San Francisco Guide: Tom Hill

By San Diego Guide and Chicago Manager Chelsey Stone

Tom (right) described this photo best: “here’s a very damp picture of the bridge with two very damp runners“

On your next visit to San Francisco, consider hitting the trails. Guide Tom Hills is a long-time San Franciscan and has some great recommendations.

“I'm originally from the UK, but I've been here since the ’90s. My husband's from here, and San Franciscans don't leave. I did become an American citizen this year, so I'm now, like, bonafide.” We laughed that it “only” took him 25 years. Be sure to read everything below with a charming British accent.

“I started in 2019. I'm an artist, so it fits really well, being a guide, because I set my own schedule. I make sculptures, mostly of birds and animals. I show in some galleries and then do commissions.

I mostly do trail running myself, but many of our runs are downtown. I would never run there by choice just because you think, Oh, why would I go downtown to run? It’s not in my neighborhood. But it's nice to go early morning and run through Chinatown or the financial district.”

Tom (right) on a recent, sunny run with a client at the Palace of Fine Arts.

“It's nice one on one because you can actually really chat with somebody. But in group settings you see people getting to know each other even over quite a short space of time, like the running we just did for the American Chemist’s Society. We've got grad students and the guy who's about to be president of the whole thing, and they're all running together, and it's such a good level. Everyone's huffing and puffing up the hills, all in the same boat, the lowliest to the highest.” (Our clients couldn’t agree more; read one client’s experience with run-networking.)

I asked if running tours have bounced to pre-pandemic frequency, and he assured me they have.

“There's been so much in the press about San Francisco not being safe, so I think people have been put off, but it seems totally fine to me. It's nice to see big conference groups come back. It's an amazing experience when there are 60 of us running downtown.”

Hit the trails

“I've learned the great trails we have. [When you’re on them,] you can't even believe you're in a city.

Golden Gate Park is beautiful. You see coyotes, raccoons, and all sorts of birds. Even though it has busy parts, it has a perimeter trail that goes the whole way around. That's an easy one anyone can do. You're really close to the street, so you're not out in the middle of nowhere.

There's the Sutro Forest, which is close to where I live, and I think Mount Sutra is about 900 feet. So it's not exactly Mount Everest, but it has wonderful trails, and you’re in the middle of nowhere. You'll get great views. You can do that and run to Twin Peaks, the two hills you see from Market Street. You can do a complete trail run all the way up to the top without having to go on the sidewalk, pretty much. 

There’s also Mount Davidson just beyond there. There’s even fewer people there.”

“Then of course, the Presidio. Sometimes on Golden Gate Bridge runs we come back through the Presidio because it's so amazing that we have what was a military base, and it’s now a national park. It's this huge area of the city with wonderful trails and woodland. This weekend I ran with a client, and we saw dolphins from the Golden Gate Bridge. It's great we have nature so close to us. But, the dolphins are not guaranteed!

Just be sure to heed Tom’s warnings if you’re going to venture onto the trails: “Some of it's quite technical. There are bits of loose stone and rock. You'll be more comfortable in trail shoes. There're a few mountain bikers out there. Prep for the poison oak.

Because of the funny microclimate thing here, the west tends to stay really foggy, especially in the summer. Sometimes it’ll be a sunny day and you go out for a run and you get to the west side and it's filled with mud. You come out, especially if you slip and you have mud up to your knees, and you're running back through the neighborhood completely covered in mud. People look at you like, how did that happen?”

How to put a personalized tour to good use in San Francisco

“I've had clients where they've been like, can we do a trail run? So we don't do the usual, but we go up for beautiful views of the ocean. If you just want to be in nature, it’s a great option.”

Chase the Cable Car

“I run with A Runner’s Mind on Sacramento St., and we occasionally do this “race,” Chase the Cable Car, where we meet just above Fisherman's Wharf, and there are two blocks where you chase the cable car, and it's really, really steep. The object is to beat it to the top of the hill. It's fun because everyone on the cable car is cheering and the muni driver is ringing the bell. 

You have to wait for the cable car to actually show up and then to see people's faces as it climbs is hilarious. It's one of those things you think, this isn't going to be too bad. And then you think, my legs are going to drop off!

We did it recently and a coyote wandered out and joined in the race. That was quite mad.”

I asked if anyone had ever beaten it. “Usually there's a guy that runs with us, a paleontologist of all things, and he can. He's amazing. But sometimes we have months where no nobody can do it.”
Are you up to the challenge? Check out A Runner's Mind's social media for the next chase or join Tom and City Fit Tours any day of the week in San Francisco for our regular routes or go off-roading on a personalized tour.

