Jogging In Jerusalem?

The first stop on my trip to Israel is Jerusalem.  I’ll only be there two nights.  I  will be tired from the flight and anxious to see the sights, so I don’t anticipate that I’ll have time to run anyway.  Nevertheless, today I decided to google “Jogging in Jerusalem.”  The results were most interesting.

The consensus generally, is that, due to the traffic, the topography and the political climate, Jerusalem is not very conducive to running.

Woman Jogging in Jerusalem behind Hasidic Jew | Dave Getzschmandavegetzschman.photoshelter.com COPYRIGHT:© 2007 Dave Getzschman, All Rights Reserved

1. Frommer’s says this about jogging in Jerusalem:

Jogging — Jerusalem, with its many hills, is not the easiest place for unplanned jogging. I like to use the roads and pathways in the Bloomfield Gardens, just above Yemin Moshe. A very useful but hard-to-find paperback, Carta’s Jogger’s Guide to Jerusalem, by Morton H. Seelenfreund (ask at Steimatzky bookstores), costs less than NIS 40 ($10/£5) and offers maps and many good ideas.

2. In this post in Tripadvisor, an avid cyclist/runner enquired about running and/or cycling in Jerusalem.  The responses were not overly enthusiastic.

4. Run The Planet does offer some suggested running routes.

5.  In this blog post entitled Jogging in Jerusalem – A Dangerous Encounter, the author, a student at Hebrew University, tells how he was out running in Jerusalem in 2008 when he came across a group of teenagers wielding Uzi guns.  Thank god they were not wielding the weapons at him. He wrote:

I had a decision to make. They would most assuredly see me in a few seconds. Every possibility flashed through my mind. Should I turn around? If I did, they would know that I was scared. Would letting my fear show prove to be a dangerous move? Perhaps they would shoot at me since my back would be turned? Perhaps the shock of some one jogging right past them face-to-face without showing fear would actually make them less likely to attack me? Maybe I should talk to them? But that’s stupid, I don’t know Arabic and I wouldn’t dare speak Hebrew to them. Could I be sure that they were real guns? Kids in America don’t have guns except those that make the headlines. But this isn’t America. This is Jerusalem. Specifically, this is less than a mile from the West Bank, divided Jerusalem. Even if they weren’t guns, I’ve already experienced rock throwing from Arab youths. And as close as I would have to get to pass them jogging, the rocks could possibly knock me unconscious. Could I take that risk?

6. I love this next post.  Its a blog by an American runner named Jerry Lewis, about running and traveling.  His post documents his runs around the old city of Jerusalem.  Its the kind of running I like – touring (he took beautiful photos), and enjoying the sights.  When sightseeing on the run, one needs to keep an eye not only on the sights, but also on the course.  Sometimes its not that easy. Unfortunately, Mr. Lewis took a nasty spill while traversing a cemetery and needed a trip to a doctor, but, in the end, he was ok.  I enjoyed being on his journey for a few moments.

I would like to thank David Getzschman for giving me permission to post his amazing photographs here.  He also stopped a moment to give me advice – telling me not to go running in just a bra and shorts in Jerusalem.  Point taken.  I’m sure I’ll find the time to run when I’m visiting the Dead Sea and Tel Aviv.

Woman jogging through an alley | Dave Getzschman davegetzschman.photoshelter.com COPYRIGHT:© 2007 Dave Getzschman, All Rights Reserved

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