Nike's Track Mafia Recommends 6 Mindful Running Routes in London

Most people imagine mindfulness as a practice that requires you to sit crossed legged with your eyes closed, but this could not be further from reality. Mindfulness is meditation you can practice on the move, from mindful walking to, believe it or not, mindful running.

Mindfulness is the psychological process of accepting our surroundings and ourselves in the present moment without judgment. One of the best ways to try mindful running is to switch up your route. Adding a few tweaks to your running routine will ensure your workout benefits both mind and body.

A different environment will act as a constant reminder that this run is different, and it will be easier to pay attention to the different sights and sounds you’re perceiving. On a mindful run, turn off your tracking app and instead listen to yourself and appreciate the signals your body is sending to your brain.

Nike.com is utilising its power and influence to shed light on mental health and mindfulness, and help millions through their love and passion for running and exercise.

The Nike Air Pegasus 35 running shoe, launched in 2018, was accompanied by a powerful message: Speed up to slow down. Sportsshoes.com, which is retailing the shoe, asked Nike’s Track Mafia, Cory & Jules, for their top mindful running routes in London.

Whether you soak up and revel in the busy London atmosphere, or adapt your run to give it a more peaceful surrounding, there’s a new location for you to try out there…

London’s Best
Mindful Running Routes

1 Dulwich Woods & Dulwich Park
Recommended by: Cory
Distance: 4 miles
A hidden gem that lets you lose sight of what’s holding you back and just run fast. With enough greenery to help hide the city but enough twists, turns and inclines to keep your mind active.

Dulwich Park: 4 miles

2 Sydenham to Camden
Recommended by: Cory
Distance: 9.5 miles
There’s something about running through the city as it sleeps, it makes you feel like you’re in your own little movie. I often use this run from south to north to clear my mind which helps me to create.

Sydenham to Camden: 9.5 miles

3 Big Ben to Blackfriars
Recommended by: Cory
Distance: 1.6 miles
It might only be a mile or so but in those few minutes you see and feel everything, picking up the pace as London life flashes past you.

Big Ben to Blackfriars: 1.6 miles

4 Hampstead Heath
Recommended by: Jules
Distance: 3.6 miles
Because it’s cool, it’s green, it’s quiet. You can lose yourself in the trees or around beautiful houses. You can start in the bottom of the woods and end up at the top of the world looking at the whole of London.

Hampstead Heath: 3.6 miles

5 Royal Parks Chain
Recommended by: Cory
Distance: 13.1 miles
A run that has always challenged me, but one that I love, especially in the autumn when the leaves are falling. This one takes in St James’s Park, Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. It’s always amazes me that you’re still in the centre of the city.

Royal Parks Chain: 13.1 miles

6 Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill
Recommended by: Jules
Distance: 4.8 miles
A run that perfectly mixes a longer distance with a steep, hard sprint up Primrose Hill – and with this comes a great feel of achievement when you’re being rewarded with one of the best views over the city.

Regents Park: 4.8 miles

About Nike’s Track Mafia

Nike’s Track Mafia is a London crew that are revolutionising global running culture. They see the social benefits of group running – motivation, support and deep bonds on and off the track – and run every Thursday from 6.30pm-8.30pm at Paddington Recreation Ground. See trackmafia.co.uk or follow @trackmafia_ on Instagram

Read more about mindful running

Why A More Mindful Run Is Crucial For Urban Runners, by psychotherapist Michelle Shanley
Why Nike has teamed up with Headspace to show runners how they can benefit from mindful running