Run Run Run in Barcelona

Last May, as the summer was slowly approaching, I felt the urgent need to find a new after-work hobby. After hesitating between art classes, danse classes and pilates I decided to go for something that would get my endorphin levels surging for the summer. Although many friends suggested I join them at their gym, I decided to go for a cheaper and more outdoorsy option: running! I valued the fact that I could go whenever I felt like it and that beside the initial investment in good running shoes (VERY important!!) it is free!

If you are currently living in Barcelona, you have probably already noticed the large number of runners in the city. The reason for this is, I believe, that there are so many options to choose from when looking for the perfect run. Indeed, you can run by the beach, stroll down open avenues, race up hills or even go and explore the nearby mountains and get a bit of fresh air.

Armed with my new running shoes and my i-pod I decided to discover the itineraries the city had to offer. One of the most popular ones is, without a doubt, going down Avinguda Diagonal from Glories shopping centre to Diagonal Mar. This run of 5.55 km is very enjoyable as you get to run down an open avenue with very few cars and many other runners, cyclists and people rollerblading. It is perfect if you work in the busy 22@ area and wish to go for a lunchtime of after-work run.

Directions

1. Start your run at Avenue Diagnol and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, at the Glories metro station.

2. Notice the slight incline in the road towards the east. Begin running up the incline. 

3. Keep running straight along Avenue Diagnol this entire run. You will run through the city, through street lights and pass a number of tiendas (stores). You are running in the middle of the avenue where there is a walking/running/cycling path. Pass the Selva de Mar metro station on your right (1.16 mi / 1.87 km). 

4. Continue straight. The running path will force you to veer left onto Carrer de Llull for one tenth of a mile. You are still following Avenue Diagnol. When you reach Rambla de Prim (the end of the diagonal) turn right to cut back to the Diagnol and head back to where you began (3.45 mi /5.55 km). 

5. End your run where you began, at Avenue Diagnol and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes.

(Source http://www.blazetravelguides.org/destinations/barcelona/diagnol)

Many runners enjoy running by the beach and breathe in the seaside air. I particularly like going down Avinguda Joan de Borbo from Barceloneta metro station (don’t go there if you’re hungry the smells coming from the restaurants are amazing J), turn towards hotel W, turn back and continue towards the Hotel Arts. The sights are just breathtaking, especially at sunset, and the beach offers you great opportunities to stretch after your effort. Finally, another popular running destination is Ciutadella Parc which is completely traffic free and offers an interesting alternative to city asphalt.

There are a few running clubs which you can join in Barcelona if you wish to meet other sporty people :

·         Corredors Club
http://www.corredors.cat/index.php

·     Run 2 Live Barcelona
http://www.run2livebcn.cat/

There are also many races throughout the year, the most popular ones being the Barcelona Marathon, the Cursa del Corte Inglés, Cursa de bombers or Cursa dels Nassos. This nice blog lets you know all about the races in the city:    http://runningbarcelona.blogspot.com/

So if you do decide to go running in this wonderful city let us know what you think! Don't forget to be careful (I wouldn't go at night as some areas are a bit dodgy afterdark) and stretch after your run :)

Doing sports in Barcelona: DIR gyms

I still remember my first spinning class experience in Spain like yesterday. The room was small but equipped with such an effective air conditioning that I had to wear sweater on during the first songs. Some kind of techno-trance mix, spiced with Latin rhythm, was playing so loud that it was impossible to hear one's own thoughts. Co-cyclists were all packed in the front row as close to the instructor as possible. New participants kept on coming in until the last minute of the class. Their hair was open and they started to scream in ecstasy every time the song hit the climax. The instructor was yelling without a pause, spitting without restraint, apparently he had a lot to say - shame that I couldn't hear one word. And no, this was not a rock concert, just a normal SpinDIR class at DIR gym!

To clarify, if some of you have not been going to spinning classes in Scandinavia: participants go into the room 10 mins before and the door is locked precisely when the class starts. They stay quiet, start sweating, start making faces, sweat more, stay quiet. The instructor works as hard as every participant. Once in a while, s/he might say something. Like, "harder". When the class is over, everyone cleans their bikes, mutters hardly notable "thanks" and goes home. End of story.

The spinning class experience is actually just a small, amusing example of the strangeness (at least from an expat point of view) in the gym business in Barcelona. If you are going to join any gym, be prepared: there are as many prices and deals as there are potential clients. Never agree with the first offer. Never forget to mention your "friend" who got better price. And never, ever get pissed off, no matter how much you would like to punch the person behind the desk: then the game is over and you will never get a reasonable offer.

DIR Diagonal, fab pool area

When I joined DIR the first time, I managed to negotiate a fair deal where I had unlimited access to all classes whenever I wanted. I paid 44 euros a month. When my boyfriend joined, he wasn't as lucky: he ended up paying 59 euros a month, with exactly the same deal. Afterwards, when we asked for a reason for such a big difference, we were told that I had gotten a "special offer" which was only valid the day I joined. As he had been told exactly the same, we did not give up. We asked for an official price list. The response was an A4 size book of 70 pages, all written full of different prices. We gave up.

DIR Claris, our center

Now, when we returned to DIR, I had to pay 6 months in advance but the price was 40 euros a month. Although, I have to enter the gym always between 17.30 and 19.30 during weekdays. I can stay as long as I want. Poor boyfriend was not lucky this time either: he is paying 45 euros a month so again more than I do. Why? Because he is a guy. Yes, believe it or not, this was the reason given. Maybe they run out of imagination as we were joining together, at the same time. So boys out there, sorry, but in this country should you only not pay drinks for girls and high entrance fees to clubs, but you are also tyrannized by gyms.

Check out more information about DIRs at www.dir.es. According to my experience, they still offer quite a nice cost-quality ratio (if you can negotiate even a little bit). Last, one more example about the joining fee conversation few weeks ago:

DIR: So the joining fee is 80 euros.

ME: No, that can't be. 

DIR: Well, maybe I can make a special offer. Today, for you, it's only 65.

ME: It's too much. It's more than I pay per month!

DIR: Oops, silly me; today it's actually 25 euros, I forgot!

ME: Really? Last time I paid 10 euros.

DIR: Oh no, look: the computer says that it actually is 10 euros, only today, only for you! Lucky you!