USVI-On-Line

I'm a regular runner and want to continue while I'm visiting St John in a few weeks. Does anyone have any advice? I've used the tool at http://www.usatf.org/routes/ to map out a few routes between 3 and 6 miles which is what I usually run.

I'm wondering if anyone has any running advice, best time of day, favorite run, trails or roads to stay away from. I've been to the island before so I know that the roads are narrow and hilly for the most part and there are lots of trail options, but I don't know which are best for running.

Thank you for any advice you can give.

Where are you staying? North? South? Coral Bay?

North Shore, Peter Bay

Can't give you too much help there. I usually run along the South Shore Rd and around Maria Bluff and the Westin when we stay ine the Chocolate Hole area. Sorry.

We have done a lot of running in St. John.

Usually we would go first thing in the morning (7:00 am). We like to park by the Annenberg Ruins and go from there, because it is fairly flat (and being from Chicago, the hills are tough!). At that time of day there is minimal traffic.

From that starting point we have run over to Maho - a nice up and down hill that just about killed me (we saw a deer or two on that section of the road one year, too).

All of our running has really been on the roads - we have probably hiked every trail on St. John, but don't find them very good for running.

After our runs, we always head straight into the water for a swim!

Enjoy!

Be sure to bring water whenever you go. I have run in the Maria Bluff/Westin area - beautiful views and some nice hills for a challenge. I have also run in Fish Bay - it's flat so you can just run back and forth. Running is challenging there but worth it. I try to get out by 8 a.m. Enjoy!

Thank you for all your suggestions

The one road to avoid is Centerline, due to lack of shoulder and heavy impatient traffic. Wherever you are, you're better off sticking to the outside of the road, not up against the cut-bank, because drivers will see you better and there usually a little more room. From Peter Bay you could go all the way to Annaberg and back without dealing with major hills. In fact, you could keep going along the shore on the wide-ish trail to Leinster to add another couple of miles...

I just ran by Peter Bay this morning. Your best bet would be to head East toward Cinnamon and Maho Bay. The roads are not heavy with traffic and mornings, as early as possible will reward you with the coolest temps. Today had a cool breeze with a mist of rain, just perfect! I have a runners blog and in about a week I hope to have some loosely measured distances from Cruz Bay up the North Shore. The North shore is tough running but of course will reward you with results.I am enclosing a link to my blog and to our local 8 Tuff Miles race. Great trail run is the Lind point trail that starts in town behind the national park headquarters next to the ball field. Also I highly recommend the Leinster trail that starts out by the Annenberg Ruins and if you are feeling adventurous you can continue up Johnny Horn Trail that goes all the way to Coral Bay. I will run with you and your family if you like and give you some tips. Here are those links.

http://stjohnrunner.blogspot.com/

http://8tuffmiles.com/

Good Luck and feel free to ask me any more Questions.

There are now some runs and distances posted on my blog as of Dec. 8th with more to come weekly.

Thanks for all the tips! Has anyone run over the John Head Road? The elevation makes it look pretty intimidating but if there's no traffic it might be worth it for one good difficult run. I'll probably just be heading east to either Cinnamon and back or Annaberg and back as most of you have suggested.

Also thank you for the links StJohnRunner, they're much appreciated.
You can map runs on St John using this tool: http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/

My wife runs John Head Road from Peter Bay to Catherineberg and back. It's offical name is Highway 206, has to be the worst highway in the US! It's steep alright and it is more like a trail run. The road is gutted and washed out with potholes...but...she loves it! It's a short run, I have the distance somewhere if you are interested, but it's intense.

I'll be staying in Fish Bay for a week. Does anyone have any good running routes in the 3-6 mile range?

Also, I'm not an early riser, apart from the heat (which I'm used to running in) -- is running on the roads in the late afternoon dangerous due to traffic?

Thanks!

riot.swrrl wrote:I'll be staying in Fish Bay for a week. Does anyone have any good running routes in the 3-6 mile range?

Also, I'm not an early riser, apart from the heat (which I'm used to running in) -- is running on the roads in the late afternoon dangerous due to traffic?

Thanks!

Fish bay is flat for almost 2 miles so my advice would be to stay on that and run it 1-3 times. It does get hot in the afternoon - especially on that road so best to run as early in the day as possible. Be sure to bring water.