I just moved to Houston and am looking for a track to do some workouts, preferably near the Rice University area. Normally I would just use the university one, but they paved it for some reason.
I just moved to Houston and am looking for a track to do some workouts, preferably near the Rice University area. Normally I would just use the university one, but they paved it for some reason.
Look around for middle schools and high schools in the area, there are tons of tracks in the downtown area. Some may not even have lanes, but they'll do. Here are some I found with some google searches within a reasonable distance of Rice:
Lamar High School
Yates High
Texas Southern University
Unfortunately, that area has a dearth of tracks. Sorry to hear about the Rice track.
The private school at Bissonnet and 610 has a track, and the gate is usually open; however, I've only run there before sun-up, so I don't know if school officials mind or not.
If you just need measured quarter miles, the paved bayou path has measured quarter miles spray-painted onto it, with a painted "start" just southwest of Buffalo Speedway and Braeswood, heading out towards 610.
do you know if they are resurfacing at rice? i was planning on starting some workouts there but looks like i'll have to look elsewhere...
best bet will likely be lamar high (westheimer & eastside), although the track is a bit rough and the gates are locked from time to time. another track in the area is near westheimer & willowick. haven't run there but it looks like a pretty nice track.
other tracks in the area are episcopal high (fournace & ave b), st thomas high (usually locked) at memorial & shepherd, and there's always UH (elgin & scott) and TSU (near wheeler & tierwester). just remember to be careful around TSU & UH, not the best areas.
good luck.
There is a brand new track in the Heights at Reagan High School. The track is at E 13 and Oxford St. There has been a bit of a battle between the school and residents about keeping it open (residents get mad when they lock it during daylight). But, it is generally accessible during the daylight.
I run at the track at Bissonett and Fournace sometimes (Episcopal High School) during daylight hours (but after school hours), and no one has ever said anything. They just resurfaced it this summer. They do lock the high school gates, though, during the night, so I wouldn't try to go too late.
U of H has a pretty good one.
I read awhile ago that Rice is re-doing its track, so I don't think it's been paved over permanently.
http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=12636
Rice is redoing their track.
Rices track is not open to the public. That said, they very seldom run you off but you take the chance that they will. The official word is that the University requires a Rice coach to be present to use the track. Yes they are re-surfacing.
Another great track and one that is overlooked is the new track at Reagan High School (14th and Oxford) in the Heights. Wide curves and surrounded by a nice neighborhood. Memorial High School in Spring Branch has a good track that is open to the public. In fact rumor is that Spring Branch ISD just re-surfaced all of their tracks. Lamar High School track will beat you to death it is so hard.
I coach individuals in the area if you are interested in that e-mail me.
One way to find tracks is to go to google maps and look at the satalite images of your area. Tracks are very easy to spot. It can't tell you if the track is open to the public or not or the surface, but a good place to start a search.