TRAVELING IN STYLE : Side Trips : Running in Places

Keeping up your regular exercise routine can be difficult while traveling, but it’s easier if you know where the natives sweat when you reach your destination. Here are some recommended hot spots for jogging and other exercise in four far-flung capitals, according to resident experts.

* Sacramento. Martin Brady, exercise physiologist for the Schools Insurance Authority and member of the American College of Sports Medicine: “There are about 30 miles of hiking and biking trails around the Sacramento and American rivers. It’s like having one big park.”

* Sydney, Australia. Martin Thompson, exercise physiologist at the University of Sydney: “Centennial Park is crisscrossed with jogging, walking, cycling and horse-riding paths. The Domain is another parkland area popular for jogging and walking. The Sydney beaches are another place people go--for swimming, jogging or just walking .”

* Ottawa, Canada. Alain Mayhew, physical therapist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa Civic Hospital: “Ottawa closes off a couple of major parkways (Western and Rock Cliff) on Sundays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. These run from the suburbs to downtown and span more than 10 miles. People can bike, ride, jog or whatever.”

* Dublin, Ireland. Joanne O’Halloran, physical recreation officer at Trinity College, Dublin recommends not a park but a popular downtown health club, Litton Lane Studios. “It has aerobics classes, step classes, circuit training and hydro-fitness classes, among other things,” she says--and it’s convenient to downtown sightseeing, she adds, so there’s no need to brave Dublin’s fierce traffic. Classes are about $3.50 during the day, $4 at night.