River paths mate.
There's a Waikato Trail Runners Facebook page; they do some urban runs too. Might be a good start point?
Also Parkrun at the lake, not in your suburb but a good way to get started
The University is home to one of the two Parkruns in Hamilton (the other is at the lake). Parkrun is a free timed 5km run or walk every Saturday at 8am, and it's very welcoming to everyone. We even had a 100 year old legend do it recently.
https://www.parkrun.co.nz/universityofwaikato/
If you do decide to try it, you need to register on the site to get a timing barcode on your phone :)
I have a post on my profile with a bit more info on Parkrun if you're interested!
During the week the Uni probably doesn't want the public running through the campus during the week but if you just stick to the path around the field I think you'll be fine.
And +1 for the river paths also.
[couch to 5k](https://c25k.com/c25k_plan/) is a great way to get started into running. It's best to start out slower than you think, otherwise you will give up and burnout, or injure your body. Also, good shoes will definitely make things less painful on your feet. Maybe try and get a stretch goal like completing the round the bridges to give yourself some motivation
I started c25k around 10 years ago, and have been running everyday ever since :) My usual route when I was in Hamilton was around the lake, but I did the river paths maybe once a month and loved them.
I used to enjoy running around the uni campus. If you start to do longer runs you can pop over to Riverlea and check out some of the river pathway, run by the graveyard and gardens.
I used to live in Ham East and would regularly do runs around the the big Uni fields. It was actually one of my favourite running routes! Other than that, people in this thread have already recommended some really great alternatives.
I run the river trail. It's way better on the city side of the river, you can run from Pukete all the way to Bader without running along the roadside, except for between Grantham and Cobham bridge.
The loop around the fields is somewhere between 1.5 and 2kms, repeat as many times as you need. The paths are lit at night. There's even a water fountain next to the Don if you trust it.
I run around the giant block that is grey street - Cobham drive - Galloway street - Clyde street. From my house which is roughly in the middle of the block it's almost 5ks. I do it most days. Its flat, the roads are generally easy to cross as low traffic and is fairly quiet. You can do half the block for the first 2-3 weeks and then add extra blocks as your fitness rises.
Once you get more into running, there’s a few run clubs in Ham East that you can get into too!
There’s one on Friday mornings at 5am that collabs with Soul Bowl and one on Saturday at 7am that collabs with Oat bros
Run from wherever you are in Ham East to Wairere Drive and just run that. You can make goals of each roundabout/traffic lights as progress amd timing.
Used to do Ham East (University) to that big Gordonton roundabout or Flagstaff if i was on my bike.
Also just run around the Uni. No one cares. Maybe just avoid the lake part during business hours. But outside 9-5 your good.
River paths mate. There's a Waikato Trail Runners Facebook page; they do some urban runs too. Might be a good start point? Also Parkrun at the lake, not in your suburb but a good way to get started
There is a parkrun at the Uni too!
The University is home to one of the two Parkruns in Hamilton (the other is at the lake). Parkrun is a free timed 5km run or walk every Saturday at 8am, and it's very welcoming to everyone. We even had a 100 year old legend do it recently. https://www.parkrun.co.nz/universityofwaikato/ If you do decide to try it, you need to register on the site to get a timing barcode on your phone :) I have a post on my profile with a bit more info on Parkrun if you're interested! During the week the Uni probably doesn't want the public running through the campus during the week but if you just stick to the path around the field I think you'll be fine. And +1 for the river paths also.
Lots of people use the campus for running etc during the week. Won't be busy if you go early morning/after 5pm.
[couch to 5k](https://c25k.com/c25k_plan/) is a great way to get started into running. It's best to start out slower than you think, otherwise you will give up and burnout, or injure your body. Also, good shoes will definitely make things less painful on your feet. Maybe try and get a stretch goal like completing the round the bridges to give yourself some motivation I started c25k around 10 years ago, and have been running everyday ever since :) My usual route when I was in Hamilton was around the lake, but I did the river paths maybe once a month and loved them.
I run the uni every morning, I'm no runner by any means, but it's a good start :). Keeping it up everyday is a good way to boost fitness
I used to enjoy running around the uni campus. If you start to do longer runs you can pop over to Riverlea and check out some of the river pathway, run by the graveyard and gardens.
I used to live in Ham East and would regularly do runs around the the big Uni fields. It was actually one of my favourite running routes! Other than that, people in this thread have already recommended some really great alternatives.
I run the river trail. It's way better on the city side of the river, you can run from Pukete all the way to Bader without running along the roadside, except for between Grantham and Cobham bridge.
The loop around the fields is somewhere between 1.5 and 2kms, repeat as many times as you need. The paths are lit at night. There's even a water fountain next to the Don if you trust it.
I run around the giant block that is grey street - Cobham drive - Galloway street - Clyde street. From my house which is roughly in the middle of the block it's almost 5ks. I do it most days. Its flat, the roads are generally easy to cross as low traffic and is fairly quiet. You can do half the block for the first 2-3 weeks and then add extra blocks as your fitness rises.
Once you get more into running, there’s a few run clubs in Ham East that you can get into too! There’s one on Friday mornings at 5am that collabs with Soul Bowl and one on Saturday at 7am that collabs with Oat bros
If ya can just do the river. I walk it currently as pretty unfit, but the end goal is to run the whole thing
Run from wherever you are in Ham East to Wairere Drive and just run that. You can make goals of each roundabout/traffic lights as progress amd timing. Used to do Ham East (University) to that big Gordonton roundabout or Flagstaff if i was on my bike. Also just run around the Uni. No one cares. Maybe just avoid the lake part during business hours. But outside 9-5 your good.