Running through Dublin

One of the best ways to get to know a strange city is to run its streets.

That used to mean mapping your own route or asking the hotel desk clerk for a recommendation. And that often meant stopping to figure out where you were at some point along the way or making a wrong turn.

Now, in Dublin and a growing number of cities around the world, businesses are springing up that offer guided running tours. A local runner takes you or a group on a jog through the city. It’s not only a great way to explore a new place but also to get some much-needed exercise while on a vacation.

In Dublin, I joined Sight Jogging Dublin for a 90-minute run. I had been to Dublin a few times, but the waterfront tour took me to new places. Among the highlights: Running along a stretch of the Grand Canal, which snakes through the city to the Liffey River. Stopping by the studio where the rock band U2 records; an impressive wall of fan graffiti there makes for a great read; and passing by the Jeanie Johnson, a replica of one of the ships that carried millions of the Irish to America during the 19th century famine.

The run was leisurely and we logged about 8 km. It was a great way to start the day and offered an insider’s guide to Dublin. If you’re off to Dublin and looking for a fun run, check out Sight Jogging Dublin.