You can follow Tom and his amazing sculptures on Instagram @tomhillsculpture.

NYC Guide: Jill Krebsbach

By San Diego Guide and Chicago Manager Chelsey Stone

In addition to guiding with City Running Tours for an impressive 14 years in New York City, Jill started doing our social media a year ago.

In our interview, Jill shares how she’s gone back to school a few times to pursue her many interests, her favorite parts of being a tour guide, and recommendations for lesser-known museums. Scroll to the bottom for Jill’s exclusive recommendations for NYC Marathon runners and visitors.

Jill leading a pizza run tour. See her pizza recs at the bottom of the post.

Back to school

Jill moved to New York right after college and has been working as a fashion technical designer for the last 18 years. But, she said, “I've gone back to school a few times. I studied culinary arts five years ago, and I was working part time in restaurants and as a private chef.” She became interested in cooking when changing her own diet. “I grew up mostly an omnivore, and then over time I transitioned from a flexitarian to vegetarian and that got me more interested in cooking. I thought it was a really fun, creative area, a good way to de-stress.”

This year she went back to school for a completely different field. “I did a boot camp for user experience and user interface design. That’s the industry I'm transitioning towards, something more tech with a bit more flexibility. I'm working on some projects, trying to build up my portfolio and get some experience.”

Don’t quit your day job, yet

Jill voiced something many guides can agree on: “I would love to do this full time, like I'm sure everybody would, because you get such great feedback from people in the moment. It's like meeting a new friend. Everyone's very warm and receptive to the tours. I think a lot of people, like you [gestures to me], end up keeping in touch with clients even after the runs, which is cool, whether we're following each other on Strava or Instagram, checking in from time to time or having a returning client come back. It's always fun, even if it's been a couple of months or years; it’s kind of like you're right back where you started.”

Personalized tours are just as much fun for the clients as they are for the guides. It’s a chance to shake up the standard route. Jill said, “everyone's always drawn to Central Park. It'd be great if people wanted to branch out a bit. Anytime somebody books a personalized run, you're able to mix and match from a couple of different runs, whether it's the Lower Eastside Culture Clash or doing the Brooklyn Bridge Run highlights. 

Keeping it interesting

“I definitely like to change up my running routes. I'm in Astoria, so I'm just over the 59th Street Bridge. Sometimes I take the subway in and run in Central Park, if I'm doing a longer run. Sometimes I'll run part of it with a group for extra motivation and then do a couple miles on my own. Generally I enjoy doing bridges because you're crossing from one borough to the other and it provides that separation and change in scenery. Definitely like to run anywhere by the water too.”

“I run with a club called the Reservoir Dogs and they meet on the Upper East Side, pretty close to the Met. They run three or four days a week. We actually have gotten a few out of towners here and there, which is pretty cool. I also run with a group called Woodside-Sunnyside runners. That's more Queens, Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside. It’s a new neighborhood group, very socially active. It’s cool to have other activities outside of running and is definitely a group that likes to eat.”

Macy’s float preview community run

Jill’s must-see museums

“Everyone always goes to the Met or the Museum of Natural History, which are great, but if you want something a little bit smaller [but equally] interesting. I really like the Museum of the City of New York. It's across from the Conservatory Garden, a nice area to walk through spring, summer, and fall. It's usually [exhibiting] something in New York City history or pop culture and something you can see in a couple hours.”

As someone who appreciates the Chicago Transit Authority, living in Chicago, I loved that Jill suggested a transit-themed museum. “The other one I really like bu feel isn’t advertised enough is the Transit Museum. That's super cool because you get to go on board these old vintage subway cars and the tour is just incredible.

Check out our personalized tours and maybe you’ll get to run with Jill and make her day!

NYC recs for our marathon travelers and visitors

Below you’ll find some rapid-fire recommendations—enjoy!

Pizza (it's always debatable) 

• If you like lighter, no frills Italian thin crust style I would say Lazzara's in the garment district (https://lazzaraspizza.com/)

• If you like something more decadent, Artichoke is really good, their signature slice is insane in size/richness, come hungry (https://www.artichokepizza.com/)

• Another good standby for slices joe, they have the perfect fold if you are on the go! (https://www.joespizzanyc.com/)

Coffee/treats

• Culture espresso (a CRT favorite) multiple locations, get the choc chip cookie! (https://www.cultureespresso.com/)

• Maman: amazing pastries (https://mamannyc.com/)

• Blank Street Coffee: Cold Brew and non artificial ice PSL (https://www.blankstreet.com/)

Places to See

Little Island Park is a cool spot to visit and walk around or Gantry State Park in LIC (Queens) has an amazing waterfront views of midtown manhattan, Queens Bridge and Roosevelt Island (https://littleisland.org/)

Can't say enough good things about the views!

