Is coffee good for running? Is coffee a booster for your performances? That’s not the point: there are some cities where having a cup of coffee is a mandatory experience, one you should not avoid if you join one of the best races in the world.

Bavisela Trieste, Italy
The city of illycaffè, Trieste has a long tradition of great coffee: try an espresso before the race at the very famous Caffè degli Specchi or Caffè Tommaseo. Many marathons pretend to be international but for Trieste the title “European Marathon” is well justified: just few miles from the Slovenian border, the city is not far away from Croatia and Austria.

Half Marathon San Francisco, Usa
Not only dozens of great Starbucks, San Francisco offers unique coffee houses and cafes – try Graffeo – and a great half marathon in Autum. The race kicks off on the waterfront in Aquatic Park and offers a great scenic route in San Francisco through the Marina, Presidio, Golden Gate Bridge (twice) and historic Muni Pier.

Paavo Nurmi Marathon, Finland
Finns are among the world’s highest consumers of coffee: have a kahvi and a munkki in Turku, the old capital of Finland. And join the Paavo Nurmi Marathon, running from the city centre to the natural beauty of Ruissalo Islandon the most beautiful routes in Finland.

Stramilano, Italy
Drink a caffè ristretto, a cappuccino or a marocchino one on of the literally thousands of bars in Milan – try traditional Marchesi or Cucchi – before running the Stramilano, the main running event in the the city of fashion. The race offers the unique chance to start in front of the Duomo.