Rave Runs … from the Acropolis to Aquabogue, Central Park to Caer Caradoc … some of my favourite running routes around the world

Summer holidays are a great time to run - to recharge my fitness, to rediscover the beauty of nature, and to reinspire my mind.

I’ve been running since I was 10 years old. I got started on lunchtime runs with a small group of school friends, led by teacher Mike Henry. We’d run from the Middle School in Rothbury to Carterside farm and back. I still occasionally run on that course now, part of much longer runs when visiting family, but in those days it seemed like a marathon.

My dad had been a good runner in his day and was a huge inspiration, and throughout my school years, he would faithfully take me to Morpeth Harriers training nights, and then to races around the North East of England every weekend. My favourites included the Gateshead Cross Country Races and Tyneside Track Leagues – and then further afield to regional and national championships.

Over the years, I’ve been lucky to run at a good standard – schools champion at 800m and 1500m, and when 16, I was UK Northern Champion too. I ran the first Great North Run from Newcastle to South Shields in 1981 as a 13 year old (91 mins). Now it’s the world’s largest mass participation race, still organised by local hero Brendan Foster and his team, and I’ve run it many times since (sub 70 a couple of times, but I’m getting slower now).

While I was never good enough to make a career out of running, the years of hard training, the buzz of racing, and persistence in searching for my peak performance has definitely helped me in life. I remember rubbing shoulders with world record holder Steve Cram in races, and always beat David Sharpe who later became a world champion. Other training partners like Mark Hudspith at Morpeth and Dan Rathbone at Uni went on to compete internationally, and even win global medals. More inspiration.

45 years on, I’m still getting out there – kicking on my trainers, for a morning 10km wherever I am in the world. My work takes me to so many different countries, almost every week, and there’s always space for my kit in my hand luggage. It means that every trip is an adventure. Once you’ve clocked up your morning run, you’re on a high for the rest of the day.

I’d say that running has made me better in many ways – in particular the determination, resilience and persistence, to always seek better in every aspect of work. Life is a marathon not a sprint, and I’m definitely a long distance runner. Writing 10 business books has taken plenty of self-motivation, the same drive that gets me out for those early morning training runs, particularly in rain and snow. And every time I walk onto stage, I still get that adrenalin surge, like at the start of a race, the catalyst to perform to the best of my ability.

So here, for a bit of fun, are some of my favourite running routes around the world:

Athens,?Greece

Athens is an amazing historic city for a morning run. I normally stay at the Intercontinental, which is only a 10 minutes run from the fantastic Panatheneic Stadium, the original Olympic venue made from huge granite blocks. You can have a quick sprint around the track too (600 Greek feet, or 178m, compared to the conventional 400m today). From there I usually head up the Lycabettus Hill for a breath-taking, quadricep-screaming view, and then back down through the city, past the Temple of Zeus, and up Phillopapou Hill – from where you get the best view of the Acropolis, with the iconic Parthenon and its Temple of Nike.

Boston,?USA

There’s a beautiful running route around Boston Harbor. I usually set out from the Boston Tea Party ships, and then follow the pathway around the many inlets, passed the hotels and parks, docks and bridges, to Bunker Hill. It’s an out and back course, so you can always challenge yourself to run faster on the way back then you did going out. Early morning is the time to run, as the pathway gets busy with tourists and workers, which just isn’t good for a fast runner. Boston is one of the world’s great running cities, and there are so many people out early. You can also go find the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Boylston Street near Copley Square, run the last mile, and imagine that epic race between Beardsley and Salazar.

Bushy Park, England

This is home. But also the local training route of 4 times Olympic Champion Mo Farah, and most of the best Kenyan athletes who often base themselves in the town. Actually I moved to Teddington when I started working, because I knew it from the Sweatshop, a famed running store, which used to be located at Teddington Lock. This is where "parkrun", the free 5km runs for everyone, every week, started back in 2004. Now there are weekly parkruns in 775 locations in 30 countries, with over 3 million participants, although the biggest is still in Bushy Park. There is a fabulous network of trails, including the outer 7 mile loop which I save for time trials, and woodland gardens which are great for morning runs. Less busy is the adjacent Home Park where you can run along the side of the impressive Hampton Court Palace. Both parks used to the private hunting ground of King Henry VIII of England, and are?full of wild deer, so you sometimes need to give them a wide berth.

