Having never before traveled the 8,000 plus miles to Thailand, I had no idea what to expect once touching down in the city of Chiang Mai. Located in northern Thailand at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains, Chiang Mai is the quieter counterpart to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Founded at the turn of the 14th Century, it is best known for its old walled city and as the starting point for treks into the nearby national park. While my main purpose for visiting was the nearby Elephant Nature Park, I was also interested to explore the local running scene.
As luck may have it January and February are an ideal time of year for running in Chiang Mai. Early mornings reminded me of spring in New England. The city experiences three seasons; hot, cool and rainy. The cool season lasts from early December through February and experiences no rain. The temperatures during the day can still reach 95 degrees so if you plan on running early morning is the best time. At night, although the temperature drops, the mosquitos can turn your leisurely run into a run for your life.
So, where to run. In my short time visiting I found a few locations both within the old city and a short distance outside.
My favorite was running along the moat outside the city wall.
The moat loop is approximately 6 kilometers (4 miles). It is a great way to see the city, just beware of the uneven pavement and sections where you need to cross through traffic. If you run just after dawn you will avoid most traffic and also get a chance to see the monks on their alms rounds.
Another great spot is the Suan Buak Park located in the southwest corner of the old city. The best thing the park offers is its convenience. In the early morning you will see lots of people exercising at the park; either doing yoga, using the exercise equipment or running around the small track. The track is only about a quarter of a mile so I wouldn’t recommend coming here for a long run but for a few miles, or as an add on to the moat loop, it is ideal. There are vendors selling cold drinks and also renting mats for 15 bahts so you can sit by the water and stretch or meditate.
Two other locations, which I did not have the opportunity to run at but others I spoke with recommended, were Huay Tung Tao Lake and the 700 years stadium. The stadium, located on the outskirts of Chiang Mai, not only houses a 2 kilometer track but also a 50 meter pool, 11 tennis courts and a state of the art fitness center. Local runners meet every night at the track to train together. A twenty minute drive northwest of the Old City will bring you to Huay Tung Tao Lake. For 20 baths you can run the 14 kilometers around the lake and then go for a swim afterwards to cool off. So definitely pack your running shoes if you are heading to Chiang Mai. If you are unsure of where to go just head outside in the morning and you are sure to find some fellow runners to join in with.
