Running 2022 Highlights: Running 2022 was a good year, if not great. The good included incredibly beautiful runs through 31cities in 10 countries. But Brussels knocked me off my only running goal for the year.
2022 was our best year for travel yet. Six months and eleven countries on The French Trip, The Swiss Trip, Our Second Favorite Place, and The British Trip. The people, the stays, and the sights were phenomenal. And oh yes, local food and wine! Running helps me keep that in balance.
Bitter about Brussels
I had hoped to run 52 Cities in 52 Weeks again this year; but it was not to be. Less than two weeks into our travels, we arrived in Brussels, Belgium. On May 5th, early in the morning, I set out to runsee the city. Within a half-mile I felt the dreaded “twang” in my left calf, the one I’d torn a tendon in a few years before. I stumbled, tried to keep running, and could not. I limped the next 4 miles, stubbornly determined to see the sights along my planned route. That injury hobbled me for the rest of the summer, and I missed many of my planned city runs.
OK, I’ll quit whining now and get on to the good stuff. Despite Brussels, it was great.
Running 2022 Highs
There were three big high-points of the year. First, Luxembourg, the best city run of the year. With a deep river gorge splitting the city in two, it was hilly but with views out of a fairy tale. Stunning. This city is not on most people’s travel radar, but it should be.
Second, we were featured in a Great Runs story this summer! Great Runs has been great for finding routes in each new city. They constantly add new content and interesting posts that keep me adding “want to go” locations to our bucket list. Check them out!
Finally, Conwy Mountain, in North Wales, was the best trail run. I had only a rough idea of the path, got lost, and climbed the hillside through scratchy gorse. Atop, I found beautiful sea views over the harbor, and the mountain covered in purple heather. I caught the elusive runner’s high over the top and all the way down the mountain. Incredible!
And the Rest
There were so many wonderful photos, here are some of my favorite Running 2022 pics.
Parc de la Tête d’Or (Park of the Golden Head)
The heart of Burgundy wine country
Joan of Arc led King Charles VII to coronation
Parc Kinnekswiss in May bloom
Da Vinci lived his final days here
Near the Dordogne River, the best Pate.
Miroir d’eau reflecting Basilique Saint-Michel
South of Biarritz, the quieter Basque French shore
Rec del Solà Trail above the city.
The hidden Musée du Pavillon de Vendôme
Summer fun on the Lake Annecy boardwalk
Century-old steamship on Lake Geneva
Fish leaping above the Rhine
View from the Spanish Fortress
Still our second favorite place
The Magnificent Tower Bridge
Early morning reflections in the Cam River
Home of the five-toed Chickens
Golden sandstone architecture
Locks to protect the harbor
River harbor at the edge of all
Running with John, Paul, George and Ringo
Solomon’s Temple, a Victorian folly
A green and pleasant land indeed.
Old tow Paths below the University
Got in a bit of a row
Cathedral over River Wear
Where Constantine became Roman Emperor
Where the Industrial Revolution was born
New Phoenix Park on the River Liffey
My goal for 2023, again, is another 52 Cities in 52 weeks. First stop – Christchurch New Zealand. Happy New Year all!
More Running Bytes from Around the World
The Zagreb Rerun
We had time for a quick Zagreb Rerun this year. Though short, it was a nostalgic stop, like visiting an old friend.
The Budapest Run
The Budapest run covered a millennium, from Magyars on invading on horseback to the 1956 revolt against the Soviets. What a city! What a run!
The Krakow Planty Run
I anticipated this for months: The Krakow Planty Run, through the park that rings Krakow’s old town. Thank heavens for “Planty” of shade!
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