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Exploring open spaces/public spaces that support a culture of running (and discovery) in Istanbul.
By incorporating pedestrian and bike paths into its transportation strategy, Istanbul can build a physical and social infrastructure that optimizes the participation of all people, regardless of physical and mental disabilities.
Istanbul then would be not simply Europe’s largest and fastest growing city. It would be its model.
Istanbul then would be not simply Europe’s largest and fastest growing city. It would be its model.
Run with Adım Adım!
What would it take to raise significantly the number of Istanbul residents who participate in the Eurasia Marathon 42.2-k and 15-k events? First, we have to understand the conditions that make running possible or impossible here, and second, it’s important to identify ways to sustain a culture of running (biking, walking, wheelchairing, etc.) through new ideas about “open space” and “public space.” Both of these assume that we can actually get our minds around Istanbul and figure out what this city is about. How hard can that be, provided we generate enough endorphins?
Beirut Marathon
About Me
- runningistanbul
- Istanbul-based freelance writer-researcher. Would love to see a robust network of running paths in Istanbul linking the sea with the forest and SultanGazi with Sultanbeyli. Also interested in Istanbul as it struggles with status as a "mega-city" and in Turkey as it redefines ties with neighboring countries.
Where to Run? (European Side)
Everywhere I go in
Gathering my courage to face the dark, cold February mornings, I started exploring the “inner-city” paths where one can walk or run with relative freedom from traffic. To date, my experiments have been limited to the European side.
From Eminönü to Santralistanbul: I’ve also found that the southern shores of the
The Bosphorus: For an early morning run along the Bosphorus, it’s possible to get to Kuruçeşme from Taksim within 15 minutes by bus (numbers 40 and 40T). The return trip is also fairly prompt – the earlier the better, of course. Heading north from Kuruçeşme, one follows one of the world’s most spectacular and thought-provoking courses. And if it’s cold, dark and foggy, there’s that much more room for thoughts to wander.
From Taksim to Zeytinburnu: For a longer run, head from Taksim to Yenikapi (via Tarlabaşı and Atatürk Boulevards) and continue west along to sea to the Veli Efendi Race Track in Zeytinburnu. My running mate and I tried this course, having noticed the horse park on the map, where it appears to be a generous expanse of green space. Alas, as you pass the park on your way to the Zeytinburnu Metro station, you run on a narrow sidewalk squeezed between a six-lane road and a high concrete fence. The hippodrome might as well be a factory. (To avoid this sad, ugly mess, return to Taksim along the sea, curving around Sarayburnu to the
Utopian[?] Dreams
Running leaves so much time to think about alternatives. Might the
Adim Adim keeps running, giving and growing. Adim Adim is a rapidly growing group of very friendly, encouraging people whose company makes training more fun. As they trained for the 2011 Istanbul Eurasia Marathon, hundreds of Adim Adim members raised well over 300,000 YTL from thousands of individual donors for TOFD (The Spinal Cord Paralytics Society of Turkey), TEGV (Education Volunteers of Turkey), Bugday (Ecological Foundation), and TOG (Social Volunteers of Turkey). Adim Adim is open to anyone looking for camaraderie with other runners and advice on training – how to avoid injury, staying flexible, developing the proper stride, etc.
My advice to readers interested in the future of running in
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