Tweet03-02-2010 om 10:00 by Amanda Potter

I must be some kind of fool, but just before Christmas I decided it was time to take up a running regimen to keep those extra holiday pounds down and get me out of the house. Armed with the Couch to 5K interval running program, I’ve been out pounding the sidewalks in and out of the residential spaces of Maastricht. This region is fun to run in. Here’s why I think so.



1) Compact Towns
None of the towns in Limburg are sprawling and in a thirty minute jog it would be cake to get outside of Maastricht city proper and into the countryside. As my runs take me further (because my running intervals will increase), it will be like rewarding myself for a job well done to see the buildings give way to green spaces, farms, and (in my case) the Belgian border.

2) Runner-Friendly Roads
Besides having sidewalks everywhere, there are many well maintained walking and hiking paths in and outside of Maastricht. Drivers in the Netherlands are generally more conscientious of pedestrians as well, making for a safer run than one in a US suburb. You’ll still want to keep an eye out for those swift and silent bikes.

3) Hilly, but Not Too Hilly
Vermonters will scoff at me, but Limburg has just the right amount of rolling hills to add a bit of variety to my runs without wearing me out too fast. Depending on my mood I can run uphill, downhill, or even switchbacks through the side streets to mix up my routine.

4) Green Spaces and Ruins
Finally, I’ve made being able to run in the Stadspark an early goal of mine. I’m just far enough away by foot and a bit uphill, that I’ll need to work for it. Like Maastricht, many places in Limburg have large and small green spaces or old fort ruins that make good running areas. Just be aware of your surroundings for safety sake.



And one thing I don’t like…
In the winter no one shovels in front of their apartment buildings. My routine was effectively reset to Day 1 after New Years as I waited for the snow to clear enough to be safe.

All in all though, Maastricht and its surrounding areas are very runner friendly. Perhaps by summer I’ll be ready to participate in one of the several races in the region.

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