You land in a city you’ve never been to before (or maybe you have but never explored). If it’s a major city you’ve probably got your list of sights to see.

But what about all the local charm and less traveled sights in the area you’re staying at? A run is one of the best ways to get a quick workout in while still exploring what’s around you. It’s like a sightseeing pre-game.

I find this a funny recommendation coming from myself because I used to hate running. I still do – if it’s on a treadmill. But combining my love of exploring with a way to knock out a workout is one of the best ways to start the day.

But where to run? I’ll just pull out Google Maps and plot out a course that looks interesting. Coastal areas usually have pathways. If you’re looking for routes already set these are some good apps:

• AllTrails – I’ve talked about them before for trail running but (again, as the name implies) they’ve got all sorts of trails and are a great resource.
• MapMyRun – This has more user generated reports – you can pull up a map and see routes previously run.

But for the most freeing option: ditch the phone, put one leg in front of the other, and start running.