Running in Panama City: Amador & Ancon

That was a continuation of my first run in Panama City, please check my previous post for all the context.

In the good old days, I would have combined both runs into a marathon but priority to the family this time, and I'm still focusing on preserving my damaged meniscus.

From the older Panama City, Casco Viejo, you can hop on the ocean front promenade via the 13th street. This time, crossing under the Cinta Costera ramp, I ran toward the Amador peninsula, which used to host two American military bases (e.g., Fort Amador). It is actually an artificial peninsula, a long piece of land connecting a pre-existing island with excavation material collected during the construction of the canal.

The peninsula is bordered with the same high quality bike path on each side.

You first pass a bridge with statues commemorating early dignitaries of the Panama Republic.

Then the colorful Biomuseo designed by the illustrious Guggenheim Museum's architect, Frank Gehry. (As our bike tour guide told us, it helped that Gehry's 2nd wife, Berta Isabel Aguilera, is Panamanian.)

At the end of the peninsula and marina, I tried to find ways to climb the hills to no availability, both are highly protected and access is strictly forbidden.

With that, I had my sight on climbing to the top of Cerro Ancón, or Ancon Hill, the highest point of Panama City.

Looking back at the map, I felt I did quite a detour, you may want to plan your run better. On the way down, I found a stair crossing through Mi Publito, you could go up this way too.

Now, going around the hill on the West side got me to see the monumental headquarters of the Panama Caanal administration, and the Monumento a Goethals at the bottom. Plus log a couple of additional miles as a bonus!

Today, Ancon Hill is a protected natural reserve, it is covered by rain forest and the view from the top is not quite 360-degree because of the abundant vegetation. Still, you can get amazing views of Panama City on one side.

And the South/Pacific entrance of the Canal on the other side.

Overall, the steep climb and outstanding views are very much worth the good sweat! And, again, these 9 miles of bike path along the Pacific Ocean are nirvana for running in Panama City!

Here is a fly-over of this route (click on the image below or this link).

And the corresponding map.

Running in Panama City: Pacific Ocean Front

What an interesting timing to be visiting Panama when its famous Canal is making the news because of threats from incoming bouffons in the White House who want to play Monopoly...

I have to say though that learning much more about the history of such an engineering marvel was eye opening. From the early conquistadors who recognized the special opportunity to cross the American continent there, to the big failure from the French paving the way to the American success, with a huge human toll of 20,000 deaths. So, granted, the US can claim it changed the World, starting with self-interest in such a naval route making the US economy flourish, but it came to a huge price for the local communities and ecosystem too. And it definitely looks fair that after conquering this territory from Columbia for economic benefits, the US returned the Canal zone to the Panamanians for their self-administration of this vital part of their economy. In return, they invested in major upgrades to keep up with the endless quest for over consumption of goods in the US. It is very worth reading the story of the original canal, and its recent extension with a design aiming to preserve some of the precious fresh water of the Gatun Lake in particular.

Visiting Panama will also help you remember the special geography of this country linking North and South America: it's not vertical with the Atlantic on the right/East side, and the Pacific on the left, but horizontal, almost like an inverted tilde (~). Panama City being on the South shore, it's on the Pacific.

We only stayed for three nights in Panama City, I was able to only squeeze in two short runs: this post can't claim to be a running guide about all the running you must be able to do in Panama. What I can say though is, from more driving in the car, many streets and roads aren't suitable for safe running. While in Panama City for a few days, your safest option might be to stay on the wonderful pedestrian and bicycle lanes along the Ocean and the famous Pan-American Highway going through the city.

Longing the Dubai part of Panama City and its impressive forest of high rise buildings, you can run for 2.5 miles without crossing any street. Then, still without any crossing, you can continue for another 2 miles, above water, on the Cinta Costera, with views of the original and historical fortified city. In my next post I'll cover 4.5 more miles of this continuous walk and bike paths, making a perfect 9-mile stretch, or 18 miles total, to run not only safely but with wonderful views. Not to forget a few water fountains and restrooms on the Amador peninsula.

A fly-over of that first run along the Pacific, from the older Panama City (click on the image below, or this link):

Map views.

And a visual tour.

Cathedral/Basilica Santa Maria

Getting on Cinta Costera through Calle 13 Oeste

Fuente acuatica:

A well-fed raccoon family:

The end of the walk/bike path in... San Francisco!

The Presidential Palace and/or Ministry of Foreign Relations.