Running across America

Last updated on Dec 11, 2008

If you take a look at my last post, you'll see that I ran in a lot of places over the two week period of my coast to coast journey, which added a lot to the many places I had already been this year. In fact, I've covered the map pretty well through my travels in 2008 alone. Though I haven't exactly had anything to brag about as far as performances go, I can say that I've seen a lot of what this country has to offer for runners at the elite and sub-elite level. Since I've had a lot of friends ask me about the running scenes in these various places, I figured I'd use this post as an opportunity to share a runner's perspective of some of the places I've been and what they have to offer. I know I've already done various posts on some of these places so for those more loyal readers, some of this may be familiar.

On that note, I'm not sure how wide spread the followers of this blog are located, but I invite and encourage anyone reading this to send me their own experiences and knowledge of these areas as well as places I haven't mentioned. With your added input, I can add to the little amount that I already know and update this information appropriately. Without further delay, I give you my spin on running across America.

Still under construction so check back for updates

Albuquerque, New Mexico
At an altitude of about 5500 ft, this city has been a popular training spot for many elite runners, both foreign and domestic. Some local favorites have been Paula Radcliffe, Elva Dryer, Simon Sawe, Henry Rono, Peter Koech, and many others. There is also the Teddy Mitchell group that has done well here and has worked with Spira for gear sponsorship. Albuquerque is home to the University of New Mexico and has a large following in the running community. The local running store of choice is Heart and Sole Sports with it's knowledgeable staff and unique layout which is decorated with various running memorabilia. In this store, you can also take a moment to chat with one of Prefontaine's biggest rivals, John Bednarski. This store is also developing a strong elite running club of it's own with many of the competitive runners in the area jumping on board and adding to the already popular Albuquerque Road Runners organization. This area has many of the perks of a large city while also providing some great trails and scenery along the Rio Grande and at the foothills of the towering mountains, giving you a mixture of flat and fast along with hilly and challenging all in one. Read this RT article or RW spotlight for more information.

Ann Arbor, Michigan
This sea level based Wolverines community has been super popular among the track specific elites like Nick Willis, Tim Broe, Morgan Uceny, Lindsey Gallo, and many other U of Michigan alums that have stuck around to continue their training under UM coaches, Ron Warhurst or Mike McGuire. Furthermore, you might see some overlap with the nearby and very successful Hanson's Distance Project which is about an hour away in Rochester Hills. The local running stores of choice are Running Fit or Tortoise and Hare. Talk to both of these stores for running groups as well as the Ann Arbor Track Club which provides support and guidance in various capacities. There are great trail systems along the river and at the botanical gardens that offer soft surfaces as well as lengthy bike paths for alternative routes that please runners and bikers alike. This area has the great college town feel with fun restaurants and coffee shops scattered throughout. If you're looking for real quality and character, be sure to check out Zingerman's as well as the great Farmer's Market for tastier and healthier feasts.

Asheville, North Carolina
This small city is located in the center of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it sits at about 2500 feet above sea level, and offers some of the best scenery a mountain-lover could ask for. I view this town as a sort of diamond in the rough since the people that live there know how great it is but it still seems to be a relatively untapped resource on the national running scene with only a few elite/sub-elite runners living in the area. It is located about 90 miles from Blowing Rock (which I talk about below) and is also about a 30 minute drive from Brevard. I was unable to venture into Brevard but have heard stories of it's extraordinary trails. A few years back, it used to be quite the hot spot for some of the southern athletes and it was actually written about extensively by John L. Parker Jr. in both of his books, Once A Runner and Again To Carthage. But even if you can't make it to Brevard, you won't get bored on the trails in Asheville with it's extensive trail systems. For a runner's appetite, venture over to Doc Chey's for some awesome noodle bowls, indulge on those decadent cravings at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, or relax with a morning coffee at the Green Sage Coffee House. If you're in the area and looking for more guidance on running, nutrition, or just looking for a good time, be sure to visit the local experts at Foot Rx and ask for Mark or Katie. Put a big smile on your face and tell them JC sent you.

