Looking for an indoor track in minnesota to do some running in when it starts getting cold. Are there any facilities open to public for a guest fee or anything?
Looking for an indoor track in minnesota to do some running in when it starts getting cold. Are there any facilities open to public for a guest fee or anything?
Perspective from a competitive runner who has lived in the twin cities for 20 years:
St. Olaf College, Northfield MN - This is going to be your best indoor track facility in the state. I believe open to public. If not, very easy to enter from doors other than the main one. Newly surfaced mondo 200m track with a 270m upstairs track for warm/up cool down. Very open and lots of natural lighting. Carleton college is also in Northfield and has a pretty good indoor track. Not on the same level of Olaf though.
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul - Pretty good facility located in the cities. Will have to wu/cd outside though. Very close to great river trails.
U of Minnesota, Minneapolis- not sure if open to public. Fine facility.
There are MANY others throughout the rest of the state but these are the main three that I have used. Olaf is hands down the best facility as long as you dont mind the 35min drive south of the cities.
Check with the college in the city you live in.
If you live in the twin cities the u of MN was pretty easy to sneak right in at the transition between practice and open rec (6 pm) up until a year ago when they started cracking down.
In the next 2-4 years the u of MN might get a banked or oversized track plus new outdoor facilities out of the title ix norwood teague fiasco, but it i wouldn't put money on it.
St Thomas has the nicest track facilities in the state in my opinion considering indoor and outdoor combined.
And bethel is another option.
Hamline and Augsburg don't have their own indoor tracks.
Also before the Metrodome was torn down you could run like 1/2 mile laps around the inside concourse in the winter. Might come back next year with the new stadium.
If you live in Rochester RCTC has a 200m track that is open to the public before 7 or 8 am.
Was surprised by the lack of facilities in MN when I moved here 12 years ago.
In the 80's in Illinois my South Suburban high school Conference had at least 4 indoor tracks. A relatively lower income conference compared to north and west burbs.
Thornton
Thornwood
Homewood Flossmoor
Bloom
And others might have too, but my recollection has faded.
Indoor Track was pretty big in Illinois back in the day.
Kind of sad really that we don't have more facilities in MN
MN high-schools don't have an indoor track season to compete in therefore the schools don't have indoor tracks.
Logic always gets me.
Ok, well that makes sense.
I probably would have known that if my daughter didn't quit running after eight grade.
Depending on where you live in Minnesota, UW-River Falls may be a good option. Twenty to 25 minutes from the East Metro.
200m Flat, open to the public anytime except between 2-7pm. Like many tracks during open rec time, you may be asked to run clockwise.
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