Caer Caradoc,?England

15 years ago we bought a small house in Church Stretton, a small village in the heart of rural Shropshire – because of its beautiful surrounding countryside, not least the tough hills to run up, across and down. The Long Mynd has many routes, but my favourite challenge is up the imposing Caer Caradoc, which has a Bronze Age hillfort on top, and then add in a few more hills – Hope Bowdler, the Gaerstones, and the Ragleth. From the top of Caradoc the view is spectacular – Britain’s highest peak, Snowdon, lies to the west, while you can also see Chester to the north, and Ludlow to the south.

Cascais, Portugal

Just along the coast from Lisbon, actually a fantastic train ride, is the beautiful seaside town of Cascais. The seafront runs are breathtaking, often with the sea often whipping up to splash over the coastal path. Through the small town, cobbled streets and fish restaurants, and out the other side, you are quickly onto a rugged cliff coastal route, the Atlantic Ocean down below is famed for its surfing. Most recently I was here doing a keynote speech for the Sports Business conference, and so naturally started with a retelling of my morning’s 10km.

Central Park, New York, USA

Nothing beats an early morning run in Central Park, particularly on those cool mornings where there is a layer of mist, and then sun breaking through. But you need to get there early. Usually, having flown in from Europe, my body clock is ready to run by 5am, perfect time, although the city streets up to the park are already busy at that time. Later the park is more like a running highway, with cyclists too. Up past the zoo and behind the Met, a loop of the reservoir is always my goal, from where you get amazing views of the Manhattan skyline. You can also run the last mile of the NYC Marathon, and realise how hilly it is.

Freiburg,?Germany

One of my university towns back in the late eighties. Living on the bank of the River Breisgau, I was straight onto the riverside path heading west towards Breisach and then onwards to the French border, or east towards Kirchzarten and Titisee. Beyond the river, the lovely cobbled German town is surrounded by the Black Forest, with endless running tracks through the trees and nearby vineyards. At that point in my life, I was researching high temperature superconductivity in a research lab, so it was great to escape from the underground lab into the fresh Black Forest air (and then a glass of Baden wine) at the end of each day.

Grand Canyon,?USA

Arizona is an amazing state. In the south, around Tucson, you can head off into the outback with only the most amazing cacti and geckos for company. Driving north from Phoenix you are quickly into the red rocks of Sedona, stunning, particularly at sunset. And then to the canyonlands. Staying in a National Park wooden lodge means you can be up at sunrise, and immediately running along the edge of the canyon. Breathtaking, a little scary too. In winter, you get the whiteness of early morning frosts and temperature inversions, before it is burnt off by the sun.

Hatta, UAE

I didn’t expect to find mountains in the middle of the desert. Drive 2 hours east from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and you suddenly find yourself climbing out of the flat sands, and up into the cool rocky mountains of Hatta. Many locals come here in the heat of summer to stay cool. It’s also a great place to organise my week-long executive retreats. And to venture out each morning into the surreal moonscape surroundings.

Hyannisport, USA

Cape Cod has been our family summer holiday destination for the last decade, our children loving the wooden beach houses, endless sand, and relaxed vibe. We usually stay in Hyannisport, which is a quiet hamlet just outside Hyannis, most famous for JFK’s summer house. As I hit the beach road each morning along to Squaw Island and back, I often passed some of the Kennedy clan. Maria Shriver gave me a big high five one morning, and I even sweatily passed Taylor Swift with her then boyfriend on another day. With no work to do in the summer holidays, running becomes the highlight of the day, a time to really put in some miles, to get properly fit again, and enjoy the beautiful sun and sea.

Jūrmala, Latvia

Jūrmala beach is just outside Riga, capital of Latvia. The sand is beautiful, and the nearby forests perfect for running and getting lost. The town itself is a long road of?wooden, art nouveau seaside villas and Soviet-era sanatoriums. I’ve visited the Baltics many times – also with great running routes around Kaunas, Klaipeda, Tallinn, Rezekne and Vilnius – but the Latvian people are incredibly friendly, and the countryside beautiful.