Bar Harbor, Maine
To this day, Bar Harbor is still one of my favorite places to visit. It is home to the famous Acadia National Park and features extensive running and hiking trails that overlook the stunning coastline along a mountainous terrain which all sits on Mount Dessert Island. You can run up Cadillac Mountain for a steady and challenging climb or drive to the top for a look at where the United States starts its day as this is the first spot the sun touches in the US. Depending on your outdoor likes, you can go for some great hikes in the area or just relax at the beach. The town of Bar Harbor has a very welcoming feel everywhere you go with great restaurants and generally happy locals that are very proud of where they come from. You might drop a few R's and put them in places they don't belong, but you'll be offered the countries best Lobster and might even bump into Martha Stewart while you're there. This is definitely a seasonal area so this national park is most popular in the late summer and early fall months with warm temperatures and colorful foliage, but depending on your cold tolerance and what the weather does, all the things mentioned above can be enjoyed from early April all the way into November. Check out the Eden Athletics running club for updates about races and group runs on a daily basis.

Blowing Rock/Boone, North Carolina
Before 2001, this area was relatively unheard of on the national running scene. Much like the area of Asheville, there are mountains everywhere you look as it is in the same Blue Ridge Mountain Range. Blowing Rock has long been a popular tourist area for mountain lovers and Boone has continued to grow in popularity as it is also the home of Appalachian State University. The reason I benchmarked the year 2001 is because that is the year that Zika and Andy Palmer founded the now very successful ZAP Fitness. With the help of Pete Rea, ZAP (Zika and Andy Palmer) has provided a place for post collegiate Olympic hopefuls to train like professionals, while also acting as a mountain retreat for High School, Collegiate, and recreational athletes alike through it's many camps and ability to host dozens of athletes at once in the in ZAP dormitory. For the best runs in the area, check out Moses Cone Park for the scenic carriage trails and beautiful overlooks. The elevations in this park range from about 3500 feet to the upper 4000's. While you could probably go months or even years without getting bored with the trails in this park, you can get some more variety by venturing over to Watuga River or Mulberry Road for some great runs, or even stick to the "Walter" loop for a shorter option around the ZAP facility. Pete and Zika do a wonderful job making this program as successful as it is, but so many others have helped keep this wonderful facility going. To become a part of that extended family, check out the website to see how you can contribute to the success of these athletes.

Boston, Massachusetts
In all the places I’ve visited so far, I haven’t experienced another community quite like that of the Boston running community. With dozens of college running programs and dozens more post collegiate clubs in the area, the city is packed with elite and sub-elite runners. Throw in the fact that it is home to one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, and there are literally thousands of runners in Greater Boston that are training and competing at a more than recreational level. Anyone looking to do more than run around the block with their dog can do so in this city and find a group that supports it. From stroller warriors to elite professionals, anyone can find a club that fits them and fuels their competitive edge. The big three in my mind are Boston Athletic Association, Greater Boston TC, and of course New Balance Boston. Among these elite groups, you’ll find NCAA All Americans, Olympic Trials Qualifiers, and all around great people to spend your Friday nights with at Reggie. For great runs and places you’ll most likely see these Boston elites, check out Lincoln Woods, the Fells, or Blue Hills. Within the city limits, the most popular place to run is the always reliable Charles River path, where you’ll find the bulk of Boston’s recreational runners. For competition, the big season in Boston is indoor track with the fast tracks and national level meets at BU, Reggie Lewis, and Harvard. But Boston certainly isn’t limited to this aspect of the sport; you’ll find some of the best cross country races here at the legendary Franklin Park, you’ll have a chance to compete with some of the nations best at the Boston High Performance Series, and when the streets are clear of snow, you can find a road race almost every weekend for opportunities to race against elites and recreationals alike for a chance at an occasional cash prize and a rather frequent post race beer.

write ups coming soon:
Boulder, Colorado
Eugene, Oregon
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Flagstaff, Arizona
Nashville, Tennessee
Lincoln, Nebraska
Mammoth Lakes, California
Park City, Utah
Portland, Maine
Providence, Rhode Island
San Diego, California
Santa Barbara, California
Washington DC

Other popular places that I have yet to visit:
Bloomington, Indiana; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Portland, Oregon; Rochester Hills, Michigan; Tallahassee, Florida