Running in Detroit

I ran there all last summer. It's not that bad. Just watch out for the homeless, some of them get in the way and are quite rude while you are running by.

Are you literally planning to run in downtown Detroit or in the \'burbs?

Well, that depends on what you mean by Detroit. If you mean downtown, I would suggest a route roughly parallel to the Detroit River. Although they are building a Riverwalk along the river, it\'s not finished. As a guide, you can use a map of the Free Press marathon course. Here:

http://detroitfreepressmarathon.com/maps.htm

I sometimes run in this area of the city toward Belle Isle, an island park in the middle of the river. The McArthur Bridge takes you to the island itself.

If you are someplace besides downtown, it\'s possible you might be near one of the Metroparks. But rather than lard down this message with more words, maybe you could specify where you will be, and someone who lives here can help you out.

As for body armor in this cesspool of a city, Detroit certainly has its ugly spots, it is quite true. For now, one of those ugly spots won\'t be trying to one-up a cheap shot.

Metro Detroit is a large area, can yo ube more specific on where you are staying?

If you are actually running downtown, head over to Belle Isle if you can. There are lots of places to run and it is pretty safe. Just don't go there after dark, or anytime near dusk.

As for Detroit being a cesspole[sic], that's not a fair assessment. I would describe it as abandoned and neglected.

To answer the question; it is directly proportional to how big of a turd YOU are.

running in Detroit wrote:

I will be in Detroit on business soon. How much body armour should I wear while running in that cesspole of a city?

So is a cesspole a dirty tadpole or what?

Second the idea of running from downtown to Belle Isle, then a full or partial circuit of the island. You can stay on Jefferson Ave. the whole way, or you can duck down one of the side streets that takes you closer to the river. I recommend the latter (as long as you're not running during the empty early morning hours, when you'll probably want to stick to a more trafficked area) for the river views and interesting old industrial architecture.

The Indian Village neighborhood starts a few blocks past the bridge to Belle Isle, on the non-river side of the street (street names to look for: Seminole, Iroquois, Burns)and is worth a detour to check out the big old houses.

Consider returning via Lafayette (which runs parallel to Jefferson, a few blocks north, i.e., away from the river) - it's more pleasant to run along than Jefferson, and as you approach downtown, you can see the Lafayette Park neighborhood, with its Mies van der Rohe townhouses.

An alternative, shorter run would be to head up Woodward from downtown, toward the art museum and the Wayne State campus. You'll pass a lot of boarded-up storefronts, but also some new development. Come back on Cass - and consider checking out the scones and brioches at Avalon bakery (Cass and Willis).

None of these sections of Detroit are any more dangerous than any other large city. Just use common sense, no body armor required. (And yeah, you will probably pass some street people...just make sure they know you're coming, as a lot of them startle easily.)

Take the day off. You're putting your life in your own hands running in that sewer masquerading as a city.

Bahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa wrote:

Take the day off. You're putting your life in your own hands running in that sewer masquerading as a city.

I'd be curious to find out just how many people base their opinions of Detroit solely on what the media tells them. Freaking lemmings.

Upgrayedd wrote:

Bahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa wrote:

Take the day off. You're putting your life in your own hands running in that sewer masquerading as a city.

I'd be curious to find out just how many people base their opinions of Detroit solely on what the media tells them. Freaking lemmings.

I would agree with you - but come on. I just went to Baltimore recently - and I thought it might be similar to Detroit because the crime stats are similar. Not even close! Baltimore actually had several thriving areas where tourists would be happy to go. The worst part about Detroit is how close the bad neighborhoods are to the business/entertainment district. Most cities have at least a mile buffer from the city center before you hit real poverty. My g-friend worked for the Detroit Symphony for 4 years - I won't even go into all the things she saw in that time.

Those of us who want detroit to suceed have to at least admit that it has some serious problems. So - yes I do think that people mimic what they hear in the press - but that doesn't mean they are that far off the truth.

Drive to Grosse Pointe 10 minutes from Downtown ... its sweet you will love it Just take Jefferson North ten minutes you cant miss when you enter Grosse Pointe... Its like utopia in a dessert... seriously...

I agree with the river suggestion. It is a don't miss run.

Nothing wrong with running in Detroit. Runners are too much trouble to hassel, so their pretty much left alone. I'm sure you can find some where to run in any part of Detroit. There is just two things to avoid. A group of young teenagers and people on walks with large sticks. Other wise I was never bothered in my five years of going to school in Detroit and I even ran late at night.

Just smile and laugh at the bad jokes and you'll be fine.

(i.e. You can get there faster in a car.)

Yes, Detroit has major problems. Yes, it has many very dangerous neighborhoods. I should know. I taught in downtown Detroit for three years at a school right by the Ambassador Bridge, and had to take kids home who got extra help after school, it was the only way they could stay.

However, I ran in downtown nearly every day after school, either along the riverfront or on Belle Isle. Never once worried about my safety. Not any more dangerous than any other major city I've been to. In fact, it's probably safer than tourist towns like Vegas, New Orleans before Katrina, or Miami, where there are people hanging around just waiting to take advantage of tourists.

If you have a passport, drive for 5 minutes accross the bridge into Windsor, Ontario, Canada. You get a nice run along the river there from the ambassador bridge going past downtown Windsor. It is safe and the run alongside the river has a grass part which you can run along the whole time.

Doug Kurtis, one of the worlds top sub 2.20 marathon runners in the 80`s and 90`s (sometimes running up to 10 sub. 2:20 marathons in one year!) used to drive accross to Windsor several times a week, to train at the University of Windsor indoor track and some runs in the area.

Ghost (B.Ed from University of Windsor) French teacher

You guys are all a bunch of fruits. i went to college in Detroit and never had a problem. If you go looking for trouble or are an asshole, then yes you will have problems. We would run late at night and early in the morning and no problems. If you have to run just be smart and if something are some place does not look right DON'T GO THERE!

"i went to college"

Is an undercase "i" appropriate here?

Your Mom goes to college.