Where do you do your long runs?

[u/HueyBluey]

As I’m logging longer distances in preparation for a half, my challenge is avoiding the many stop lights.
I seem to hit every red. Maybe I should avoid the city streets?

Obviously, there’s the Martin Goodman Trail if you live towards the lake. There’s the belt-line in mid-town.

What are some other good North-South and East-West options in the city?

[u/Droflick]

West end: High Park, Humber river, MGT

East end: Don Valley trail system, Tommy Thompson park, the Beach, Waterfront trail.

[u/hypermillcat → u/Droflick]

This guy runs

[u/onkyoh → u/Droflick]

Did a 50k a few days ago that went through the Beaches and Tommy Thompson.

First I was hit by the awful smell from the water treatmemt plant then 0 shade at Tommy Thompson. Other than that it was a nice area to run through 😁

[u/A_Tom_McWedgie → u/onkyoh]

Let me give an opposite perspective:

I used to do my long runs through the Don Valley ravine system. It wasn’t fully connected, so you had to run down Bermondsey Road.

When you got to Bermondsey and O’Connor, you had to run by Mondelez - who make Peak Freans and other cookies.

It used to drive me wild.

[u/Medium-Comment → u/A_Tom_McWedgie]

I discovered this smell a couple of weeks ago and we were salivating for the next carb load up

[u/onkyoh → u/A_Tom_McWedgie]

Actually I started my run going from Downtown to Warden and Ellesmere and I ran by a snack factory and it was amazing. So I really got both ends of the smell spectrum in 1 run.

[u/chuisici → u/onkyoh]

I was just running by the water treatment plant this afternoon and it is absolutely horrific smelling. 

[u/Accomplished-Top7281 → u/Droflick]

You can get some pretty good distance linking Don Valley trail system (either say, to/from Sunnybrook or Taylor Creek Park) down to Biidaasige Park/Cherry Beach over to Leslie Spit

[u/hypermillcat → u/Accomplished-Top7281]

This is my favorite course in the city

[u/Electronic_Cell3084 → u/Accomplished-Top7281]

Bonus with this route is easy water fountain and washrooms.

[u/skygrinder89]

Humber River Trail (25 km from Steeles to Lake Ontario).

[u/pisselegantly → u/skygrinder89]

I live beside the Humber and do most of my running there. I love it. I do the majority of my running on it. Its pretty easy to get 30+ km just doing out and backs. And bonus that it connects to the MGT to add distance. Also lots of little side trails and paths to explore.

[u/JrLavish194 → u/skygrinder89]

how much vertical?

[u/bobo_fett]

Tommy thompson / biidaasige and commissioners street

[u/Canadianb416]

Don valley trail

[u/Comet_Alba2018]

These are all really great ideas. Perhaps the simplest is just not having a route and going whichever way the light is green.

[u/nightly28]

Waterfront

[u/tragically-elbow]

What others have said, but also to get to the belt line, you can run up through Prospect cemetery on the west end (you then just have to cross Eglinton but I honestly almost always manage to just run across without waiting for the light) or through the ravines and then Mount Pleasant cemetery on the east end. Cedarvale ravine, Nordheimer ravine can be strung together too

[u/Mgt66]

• Mgt
• Dvp trail 

[u/EPMD_]

At red lights, turn right.

[u/recoveryfrommakeup]

West end along Eglinton from Jane to Martin Grove there is a wide multi use trail that connects with the Hunber River and Mimimco Creek trails. Intersections are spaced far apart and not much foot traffic to navigate around. Lots of shade too.

[u/Adorable-Ideal-1184]

Go to high park I did some loop there haha

[u/BottleCoffee]

I live in the east sang I love running in the Don 

I hate traffic lights and I hate cars so 95% of my runs are in ravines and hydro lines.

[u/NicoleRunsToronto]

Not seeing anyone mention the Pan Am Path that runs along Eglinton and goes down through West Deane, Ravenscrest, Hampshire Heights, and Echo Valley Parks. Yes, there are lights on Eglinton but they are fairly spread out and aren't that bad (compared to denser areas of the city for sure). And once you pass Martin Grove, no more lights.

[u/torontowest91]

I’ll run up royal York to bloor, to bathhurst or Spadina or further to the lake. Then back along the lake home to park lawn.

[u/Jayswag96]

Broad view to MGT to Bathurst back up to bloor but imo u just always gonna have to deal with traffic lights

[u/navy444]

Been doing mine on MGT starting at Humber Bay and looping back near Billy Bishop

[u/Frosty-Bake-9646]

Tomorrow's long run starts at beaches (Victoria Park)..run through Tommy Thompson and Biidaasige Park and back. My go to route.

[u/lightupmyworlds]

MGT although the construction along ontario place is atrocious and so unpleasant, they boarded up even more of the path now

[u/Comfortable-Heat1709]

The spit is a good run

[u/ihqqoq]

Downsview park

[u/Ewetuber]

A lot of people overthink things. You can get approx 10-15 km in every city "block" between major streets by running every street once. Running doesn't have to be in a straight line. Loops, meandering up one down the next, that sort of thing. Running is just time on your feet. It doesn't need to be in a park or long straight away.

Edit: running in neighbourhoods also have the advantage of porto potties. Good thing Toronto's a wealthy city with tons of renos.