Running is essential for physical and mental health, improving bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, and strengthening muscles. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, running increases endocannabinoid levels in the bloodstream, benefiting mood and reducing anxiety.
Several municipalities in Puerto Rico have implemented Vías Libres, closing roads to traffic to allow runners, walkers, and cyclists to exercise comfortably. Some options include: the second Saturday of each month from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Luis Muñoz Rivera Avenue and San Agustín Street to Plaza Colón; the last Saturday of each month from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Avenida Arterial B to Avenida Roosevelt in Hato Rey; and the first Sunday of each month from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Frente Marítimo in Cataño.
These routes offer a safe space for exercise, with the Hato Rey route being approximately 1.5 kilometers long and not permitting cyclists.