Seventy miles of sandy coastline can’t be wrong. There’s just something about California beaches. Here, you’ll get sunny days, a SoCal cool environment, and a lot of hard, tanned bodies to remind you to strap on your sneakers and pound the pavement. With such perfectly steady climate all year round, it’s no wonder that fitness is a way of life in San Diego. 

We chose this destination for running, because no matter when you visit, you’re guaranteed warm, bright days along the glistening Pacific. One spot doubles as a romantic date spot and a dreamy run through paradise: Sunset Cliffs.

Surrounded by Point Loma, Ocean Beach, and the Pacific Ocean, Sunset Cliffs is a gorgeous public shoreline park that includes the entire strip of land immediately adjacent to the ocean, as well as a larger area of undeveloped park and nature preserves.

Locals don’t really broadcast this place’s aesthetic charm for fear of tourists flooding the area, but a quick run through can’t do much harm. Aptly named, Sunset Cliffs is the most beautiful in the evenings, as the sun begins to sink below the horizon and the sky lights up with fluorescent and pastel colors.

Running on the beach is one of the most difficult cardio exercises you can do for yourself. For an easier run, choose a time when the tide is low, so that the wet, hard-packed sand makes a lesser impact. If you’re looking for a more challenging workout, pick soft, dry sand. Either one will deliver a heart-racing, calorie-burning exercise. The uneven terrain of the sand helps tone leg and calf muscles, and the best way to start is to spend the first few minutes jogging slowly, and to gradually pick up pace.

As ideal as it may seem, running barefoot on the beach isn’t a good idea for your body. The support you get from your sneakers helps your back and joints, and you probably won’t want to crunch a sharp sea shell under your bare toes.

Once you lace up your sneakers and hit the ground running, you’ll fit right into the SoCal (and so fit) lifestyle.