Article and photos by Heather Marr
NOTE: Thanks Heather! What a great place to run. I hope I get to try it sometime. See Heather's other great route for San Francisco at San Francisco Marina Green to Fort Point Out-and-Back
For more running routes, see the Route List!
Having relocated from San Francisco, California, and jogged hundreds of miles in the cool, hilly, green Bay Area, I found running in Montevideo to be quite a change. For one thing, there aren’t many green parks here, and they tend to be on the small side. Also, sidewalks on city streets—while decently maintained and quite wide—often contain potholes, loose tiles, or dog poop (sometimes all at the same time). Thankfully, the city is blessed with a lovely beachfront promenade that is around 13 miles long, connecting Ciudad Vieja and Centro (downtown) with several beach neighborhoods.
You can hop on to the Rambla anywhere and have a good run. If you like people-watching and don’t mind weaving in and out among walkers, bicyclists, toddlers on trikes, and groups of people just hanging out and taking mate (the Uruguayan beverage of choice—some people drink multiple liters of it each day), run on a warm day anytime from around 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. If, like me, you prefer less crowding and cooler temperatures, go in the early morning or really late at night. Except for Ciudad Vieja, most of the Rambla is safe and well lit around the clock. In general, the whole city is mostly flat, so if you love hill training, you’re out of luck. The strong winds on the coast will give you some good resistance, though.
This run is an easy out-and-back starting in the neighborhood Pocitos.
Montevideo Rambla Out-and-Back Route
Get your bearings in Plaza Gomensoro. (If you have small kids, you have to take a look at the typical Uruguayan wooden swings there, usually somewhat rickety, perched directly over concrete. That’ll teach those kids not to fall!) Take a deep breath, and sprint through the traffic on the often-busy highway that runs parallel to the promenade. Pedestrians don’t have the right of way in Uruguay.
Plaza Gomensoro |
Pocitos Beach |
Punta Trouville |
Che: hey where's the beard, Che? |
Castillo Pittamiglio |
Next is another upscale restaurant, El Vieja y el Mar (The Old Lady and the Sea), with its little outdoor cabanas that seem perfect for a romantic meal.
El Vieja y el Mar |
Pescaderia on the beach |
Rounding the bend, finally less headwind! |
Keep going until you reach the stone plaque for the Memorial del Holocausto del Pueblo Judio on your left. If you don’t mind stopping for a few minutes, you can walk toward the water and visit the memorial (definitely worth a return trip, if you want to keep moving for now).
Turn around and head back to Playa Pocitos, for a 5.8 km (3.62 mile) run. Hit the sand and jog the length of the beach and back to add on almost another mile and a half. Or just go for a swim.
Yay, Uruguay!
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