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.
