Run Like a Local – Even When You’re Far From Home

One of the best things about running is that you can do it almost anywhere. But when you’re somewhere unfamiliar, finding a great route can be a bit of a lottery. My solution? Run like a local – even when you’re not one!

I recently found myself in the beautiful Chiltern Hills, and rather than simply following a route on my phone, I did a little planning first.

Here are my top tips.

1. Look beyond the obvious.
The best running routes aren’t always the ones that appear first online. Look for bridleways, footpaths, commons, woods and quiet lanes. A map gives you the bigger picture and helps you join the interesting bits together.

2. Plan your route before you run.
I like to know roughly where I’m going, where the hills are and what I might see along the way. It means I can spend more time enjoying the run and less time stopping to stare at my phone.

3. Take the map with you.
For me, this is where my SplashMap comes into its own. It’s light, weatherproof and doesn’t need a battery. I can quickly check where I am, see alternative paths and make decisions as I go.

4. Be inspired by your surroundings.
My starting point for this Chiltern Hills run was actually an old SplashMaps shower curtain belonging to my mum – a rather unusual piece of kit from a now-discontinued SplashMaps product! Seeing the map every day got me thinking: I really ought to run here.

So I did.

And the result? A fantastic run through some beautiful countryside, with a route I’d planned myself rather than simply following the crowd.

The best bit is that, with a SplashMap in my pocket and a little planning beforehand, I reckon I was running better than the locals!

Watch the film, get your map out, and start planning your next adventure – whether it’s on your doorstep or somewhere completely new.