Comments on: Community Tracks – A Nationwide Issue?

By: Edward Wilson

Edward Wilson — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:05:09 +0000

I completely agree with this article. I live in Las Vegas and I am sick of every track being locked up. Why are High School runners the only people allowed to run on a track? It is quite a workout just scaling the tall fences to get on the track. The track is really good for my hip problems since it is flat.

By: I can’t do speed work – I don’t have a track! « The Running World According to Dean

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:25:38 +0000

[...] I can’t do speed work – I don’t have a track! Posted on 8 July 2009 by Dean Hebert This article is in response to another couple interesting comments I’ve overheard recently. One runner going on vacation wasn’t going to have access to any track facilities another lives somewhat remotely and doesn’t have a neighborhood track (even if he did it would probably be inaccessible… but I digress). [...]

By: Melanie Kosach

Melanie Kosach — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:05:03 +0000

Someone mentioned 7th St & Indian School. What school is there? I only know of Indian School Steele Park in that area but no school. I am having the WORST time here in Phoenix finding a track as well. Which is really disappointing coming from Ohio where they have great rubber tracks that are always open.

By: Dean Hebert

Dean Hebert — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:42:11 +0000

Kristen,
This is ridiculous. I thank you for your comment. I’d really like to bring some attention to this issue.

By: Kristen Tropf

Kristen Tropf — Thu, 07 May 2009 03:14:21 +0000

Hey,

We have this problem big time in Florida. Not only are their few schools with tracks, the FEW that have public tracks lock them up and post signs threatening prosecution to the full extend of the law for trespassing! So frustration. Hence my Achilles tendonitis from doing speed work in my hilly neighborhood, and dodging stray dogs the whole time.

By: Dean Hebert

Dean Hebert — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:55:35 +0000

Mark,
No follow up has been done to my knowledge. I have talked with Amby but not on this specific issue. I like your suggestion about an access group. I have no idea about how they work, how they get started or anything. If you have some insights and interest… drop me a line. coach@rxrunning.com
Maybe this would be something that Amby and RW might have some interest in getting the ball rolling?

By: Mark Bockmann

Mark Bockmann — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:41:53 +0000

Coach Dean, I was wondering if you have any news on this issue since you published this article. Did Runner’s World ever write a piece on track access? Do you know of any access groups? Rock climbing has the Access Fund and mountain biking has IMBA. Maybe runners need their own access group?

By: Erin Ford

Erin Ford — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:58:36 +0000

Thanks for your reply!

I actually did find a nice open high school track today on 7th St just north of Indian School. I am hoping it is open all the time as there were other people using it.

If there were any way I could help your cause (though not sure i personally could) please feel free to ask my assistance. I would be honored!

By: coachdeanhebert

coachdeanhebert — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:35:14 +0000

Erin,
I’m with you. There are some school districts in the area, like I mentioned, who do keep them open. Most middle school tracks here are dirt tracks and are available when school activities aren’t going on. Now, remember, that “Phoenix” though is a city is also really a collection of 10+ cities to make up the “Valley”. Some cities have more than one school district. I mention this to just add to the complexity of attacking this. Each one of those school districts set policies on access AND in some cases they leave it to the individual schools!!!!

If you read my reply to Amby Burfoot, I think first is awareness of the issue and that could best be done in a big forum… Runner’s World would be a perfect start. From there I would love to use the data from a national perspective and apply it locally. I want to find a role model city/school and use that as an example of how it can work to convince locals.

If I had special 1:1 relationships with all the district athletic directors it might work the opposite way… start at one district and move onward…. but I don’t have that with but a couple ADs.

By: Erin Ford

Erin Ford — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:06:12 +0000

I was just trying to google public running tracks in Phoenix when I can across this article. I am from Montana where you can go run the high school and middle school tracks anytime without having to jump a fence.

I moved to PHX 3 months ago only to find this is a very annoying place to try to run. I can only take so much of the canal, and really don’t want to do my speed training on the treadmill every time. And, of course, the tracks are always locked!

Any ideas on how we try to work toward a remedy to this problem here in the city of Phoenix?

Thanks so much for writing on this.