Hours are turning into days and days are turning into weeks. Next thing you know, the month has melted away with flavours of frustration, anxiety, boredom, confusion, loneliness, and anger. It can feel endless, and we have no idea when things might start to go back to ‘normal’.

As an athlete, the one thing you know that has always brought you clarity is running, but where do you go? With the world closing in on you, and an information overload of exercise do’s and don’ts, it can feel like you’re caught between a rock and a hard place.

You’re not alone in this, but here are a few tips on how I’ve rediscovered some gems right in my own backyard.

Find nearby bike routes
Most bike routes in the city offer wider streets and link many different neighbourhoods. Each neighbourhood has its own personality and it’s a great way to float in and out of “old” Vancouver and “new” Vancouver. Keep in mind that you’re sharing the path with cyclists!

Vancouver Bike Route Map
Burnaby Bike Route Map

Get out of your routine
We all have our favourite 5km or 10km loop from our home, and you can probably run it blind-folded (but don’t, for obvious reasons). Throw a little adventure into your heart and turn down a different street, let yourself get a little lost, and you may find a park in the neighbourhood or character homes with interesting features. Make up a story on who might live there or get creative and think about what you’d do if you lived there.

I often run the route that follows the skytrain line, but recently I’ve ventured a little further and found some beautiful green spaces and farmland that I didn’t know about until now.

Ask a nearby friend
You probably have a friend or two that live nearby. Why not ask them where they like to run? Or what the favourite things they’ve seen on their run are? Or, how about challenging each other to create a different route for each other?

Ask a not-nearby friend
It’s great to get a perspective of someone who’s not from your area where they would or have run when in your ‘hood. Someone who doesn’t see your streets day-in and day-out can give you some fresh eyes.

Have fun
Think about how you can engage your run community and invite them to join you on an exploration challenge. It could be as simple as taking a photo of an undiscovered nearby park they’ve not seen, or a tree that’s NOT a cherry blossom, or 5 different character home fronts. Whatever it is, keep it light and fun - we’re all going to get through this together.