San Diego Guide: Julie Canales

By San Diego Guide and Chicago Manager Chelsey Stone

Julie (right) taking me out for a run of San Diego’s downtown route.

I met Julie Canales at Ruocco Park, the start of San Diego’s downtown tour, on a foggy morning in late July. I had just moved to San Diego earlier that month and was eager to see the route I hoped to be leading soon—as San Diego’s newest running guide.

Julie moved to San Diego from Texas twenty years ago and never left (except for visits to see family, of course). I quickly learned, as we swapped guide stories, that Julie goes above and beyond for our clients.

No distance is to great

She once had two friends training for a marathon request to do their 20-miler with City Running Tours while on vacation in San Diego. Julie had her husband set up aid stations throughout their route with City Running Tours banners hanging from the tables and waters and gels. One of Julie’s friends joined for the last several miles to help get these two women to the finish as well. Julie chuckled as she told me that by the time they got to their final miles, the two were tired of hearing her talk about the sites they were passing by. But she understood, so she eased back on the impulse all guides have of inundating our clients with every fascinating fact about our cities.

Julie talks with corporate clients in town for a conference. The USS Midway and “kissing statue” are to the right and up ahead, two famous attractions.

Recreating a race

Another time, a client had missed a 10k race due to an injury, so he wanted to recreate the route exactly and run it when he was recovered. Julie went to a craft store to get the materials to create a finisher’s medal with the City Running Tours logo on the side.

getting by with a little help from her friends

When there have been larger corporate tours, Julie enlists friends to help break participants up into smaller groups. These friends have even made City Running Tours candies to share with participants after they’re done.

Julie leading a run with a client through the Old Town route. They’re looking out over San Diego from California’s first mission.

you’ll always have a friend in San diego

I can’t guarantee that Julie will provide your next San Diego tour with these unique and thoughtful gestures, but I can guarantee that you will get a great tour of the city and feel like you’ve run with a true friend.

San Francisco Guide: Coleman Feeney

By Guide Chelsey Grassfield

Like Chicago Guide Becca, Coleman Feeney began guiding with City Fit tours in New York City before taking it up again in his new home: San Francisco.

Coleman (center) showing off the Golden Gate Bridge with a client.

Tour guides first have to teach themselves

Whether they’re born and raised in the city or just moved there, our guides earn their expertise and knowledge of our cities. What Coleman enjoys most about being a guide is the opportunity to learn about the cities he lives in. “I don't know if you felt this way in Chicago [referring to my time guiding in Chicago], but it helps you learn about a place and appreciate a place. Learning about a place helps you enjoy it more.”

“I was sometimes going and figuring things out. I remember the first few times I did runs in New York, I didn't know how to get on the Brooklyn Bridge. There was no sign, so I was just running and discovered it. You build on that and build on that, and before you know it you’re learning little tips and tricks about the city and sharing those with other people as time goes on.”

“I always encourage people to take a tour, even when they move somewhere, just to get acclimated. It really adds to your experience of living somewhere.” 

Coleman (left) taking a client out and about.

Connecting with clients is why we do this

“You never know who you're gonna get. I really like that aspect of it. You have to adapt to what somebody is interested in. Some people are interested in history. Others you can tell just wanted somebody to run with. I like that middle ground.” 

“I probably did 200, maybe 300, runs in New York, but I only had one bad experience, and I feel like it's television’s fault. People watch a show, and they think Cats is close to Yankee stadium, so this one client got so mad that she couldn't see more, like really angry.” But one experience like that out of 200? “I think that's a testament to the fact that runners are pretty good people.”

“I've never been a morning person, getting up for those runs to pick somebody up at 6 a.m.? I always felt just awful. But then I would do the run, and I felt so glad I did it. It's always great; you're riding that social high the rest of the day.”

When he’s not guiding?

“I've got big into film here. We have this wonderful theater called the Castro Theatre. It's one of the oldest theaters in the country. They play the organ before and show independent movies.”

