-beaten-path routes. <BR>BTilke

Kathy, I was a runner myself until I moved to Paris. It is impossible to run unless you are in a park or running very early in the morning. However,on Sundays during the summer the road that runs along the Seine between Pont d'Alma and Bercy is open to pedestrian traffic only. You will find rollberbladers, cyclists, runners and walkers. It is wonderful. I would highly recommend it. Ask the concierge at you hotel about it as you will not be far from the Pont d'Alma.

I don't know how serious a runner he is.. I am a moderate jogger and cover about 5 miles per day.. or 30-45 minutes of running. I always stay next to the Luxembourg Gardens so that I can take a nice morning run through them. Lots of other joggers going through and the flowers in spring are wonderful! I do have to go round the park a few times to get my miles in, but at least its safe and scenic.

Hi K - both the Luxembourg Gardens and Parc Monceau (8e) would be good destinations for a 10km run. <BR> <BR>My favorite place for a jog - a running track with a view - is 'round and 'round the Ile St.-Louis . . . <BR> <BR>Have a great trip (you should hit the street markets during his early run)! <BR>= )

Thanks to all of you for the advice! A couple of follow-up questions -- Does anyone know where we could find out more about the Paris Marathon route? Also, I couldn't find a website for the Paris Branch of the Hash House Harriers--the "global" link from the New York Website doesn't work. (Although from what I'm reading on the New York Website, I'm not sure how good of an idea the "Hash House Harriers" are!) Thanks again to everyone!

Kathy: <BR> <BR>Very easy (speaking about the Paris marathon only): <BR> <BR>www.parismarathon.com

Not knowing what Hash House Harriers is/are, I did a seach with www.google.com <BR> <BR>Type in "Paris Hash House Harriers" and you will find the a website. I am not good in typing these urls, so I better don't. But you will find it there. <BR>PS: And the for the marathon, there is also an English version (search the field to click).