BY MELISSA HECKSCHER >LA.COM

Normally, I wouldn't be caught dead on this particular stretch of Robertson Boulevard wearing stretch pants and a T-shirt. 

But there I was, breezing by upscale boutiques in workout clothes, plodding in sneakers past paparazzi (who were hovering like vultures outside The Ivy just in case a celebrity showed up), sprinting past chi-chi shops sporting 
stuff I bought from Target.

There I was, on a jogging tour of Beverly Hills, ever-so-subtly looking for celebrities.

"Let's see if we can find anyone," Cheryl Anker, founder of "Off 'N Running Tours," says to us as we cross Santa Monica Boulevard and head toward Rodeo Drive. "You have to keep an eye out."

She says this as if we're embarking on a wildlife safari with a mission to spot the most elusive of creatures. And in a way, that's exactly what we're doing.

The 4-mile "Running from the Paparazzi" tour is designed as a way to find famous folks in their native habitats (i.e., at exclusive restaurants, leisurely dining on salads and unbuttered bread at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday).

The tour winds its way around Beverly Hills past The Ivy restaurant, Kitson clothing store (Victoria Beckham and Paris Hilton are frequent shoppers) and a slew of plastic surgery offices and sidewalk cafes.

"I designed the route based on where I know the celebrities are hanging out," Anker said. "You never know who you're going to see."

It makes sense, right? After all, anyone who's lived in Los Angeles long enough knows the best way to spot a celebrity isn't by following a Star Map or taking a Universal Studios tram tour. Nope, most celeb-sightings happen during the most mundane of outings - while grocery shopping, at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, at Pinkberry.

Why not while running?

"We've had runners who have seen Richard Gere, Jerry Seinfeld, Paul McCartney," Cheryl Anker, founder of "Off and Running Tours," a company which offers jogging tours of Los Angeles said.

"You just never know who you're going to see."

Anker knows how to spice up a run. "Off 'N Running Tours," which offers several different jogging tours of Los Angeles, is designed for runners who need a little extra eye candy with their workout.

Her other jogging tours include the "Pacific Pleasures Tour," which runs along the Santa Monica coast; the "Marvelous Mansions Tour," which winds its way around the residential areas of Beverly Hills; and the "Stars of the Silver Screen" tour, which highlights famous digs, including the former homes of Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow, Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball and Jack Benny.

"The tours were set up to show people the sights and, of course, the beautiful neighborhoods in the area," said Anker. "Over the years, I've learned that taking people to different scenic and fun areas is great, but the main reason they do the tour is they like to run."

It's true. Anker's tours are, first and foremost, runs. Outings generally last about an hour with stops made only for traffic lights, and bathroom and water breaks (though a celebrity sighting trumps running, anytime).

Most of the men and women who join the tours are longtime runners looking for a break from their regular exercise routines. 
"It just adds a little extra motivation to have people to run with," said Santa Monica resident Megan Abney, who joined a recent running tour and is a member of Anker's weekly running club. "When you're running long distances, it's tough to do it by yourself."

Claudia Mazzei, of Redondo Beach, joined the tour to enhance her training for the Disneyland half-marathon in August.

"It's nice to run with other people," Mazzei said. "You motivate each other."

Of course, celebrities aren't guaranteed on any run. But anyone who keeps a close eye out should spot someone. 
On my "Running from the Paparazzi" tour, we were lucky enough to spot George Lopez. The comedian, who was driving home from The Ivy with his wife in the passenger seat, had just been pulled over by the police ... for an autograph (he insisted it wasn't for a ticket).

In an unexpected act of celebrity courtesy, Lopez got out of his car and stood with us for a photo.

To him, we were just a bunch of joggers who happened to have a camera. To us? Mission accomplished.

For information on tours, visit  http://www.offnrunningtours.com/tour.html

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Melissa Heckscher (310) 540-5511, Ext. 329 
melissa.heckscher@dailybreeze.com