We were in Cologne for the Christmas markets but of course , my running gear was the first thing I packed. Our hotel was ideally situated on the edge of the, over 200 hectare, Stadwald city forest which provided ample space for running.
And, so it proved with a number of runners out each morning. Stadwald, of course is not the only place to run in Cologne. There are several kilometres of footpaths that follow the Rhine, both to the north and south of the city, along both banks of the river and linked by numerous bridges.
Cologne has quite an extensive greenbelt providing plentiful choice of running routes and the city itself is compact and sightseeing routes can be ran, as long as you don’t mind dodging traffic and commuters.
If you are looking for a race, the best known race in the area is the Köln marathon. However, there is an extensive race Calendar for the area. Details can be found at www.myraceland.com
For those into their Parkrun’s there are two held in Cologne. One at the Rheinpark and the other at Aachener Weiher.
For those interested in history then the Deutsches Sport and Olympia museum is worth a visit.
By the way, the Christmas Markets were also very enjoyable.
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