Lausanne, Switzerland

Switzerland is a magical place to run, the paths around the lake are typically wooded, and flat. Look up and you are surrounded by towering mountain peaks. Even in the middle of summer, the snow caps are clearly visible. I’ve lived and worked in the country, and there is a fabulous network of mountain races, if you want a quick burst of quad-screaming pain! Lausanne, home to IMD Business School, is one of my favourite places to run, and work. Geneva is a regular location, home to many luxury brands, from cosmetics to watchmaking. Interlaken, venue for the annual XDays conference organised by NZZ, is spectacular too!

Long Island, USA

Turn right out of New York’s JFK airport, and instead of Manhattan, you are quickly in rural Long Island. I never quite realised how big the island was, until I started driving eastwards. Passed the rock star homes of the Hamptons, I headed north to Aquabogue, on the North Fork. Sitting on the dockside I could look across to Puff Daddy’s pad. But running from he, I was quickly into rural wine country – passing some amazing vineyards like Raphael and others. It’s amazing how quickly the tower blocks of Manhattan give way to countryside, while still officially in New York City!

Munich, Germany

For the last 10 years I’ve been hosting the Future Book Forum each year in Munich. Which means, the Englischer Garten has become a regular running venue. You can run for hours along the riverside and through the huge parkland area, where you frequently come across a Hofbrauhaus or Biergarten. No time to stop though. Like most German cities, locals all get around on bikes, so the city streets or riverside paths can be quite a challenge on two feet.

Northumberland Coast, England

This is actually the route of the annual 14 mile Coastal Run organised by Alnwick Harriers, but also a great run to enjoy any or every day of the year. Starting out just south of the mighty Bamburgh Castle, in the small fishing village of Beadnall, you can choose your own route down the coast, following the beach paths or nearby roads. One of my favourite moments was leading a field of almost 1000 runners along the deserted Embleton Bay to the beautiful Dunstanburgh Castle with its iconic tumbling towers. Fuelled by the smell of smoking kippers in Craster, you eventually arrive at Alnmouth, and the River Coquet.

Odense, Denmark

The small Danish city of Odense, named after the Norse god Odin, has become another annual venue, where I have hosted the European Business Forum for a number of years. We’ve brought some of the world’s top business gurus to this small city, which is actually a hotspot for robotics and drones. People like Alex Osterwalder, Michael Porter, Whitney Johnson, Roger Martin, Rita McGrath, have all been here. Out running with fellow director of Thinkers50 Stuart Crainer one morning, we were amazed to find the Athletics Exploratorium at the SDU campus, a crazy athletics track with artificial hills and obstacles. It was voted one of the world’s most innovative running facilities by World Athletics, and is also a test site for exoskeletons and robots.

Oslo, Norway

For runners, Oslo is most famous for the Bislett Stadium, venue of one of the world’s best Diamond League athletic meetings. Since the early eighties I’ve eagerly watched the Dream Mile each year, with world records by the likes of Coe, Ovett and Cram. The small city is easy to explore on a run. I particularly love the waterfront, where you can run for miles enjoying the fjord air. The stunning new Opera House is a particular landmark, and seems to fuse with the water and sky in the early morning mist.

Redmond,?Seattle, USA

Microsoft’s huge sprawling campus dominates Redmond, which is effectively a suburb of Seattle. It’s been great to work with the $2 trillion business over recent years, but I’d never got to see the whole campus. One morning, jet lagged I was up at dawn, and spent 90 mins explored every part of the campus – including the building where Bill Gates and Paul Allen first set up the business. The deserted leafy roads are great to run on in the early morning, as is a a run downhill to Lake Sammamish and back.

Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain

As a professor at IE Business School, based in the heart of Madrid, I spend many days in the Spanish capital. El Retiro is a green oasis in the heart of the city, and loved by runners throughout the day. While the locals and tourists boat on the lake in the centre, the perimeter path is pounded by huge numbers of runners. Early evening is particularly busy time, more like a running track, as you keep focused on catching and passing the runners in front. Sometimes I do the 3 mile loop twice, but there’s still the mile-long trek back up Serrano to the Melia hotel, passed all the best stores, when I’m on my last legs.

Rothbury, England

This is where I grew up. My childhood memories are full of endless running on the moors above Rothbury in Northumberland. Around the carriageway of bilberry hill, onto Debdon and Cragside woods. Every morning before school, and evening, I’d be out there. Through the bracken and heather, the skyline of Simonside and Cheviot to the south and north. These days, I get back 2-3 times a year, and always try to squeeze in as many runs as possible. I also love the Simonside loop, over Garleigh and Lordenshaws, and back across the valley.

Rome, Italy

Running really is the best way to see a city. Setting off from Via Guilia, I’m quickly running alongside the River Tiber, past the Castel Sant’Angelo and then down to the Circus Maximus. This is a great place to run laps, imagining the history of the place, centurions and gladiators who commanded the same space.

San Francisco, USA

Golden Gate Park is where I met my wife almost 30 years go. In a running race, of course. I ran well that day, and even better were the prizes, miniature SFO street cars, which wound up to “I lost my heart in San Francisco”. I gave my future wide one of those cars on our wedding day a few years after first meeting.?An even better place for running is out of the city and along the water’s edge of the Presidio to Golden Gate Bridge. Of course, you’ve got to cross it, and then back again. Long run but spectacular, and also the course of one of the world’s great running events, the Bay to Breakers.

Segovia, Spain

Segovia is a fabulous historic city 90 mins drive north of Madrid. I remember the first time I visited, I got up at 5am to catch the sunrise over the incredible Roman aqueduct with over 160 arches, built with mortarless granite. Run along the water channel as it leads out of the city and marvel at its engineering. Then head back into the centre, winding through the narrow streets to the royal palace and Gothic cathedral. Best of all I love the 10km trail on the hills circling the city, running past endless old churches and monasteries, with breathtaking views of the city perched on its rocky hilltop. These days I get to spend a number of weeks in Segovia each year, the perfect place for an executive retreat or strategic workshop. IE Business School has converted the 13th century Monastery of Santa Cruz la Real into a beautiful fusion of old and new. You can even work in the same room where Isabella I, Queen of Spain, received Christopher Columbus and agreed to finance his 1492 voyage to explore the New World.

Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is a small city, surrounded by water, but the best place to run is the nearby island of Djurgarden. You’re immediately alone, running along the waterside in Swedish countryside. Actually, the island is also home to an extremely popular entertainment complex, including the Abba museum, but I didn’t stop. Despite being in northern Scandinavia, it always seems to be bright sunshine, with sparkling water and lush green meadows. Easy to get lost too. Last time I found that I’d been running for over 2 hours, and nearly missed my morning meeting!

Waitangi, New Zealand

I fell in love with New Zealand on my first visit 30 years ago. Travelling the length of the country is like travelling through the latitudes of the world in just a few hours, from penguins in the Antarctic-like south of Queenstown, through the volcanic Rotorua, to the Pacific-like tropics of the Bay of Islands in the north. My favourite run was in Waitangi Treaty Park, site of New Zealand’s founding agreement, from where you can run for hours on wooden pathways, above the water, and to the Pacific shoreline. And then recover in a outdoor naturally-heated hot tub at the end.

Peter Fisk is a global thought leader - bestselling author, innovation catalyst, strategic advisor - working with business leaders to reimagine their markets and strategies for a better future. He leads GeniusWorks, an innovative business accelerator based in London, co-founder of GlobalXED, and is professor of leadership, strategy and innovation at IE Business School in Madrid.

His recent projects include Adidas’ growth into new markets, Cartier’s redefined luxury, Coca Cola’s brand strategy, and Microsoft’s strategic innovation, exploring the future of food to fashion, travel to technology. He has written 9 books, including the new “Business Recoded: Have the courage to create a better future”, reviewed by FT with “Wow! The book you have to read now”.

More at peterfisk.com