Best distance running state to run in?

Arizona seems like a great place to run at first glance, but the state is being over run by swarms of killer bees. Seen it on the History Channel's "Monster Quest" last night.

Not sure if you're serious about the bees, because I've never had any issues with them in over 20 years living here. AZ is a great place to train in 8 months out of the year as long as you can get up early in May and September. One of the biggest issues is finding good runners, which we sorely lack. Our high school running programs are a joke. The universities have some decent runners, and Flagstaff has a decent group, but besides that it's mostly recreational runners.

I live in southern CA and summers can get way hot, not to mention the air quality gets much worse. I guess if you live near the beach it would be better. I do like being able to wear short/t-shirt in the middle of January and not have to worry about being cold though. Also, not as many trails or scenic runs here as some other places I have lived (ex: WA).

Alaska, Oregon and Vermont. Can't beat the cool air.

colorado yo

I didn't know there were any distance running states

Upstate New York (Adirondacks), Vermont (sooo many dirt roads), Arizona (just between Flagstaff and Sedona, 2 incredible places to run).

You are right about the lack of talent in Arizona. The main problem is the majority of coaches dont facilitate AM practice so the high school kids are always running cross country in 110 degree heat rather than 90 degree AM heat (which isnt bad at all without humidity or a blazing sun). Its hard for 16 year old kids to be motivated to push themselves when its that hot outside.

Arizona is improving talent wise though and is a great place to train. Ask Bernard Lagat.

The top states have to be Wisconsin, Colorado and Oregon. I give Oregon the top marks because it is cool (not cold) and has hills and trails everywhere (and not too much traffic or pollution). On top of that, there are lots of other distance and road runners in Oregon to share the pain.

You are wrong on so many points.

1. Lagat is in Tucson because his coach is there. Lagat has a summer base in Germany; he moves his entire family there.

2. Abdi is in Tucson because that is where he wound up as a refugee. He spends extended periods at his condo in Flagstaff.

3. Where do you find most of the elite runners in Arizona - Flagstaff.

4. Bethke is in Arizona (ASU) because he was scrambling to find a school to transfer to.

California is a far superior state to train in year round.

kentucky

California is a big state with lots of different climates, the weather in the Central Valley pretty much sucks, yet lots of really good runners come from there and parts of it have a great running scene.

Even LA has really different areas, if you are in the beach communities, say Manhattan or Hermosa the weather is great for training year round, but trail options are limited and the good trails in the hills to the north are a pretty long drive through traffic. Eastern parts of LA get a lot of hot weather and don't have many good places to run.

San Diego has good weather at the beach for training, but the trails are in much hotter areas, good for winter training for sure.

Norther California has some great trails and the spring, summer and fall weather are good for training, but the winters are wet.

The Sierras have incredible trials and altitude, but obviously don't work year round.

If you could move around California through the year to follow the best weather, then you could train on great trails and mix some altitude in. So overall, I don't think California can be beat for training.

Silly Old Fossil wrote:

You are wrong on so many points.

1. Lagat is in Tucson because his coach is there. Lagat has a summer base in Germany; he moves his entire family there.

2. Abdi is in Tucson because that is where he wound up as a refugee. He spends extended periods at his condo in Flagstaff.

3. Where do you find most of the elite runners in Arizona - Flagstaff.

4. Bethke is in Arizona (ASU) because he was scrambling to find a school to transfer to.

California is a far superior state to train in year round.

true lagat moves to Germany but he also says he loves training in arizona in the winter. tons of trails and perfect weather (cold but does not snow)

flagstaff is still in arizona by the way...

and yes flagstaff is where elites train but there is heavy snow there in the winter. ideally Arizona is perfect because you can get summer base in flagstaff where it is cool and elevated and then move down to the valley or tucson for the winter to train in near perfect weather without snow. aka abdi.

Agree with Oregon, and Washington might be up there too. Marine climate really makes it nice and mild; not too much snow, and not too hot in the winter. I'm not surprised Lagat goes to Europe in the summer; it is nice and mild there too, and not too bad in the winter.

the coast of california is good. the bay area has very mild temperatures year round. no snow and no heat. oregon and washington are the same way

My top cities for actual training (not quality of life) in no particular order:

Flagstaff, Arizona

Mammoth Lakes, California

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Boulder, Colorado

Missoula, Montana

Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Rhode Island. No reason, just a lot of fast people are hanging around here.

Washigton, ORegon, California!!!

West side is the best side!

The FL is where it's at BABY!!!! U can't beat running on the beach stareing at the females.