Running on St. John

My brother is taking his family to St. John next month, and he asked me a question I couldn’t answer. His daughter is a D1 runner who is required by her coach to get in a 14 mile run every day over her spring break. Brother wants to know whether it would be safe for her to run on St. John, and my first reaction was “hell no” (too many blind corners, crazy drivers, rum punches, mongooses etc. etc.). To be fair, however, it’s been over 10 years since I last visited St. John as we’ve migrated to Virgin Gorda for our more recent trips. So St. John experts, is my reaction correct, and, if so, is there a health club with good treadmills she could utilize during the week? (I know what you’re thinking . . . 14 miles on a treadmill while in St. John for spring break sounds even worse to me than chancing the roads). In any event, thanks in advance for any help you can provide, and no, taking a break for a few days and lying to the coach isn’t an option for this kid. She’s a much better person than me.

St John has some loco drivers and the odds would'nt be in her favor unless she was in a marathon

I think you could do it early in the morning before all of us tourist got on the road. It would not be a bad idea to have some one drive behind as shield.

However, I would suggest it is time to cross train - drop her at Maho and let her swim to Hawknest in and out of the Cinnamon and Trunk. That is 3.5 miles and would give her a pretty good low impact workout. Shoot for a 1.5 hours.

Plus she will get to see some neat things along the way. Here again a kayak chase boat probably a good idea.

No Cars or Trucks <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

14 miles a day, ELITE for sure!! I've run the roads/trails from Maho to Leinster to Francis back to Maho. Its flat and early morning not much traffic. It might be a 4 mile loop? She can park at any of those beaches or Annanberg Ruins and cool off at the end with a swim. She should know some is paved and some dirt roads, also I wouldnt recommend running with headphones, i like to hear the traffic coming! Since she will need to run a loop like this she can keep water in her car for a sip every pass. Coral Bay has a flat stretch, but a little more traffic there.

Every day? Whew! The Maho loop is not long enough, would have to do multiple loops, but is fairly low traffic early in the day. She could run the 8 Tuff Miles route, although she would have to be VERY cautious about traffic. That would give her 16 if she turned around. If she wants to take a ferry over to St Thomas, the waterfront is a nice flat run, about 10 miles from Havensight to the airport and back.... It will be pretty warm in May, also is she accustomed to hills?

If running is the main focus then try San Juan it's set up up for running and biking

Neophyte said they are going next month so my guess is that it's locked in. We had a D1 long distance runner with us a couple years ago and she made it work, she found some loops and sometimes supplemented with hills and swimming, we were on a boat <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> If she runs the Maho, Francis, Leinster loop in the mornings I guarantee she'll enjoy it more than the campus she's training on now! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

I did the Maho, Francis, Lienster loop many times early in the morning from the Maho Bay Campground. Not much traffic at that time of the day. It may take a few loops, but it is a pleasant run. Just remember that they drive on the left on St John.

Since she's a committed distance runner, multiple loops most likely won't bother her.. I've been on vacation with just a one mile loop and didn't mind doing it 10 times to get in my run... The 4 mile loop round Maho / Francis / Leinster will work.

An alternative to running strictly on the roads is to use the great trail system on the island and tie those trails in with a road run. Running from Francis Bay to Coral Bay and then loop back to Francis bay on the roads is a great run. Of course this might be a bit hilly for a D1 runner