Tuscan, AZ

First of all, it's Tucson. Tuscan is a Spanish furniture style.

Good running. Not great racing. Lots of trails east, west, and north. Running Group meets at Reid Park; call The Running Shoppe and ask about it. Wonderful temperature. My favorite trail run starts at 3500 feet and ends up at 6000+, and it's only a 30 minute drive from downtown.

Italian, as in Tuscany.

Tucson is a good place for running. The weather gets a little hot in summer, so you have to run early, but other than that, it's fine. I moved here from UK and have adapted to the climate without problems.

There is not a great number of races and not many fast courses, but Phoenix is not too far away and there are plenty of options there.

Go to

www.azroadrunners.org

(Southern Arizona Roadrunners web site) for a list of local running groups and details of local races etc.

Training wise, tucson is great, its cheap living, increasing number of good jobs and the UA keeps a constant supply of hotties frequenting clubs and bars.

YO

Ditto what the Ghost said about Ried Park. I went to HS in Tucson; was able to get pretty involved with the running community. The Running Shop was owned by Rob Tenney then; probably a good thing he does not own it now. Look up Rick Fenno when you get to Tucson. I think he is the coach at Pima Community College now; probably has an email on thier website. He has been around forever; done it all, run it all, etc. Still fast for 45 years old or so.

I think Wenneborg still runs there. There was a group of African athletes there about 18 months ago; dont know the scoop on them or if that is what you are looking for. But, by far, the best advice I can give you is to try to stay out of the same room as the Tucson Marathon race director; the sheer size of her ego alone with Crush you like a BUG!

Stay healthy, wear sunblock; take 2 days recovery from anything under Nogales.

Peace

My favorite runs in Tucson were at the East Monument trails (east side of town at the end of Broadway). They are dirt trails that go for miles and miles - many options. I liked it so much, I moved to that side of town when I lived there. A lot of people like the Sabino Canyon trails but I found them a bit rocky. I also enjoyed running speedwork at Reid Park around the 1/2 mile dirt track.

Tucson is beautiful and the running is great but I never did get used to those hot summers!

Tucson is a great city to train in during the winter, not so great during the summer.

As was said before, the racing scene isn't great (a local 10 miler with cash prizes was won in 56 minutes or so a couple of weeks ago). However, there are lots of people to train with if you are at that level.

Greg Wenneborg and Randy Accetta host the Workout Group every Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Both are Olympic Marathon Trials qualifiers. Greg in 96, 00, and 04, and Accetta in 96 if memory serves correctly. They train a bunch of guys in the high 15 to the mid 17 minute 5k range.

Also, a bunch of Africans do in fact train here. At the Workout Group, David Krummanacker and others have shown up before to warm up and do easy workouts. On top of that, Lagat and Abdi are continually around here (Abdi at the clubs more than anything else).

Lastly, unless you were in Tucson some 15 years ago, Rob Tenny was solely the manager of The Running Shop. And that was only for a short period of time (maybe a year or two). It was started by my parents and is now owned by my mom. It has been this way for the past 15 years or so. That being said, we do have the premier selection of running goods in Tucson. We have at least 80 pairs of different trainers, and 10 different flats, coupled with all the apparel you could ever want. Come by and check us out: 3055 N Campbell Ave, #153.

Randy Arriola

The Running Shop

3055 N Campbell Dr

Tucson, AZ 85719'

520-325-5097

randy@runningshopaz.com

Randy-

Yep, been about 15 years. I was at Palo Verde until 1990. Your Dad's name is David right? I remember now. I guess Rob Tenney just THOUGHT he owned The Running Shop. I remember your old store on Speedway? I have seen the new spot in the late 90's...great store.

Peace

Sounds about right with Rob. He acted like it was his. Rumor is that he now somewhere in Tombstone, being a cowboy.

My dad was actually Ed- ran for the UA back in the day. Close enough though.

-Randy

Randy

I was just advised that you have been taking pot shots at me on this chat board,why?

For the record.I did own the Running Shop some 20years ago,and I managed it till 1996.I never told a soul that I owned it after I gave it back to your parents.I left the Running Shop to take over a business at Canyon Ranch that I have owned since late 1996.

Now,as for me being a cowboy in Tombstone,not hardly.I owned a business there for the last 2 years.I have just given that business to my wife in a divorce.

My final comment has to do with some news that all the Track world will know this week about my return to the sport.So stay tuned.

I hope all is well,and tell your Mom Hi for me.

Rob Tenny

What is south Tucson like? I read that there is good stuff on the north, east and west sides but nothing on the southside?

South of Tucson are the Santa Rita Mountains, which do have some nice trails... but they are about 30 minutes farther from the city center than any of the other mountain ranges on the N,E & W sides. There is actually a city named South Tucson, located where you might expect. It is mostly populated with Mexican immigrants, legal or otherwise, and really good taquerias.

Randy

You dont know me, but I was at the UA back in the late 70's and remember your dad being a fantastic 800 meter runner. The UA had some great talent back then, Thom Hunt, Terry Cotton, and Ed Mendoza was living in the area. I was not good enough to be on the teams, but I ran alot and saw those guys all the time. I remember the coach being a great guy, always said Hi to me and remembered my name even though I wasnt on the team. Tucson is a great area to run and I have some fond memories from living there.

Jim

with your spelling prowess, people there would think that you were a scholar at the U of A.

Thank you guys for the information (and Sue). I'm going out there to visit on Tuesday through Saterday. I coach a small DI school right now but got a great offer for both me and my wife to work. My family and I may move there in January. We'll see how it goes. I'm definately going to come by the running store though and check that out. For those that live or were born in Tucson, I apologize for the mis-spelling.