Where Coleman likes to run

“I live 2 blocks away from Golden Gate Park; it’s spectacular. There's a bison paddock, so buffalo roam in the park. If you run in the morning, you'll see coyotes and wild turkeys, so it's a cool vibe right out the door. I also live maybe a 5 min run from the Painted Ladies, the famous houses in Full House and there’s a nice view there.”

Run Coleman’s route for yourself.

Coleman’s other favorite tour

“It's not off the beaten path, but people think of Chinatown and Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, and I don't know if visitors think about Oracle Park, if they're not baseball fans. But one thing that's cool about our guides there is that they're baseball geeks who are retired and want to get their steps in, probably walking 5 miles a day. So if you're gonna come to San Francisco for a game, you might as well come on a tour.” Coleman figured our fellow runners would love this: if you’ll be in San Francisco on Sept 3, 2023, be sure to sign up for the 5k or 10k that finishes on Oracle Park’s field. We even have a promo code for you! Enter GGSFCC23 for 15% off.

Chicago Guide: Lauren Hooks

By Guide Chelsey Grassfield

I met up with guide Lauren Hooks on Chicago’s famous Lakefront Trail for a brisk 4 miles at 7:20s pace. As we headed out together from our meeting spot at Belmont Harbor, Lauren established that we had more in common than a love of both running and City Fit Tours. “By the way, we have the same hair. My hair is naturally VERY curly, I just straightened it.”

Lauren and I ended our run at the AIDS Garden Chicago for a shot with the 30-foot sculpture by late artist and activist Keith Haring.

Running for the love of it

My hair doppelganger was born in Pennsylvania but grew up in a small-town community in central Illinois. She didn’t get into running until her sophomore year of high school, running the 800 and 1600 meters for track. “I wasn’t that good at these events and then one meet my coach entered me in the 3200, and I did better than expected.” This sparked her love for longer runs.” Considering she went to state a few times and then qualified for the NCAA championships her freshman year at North Central College in Naperville, she certainly seems to have done well. Unfortunately, injuries plagued her after freshman year but Lauren continued running after college. “Now I run for the love of running.. because I can.”

Running with strangers

And she especially loves to run with visitors to Chicago. Her first tour was with someone staying downtown who wanted a customized tour from his hotel. They ran through Old Town, into Lincoln Park, in and around the Lincoln Park Zoo (free admission!), and–because it was a Saturday–along the popular Green City Farmers Market. “It was more a casual run, running with a stranger. It was great! That’s the great thing about running, it brings people together.”

Running as part of a healthy lifestyle

In college, Lauren got her degree in biology, ran cross country and track, and studied abroad in Scotland. After she graduated, she went on to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. She’s now a physical therapist, working in the Loop for a physical therapy and weight loss clinic. This career seems like a great fit, given Hook’s interest in fitness and healthy eating. A vegetarian, Hooks likes to cook veggie forward meals. We swapped recipes from our favorite Shalane Flannigan and Elyse Kopecky cookbooks.

Running you through her neighborhood

When we met up at the end of May, Lauren was moving from the Lincoln Park area to Streeterville. Now the Burnham Plan tour route is right through her own neighborhood. Maybe you’ll get to run with Lauren on your next Chicago running tour!

Washington, D.C. Guide: Omar Hernandez

By Chicago Guide Chelsey Grassfield

Fellow guide Omar Hernandez signed up for his own running tour (Ripped from the Headlines) when he visited Chicago for the first time. Hernandez’s weekend trip was a graduation present from his girlfriend Marketa. Hernandez earned a Bachelor’s in IT, a field he currently works and is looking to advance in. During his tour we swapped stories about our cities and later over Zoom I learned more about his experiences guiding in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. Guide Omar Hernandez on the right, his girlfriend Marquetta middle, and Chicago Guide Chelsey Grassfield left.

Hernandez hasn’t always been a runner. “I started running 11 years ago, so I could keep up with my daughter. It turned into something that really helped change my life. It turned things around for me. I was able to switch careers and do things I didn't think I could do.”

He became a guide the way many of us do, a friend put out a call for guides to lead a large corporate tour. He thought “Oh, I'll just do this, and then it's done.” But after talking to Bill Hudec, the D.C. City Running Tours lead, he found out there were plenty of opportunities to continue. “Then he sent me like an encyclopedia’s worth of knowledge on the routes and stuff around DC. And honestly, after that I was sold.” 

“I especially like [running with people] that have never been to DC. You get to share your city, meeting people from all walks of life. We have that bond already because they are runners too. You know how that goes [Hernandez gives me a knowing].”

