Nothing kills the momentum of a run like a traffic light every other block. Escape the delays and the car exhaust with a refreshing waterside run. Park on Pacific Coast Highway anywhere just south of Temescal Canyon Road and you'll see the Strand, a cement path that can be taken as far south as Redondo Beach (with a few brief sections just past the Venice Boardwalk where it's necessary to dip into neighborhoods). If you're on a moderate, three- to five-mile run starting from Temescal, the Santa Monica Pier gives you a nice visual to run toward. The Venice Boardwalk is a great halfway-point marker, and also offers the chance to let a street performer briefly distract you from the aching sensation in your quads. This path is a solid option for marathon or half-marathon training runs, as you can get in as much mileage as you need with plenty of places to easily fill up your CamelBak.

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