The Parks of Hartford

Connecticut has no big cities, despite significant population density through much of the state. It has several mid-sized cities, including New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford and the capital, Hartford, all somewhat above the 100,000 population mark. Hartford's metro area is much larger, though the size of the city itself doesn't overwhelm.

This can be a selling point for runners. Apply a little planning to your route, and it's possible to avoid the typical pitfalls of city running — stoplights, mad motorists, construction sites, foul odors, ugly scenery, etc.

I happen to think Hartford has a much better skyline than any other city in the state, its downtown concentrated in a compact neighborhood by the Connecticut River and featuring variety of tall buildings. And it has some superb running routes as well, especially if you take advantage of two of the city's biggest parks, Keney and Riverfront.

I ran a 12-miler earlier this week starting on the west end of downtown, heading up through Keney Park, looping back down to the riverfront and then across Founders Bridge and back over Charter Oak Bridge. In about eight of those 12 miles, I was able to avoid normal city streets, and much of the run was away from traffic altogether.

And the pathways along the Connecticut River have to count among the most enjoyable running routes in Connecticut. My only complaint was that I found only one water fountain along the route, at Charter Oak Landing. It was a welcome treat at the end of my run, but I could have used it a few miles earlier.