Learn Hardcore Russian: Я бегаю по парку утром.

Бегаю is from бегать (multi-directional, imperfective) and is used for habits/repeated actions or running around within an area. Бегу is from бежать (uni-directional) and is used for motion in one direction, often “I am running (now).” For a routine: Я бегаю…; for right now: Я бегу….

What does по mean here, and which case does it take?

Here по means “around/throughout/along (within a space).” With this meaning it takes the Dative case, so парк becomes парку: по парку = “around/through the park (inside it).”

Can I say в парке instead of по парку?

Yes, but there’s a nuance. В парке (Prepositional) states location “in the park” neutrally. По парку (Dative) highlights movement within the area, “around/throughout the park.” Both are fine with running; по парку sounds more dynamic.

Why is it парку and not парке?

Because по + area/movement uses the Dative: по парку. The form в парке uses the Prepositional after в to mark location. Singular of парк: Nom парк, Gen парка, Dat парку, Acc парк, Instr парком, Prep (о) парке.

Why is утром used without a preposition?

Утром is the Instrumental singular of утро used adverbially to express time (“in the morning”). Russian commonly uses this adverbial Instrumental for times of day: утром, днём, вечером, ночью.

How do I say “in the mornings” or “every morning”?

Use habitual expressions:

По утрам = “in the mornings.”
Каждое утро = “every morning.” Examples: Я бегаю по утрам (по парку). / Я бегаю каждое утро (в парке).

Can I omit Я?

You can say Бегаю по парку утром, but Russian is not strongly pro-drop. Omitting я is colloquial/emphatic or used when the subject is obvious from context. In neutral speech, keeping Я is most common.

Where can I put утром in the sentence?

All are natural with slight emphasis shifts: Утром я бегаю по парку. / Я утром бегаю по парку. / Я бегаю по парку утром. Putting утром first emphasizes the time.

What’s the stress and pronunciation?

Stress: Я бе́гаю по па́рку у́тром. Approximate IPA: [ja ˈbʲeɡəjʊ pɐ ˈparkʊ ˈutrəm]. Simple guide: ya BEH-ga-yu pa PAR-koo OO-trum.

How do I conjugate бегать in the present?

я бегаю
ты бегаешь
он/она бегает
мы бегаем
вы бегаете
они бегают

How do I say it if I’m running right now?

Use the uni-directional present: Я бегу по парку (сейчас). If you mean “I’m in the habit of running (these days),” you can still use я бегаю.

How do I talk about the future (one time vs habit)?

One-time/for a while: Я побегаю утром. (perfective побегать = “run for a bit.”)
Future habit: Я буду бегать по утрам. (Future of imperfective.)

What other prepositions change the meaning?

Вокруг парка = around the outside of the park (on the perimeter).
Через парк = across the park (from one side to the other).
Вдоль парка = along the side of the park.

Can по be used with plurals too?

Yes, with Dative plural: по паркам. For example: Я бегаю по паркам утром = “I run through parks in the morning(s).”