DO IT: Running

Multi-purpose pathways are found all over the state. Trails in Atlanta’s Chastain Park and Piedmont Park allow inner city runners to do their thing. Athens’ North Oconee River Greenway and Heritage Trail runs seven miles between Sandy Creek Park and the University of Georgia.

The 19-mile Stone Mountain Trail from Georgia Tech to Stone Mountain Park requires on-street travel for only four miles, in Candler Park and through Clarkston. The trail connects downtown Atlanta to the loop road around Stone Mountain.

Columbus’ 22-mile brick RiverWalk along the banks of the Chattahoochee River is another popular spot for urban runners to enjoy their sport amidst beautiful scenery.

Berry College’s Viking Trail offers a cross-country challenge from Berry’s campus up Mt. Berry. Another great cross-country trail is the 3.4-mile Blanchard Woods trail in Evans, Georgia, outside Augusta.

Said to be one of the best trail networks in Georgia, Dausset Trails near Jackson, Georgia range from 3.5 miles to 17 miles through amazing scenery and possible wildlife viewings.

Distance runners who enjoy racing through spectacular scenery may want to check out the trail races organized by companies such as Run Bum Tours and Dirty Spokes Productions. Run Bum organizes races such as the Helen Holiday Half Marathon, and the killer Georgia Death Race, 74 miles starting from Vogel State Park in Blairsville (runners must pre-qualify for this race and win a lottery for a racing slot). One of Dirty Spokes Productions interesting trail races is a night trail run at Little Mulberry Park in Dacula, Georgia.

And, of course, there are thousands of road races all over the state, from the July 4 Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta to the Bridge Run in Brunswick that takes place on the 7,780-foot long, 480-foot high Sidney Lanier Bridge across the Brunswick River.

Check out the Discover Georgia Outdoors website, www.discovergeorgiaoutdoors.com, to download more than 700 trail maps. You can also download the free Georgia Trails mobile app to your phone via the website or from the Google Play or Android stores. The app lets you track your runs, include photos, track distance, and more!