About cycling & running in St. LouisSt. Louis Base Miles
Running: Forest Park is the default meet-up, and locals use the 6-mile outer loop for steady Z2, intervals, and easy laps from the Central West End. The river trail runs about 15 miles one way from the Arch to Chain of Rocks bridge, and the full loop gets closer to 20+ miles. Running Niche Run Club meets every Wednesday at 6:30 PM for a 5k from 1601 Tower Grove Ave. St. Louis Track Club, Dogtown Running Club, Happy's Running Club, and SLUGS keep the social miles moving. Run For 21, The Big Run St. Louis, GO! STL half marathon, and Chubb Trail Races anchor the calendar.
Cycling: Great Rides St. Louis gives riders a deep local menu, from the Forest Park ride to the Route 66 Loop, Chesterfield Cafe Ride, and River Front Trail Out and Back. Saint Louis Cycling Club brings the old-school road culture, and locals still chase base miles into surrounding counties on weekends. Katy Trail runs by the Missouri River, and the west side can feel humid with long stretches with little to no shade. The Katy Trail covers 5 km with 2,437 m elevation. Frisco Hill Mini still bites, with 41 km carrying 636 m elevation.
Season: October is the Katy Trail month locals talk about, because the leaves turn and the river sections feel worth the layers. Spring and summer put Tower Grove Park back into the rotation, and Running Niche uses a course that includes the west end of the park. Summer Sizzle Series runs on Thursday nights all summer long, and trail runners still meet for 4-10+ miles when they want dirt. Forest Park stays useful in winter because snow is cleared from the asphalt and wheels path. Runners keep showing up when ice and snow hit, and riders grab colder river miles when the trees are bare.
