Training in Bosques de Palermo: Cross Country and Urban Hills

Hi everyone! Today I’m sharing the breakdown of a different kind of training session right in the heart of Buenos Aires (CABA). We stepped off the traditional asphalt to look for natural terrain and a bit of power work.

•    Location: Plaza Juan Facundo Quiroga, Bosques de Palermo.
•    The Circuit: The dirt path parallel to the sidewalk (out and back), adding climbs and descents on the train embankment, and a loop among the white tipa trees in the square.
•    The Weather: A beautiful autumn day, clear skies, bright sunlight, and that perfect crisp cold (around 14°C).

Even though it was the weekend and the Rosedal area was packed with people (thanks to the French Fair drawing a massive crowd), Plaza Quiroga was surprisingly empty—the perfect scenario for an uninterrupted urban cross-country session.

Terrain Breakdown
The northern sector of Palermo offers great trail variations if you know where to look. Here is how the surface felt today:

•    Dirt terrain: A packed dirt base with rooted areas. Ideal for stability work and footstrike technique.
•    Train embankment: Going up and down the embankment added a strength and power component. These are short hills but with a steep incline (≈ 4–6%), perfect for anaerobic intervals.
•    White tipas (tipas blancas): Their protruding roots force you to adjust your stride and maintain constant focus, which significantly improves proprioception and coordination.

Key Session Metrics:

•    Average cadence: 167 spm (strides per minute), indicating a good stride frequency on uneven terrain.
•    Average speed: 9.4 km/h, consistent with a solid, recreational cross-country pace involving elevation changes.

 Technical Interpretation: What Did We Gain?

•    Aerobic work: The sustained pace promotes great cardiovascular endurance.
•    Strength work: The hills on the embankment heavily activate the glutes and quadriceps, simulating a specific hill repeats workout.
•    Stability and technique: The roots and soft ground force you to keep your core engaged and your eyes locked on the terrain.
•    Mental recovery: Training in a green environment and varying the terrain reduces the monotony of asphalt and sharpens mental focus.

Wikiloc track: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-carrera-por-montana/training-in-bosques-de-palermo-caba-cross-country-and-hills-267201376