The White House has an open invitation…

I asked if he’s ever run with a high level politician, like maybe President Biden? “No, no, [he chuckles] but he's got an open invite. I know Kamala Harris runs, and some of my friends have run into her when she's running with the Secret Service. But I didn't go with them that day, and I missed it. So I had an opportunity there.”

Eat and sightsee

I'm from Central America, and there's this restaurant near the capital, owned by these two Salvadorian sisters, and they make the best pupusas. The place is called Tortilla Cafe. I definitely recommend it because there [are] a lot of fun things to do in that area, too. That's a perfect place to sightsee, especially on the weekends. They'll have farmers markets, and people selling art and all kinds of stuff.

Grassfield learned more about Hernandez and his experience guiding in Washington, D.C. over Zoom.

Where the locals run

While most people will run around the National Mall, for obvious reasons, Hernandez reveals there’s some nearby trail running. Near the Adams Morgan neighborhood and just north of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park (about 3 miles from the White House on foot) is Rock Creek Park with “about 20 miles of legitimate trails where you can get some elevation. It's a nice wooded area; you wouldn't think you're in the city. When I have a chance to go, I do. You save yourself from the wear and tear of constantly pounding the pavement.”
Hernandez's favorite route in the city goes up Massachusetts Ave. “It's gonna be just a constant incline. But you're gonna see most of the Embassies in D.C. You'll pass the Naval Observatory where the Vice President lives, and you'll be at the top of Massachusetts. [where you can see] the National Cathedral as your present [for getting to the top]. And then you can take Wisconsin down, and that'll take you right to Georgetown.” Plenty of trails along the waterfront if you need the extra miles, Hernandez says, and plenty of people around on the weekends.

Chicago Guide: Becca Greenberg

From Chicago Guide Chelsey Grassfield

I met Becca Greenberg when she and another Chicago guide, Andrea McPike, and I led a corporate team-building event for chemists in town for a conference. We met on a weekday evening to practice the route Greenberg had created. As we ran, we swapped stories about races we were training for, how we got into running, guiding tours of our city, etc. I've always loved how running with a stranger can make fast friends (sometimes literally) because you already have this one thing in common. 

I recently invited Greenberg for a run to talk about her experiences as a guide so that, if your next Chicago run is with her, she'll be a familiar face. 

Greenberg at the Lincoln Park Zoo, a great (and free!) place to run and visit in Chicago.

In it for the long-haul 

Greenberg's experience is unique. She started guiding for City Running Tours in NYC in 2013, and when she moved to Chicago in 2017, she continued by leading tours out here. She laughed as she realized this is her longest standing job. 

Sometimes you just need a running buddy 

I asked Greenberg to start with her experiences guiding in NYC. "I had one or two clients who would come to New York who didn’t care about history, they just wanted someone to run with." It can be nice to show up in a city you've never been to and have a ready-made running buddy. 

Another benefit of running with a local in a big city? Having someone teach you how to use public transportation. "People used [running tours] in New York to see areas they wouldn’t otherwise see; people staying in mid-town Manhattan would choose a tour that took them somewhere else. Partly because they were afraid to take the subway by themself. If you do a private tour, I’d meet them at their hotel, get them on the subway, show them how to use a Metra card, take them on the run, and get them back to the hotel. So some people would use it inadvertently as a way to learn how to take the subway." 

Even your guides enjoy the hidden gems 

"The one we do the most is [around] Millennium Park. What I love about that one is, like the Central Park route, there’re all these nooks and crannies in Millennium Park nobody knows, even people who live here. I’ll go there if I go to Lollapalooza or something, but you miss that there’s this amazing history, like Buckingham Fountain being bought by the sister or that the White Sox started [in nearby Grant Park]." 

Grassfield (left) and Greenberg (right) on an evening jog in Lincoln Park.

Always a tour guide 

Greenberg revealed that she just can't help herself when she's out. She took her boyfriend on a four hour walking tour just by cobbling together the different routes in New York. "I’ve actually done that [in Chicago] loosely." She'll say to the friends she's with: "want to know some awesome, fun facts?" Her boyfriend always says "Tour Guide Becca’s out to play." But Greenberg says, "you don’t often get to learn about your own city, and you get to share it with your friends whether they want to hear it or not." 

Where the locals run 

"I really like to go up N Clark St. and down N Lincoln Ave.; you see a weird cross-section of the city, a combination of schools and houses, music and theaters and bars, and everything in between. You pass Wrigley Field. How often can you go on a run and pass a major league game? Though sometimes it’s not a great idea to run through the crowd entering or leaving the stadium."