Best running cities in US

Gary, Indiana.

vivalarepublica wrote:

hot tot wrote:

Pittsburgh. Don't knock it till you've tried it.

Went for a great long run in Frick Park when I was there. Not sure where else there is to run.

Our HS team’s stomping grounds... no, but Pittsburgh has a world class trail system (hundreds of miles in Schenley, Frick, Montour, on the side of the three main rivers, the trail that goes to DC, other trails within a 30min drive like the Butler Freeport trail). Decent running community, high school running here is pretty good but road racing, etc. isn't what it was a few years ago.

I don't know why people always bash Pittsburgh here, it's honestly a fairly great city. Only issue most people have is a lacking downtown with little comparative nightlife.

affaaf wrote:

Boston easily in the top 3. Huge running vibe everywhere in the city. It played a major role in the running boom with the likes of Rogers, Salazar, Joan Benoit-Samuelson and now with Shalane. Boston Marathon, too.

Well, Bill Rodgers went to HS and College in CT., Joannie is from Maine, both HS and College with a stop at NC State in there, Maine also produced Louis Lucchini, Bruce Pickford, and Ben True. Shane was born in Boulder, Co and went to HS in Marblehead, MA. Alberto was born in Cuba and grew up in Wayland, MA.

Anywhere that has winter (including flagstaff, boulder, Boston, NYC, etc) should not be on this list. Having to run in the snow and ice is a huge inconvenience and while I understand it my only be for a couple of months, that would be enough for me to not want to train there. It needs to be a place that is fair weather year round.

kid from PA wrote:

vivalarepublica wrote:

Went for a great long run in Frick Park when I was there. Not sure where else there is to run.

Our HS team’s stomping grounds... no, but Pittsburgh has a world class trail system (hundreds of miles in Schenley, Frick, Montour, on the side of the three main rivers, the trail that goes to DC, other trails within a 30min drive like the Butler Freeport trail). Decent running community, high school running here is pretty good but road racing, etc. isn't what it was a few years ago.

I don't know why people always bash Pittsburgh here, it's honestly a fairly great city. Only issue most people have is a lacking downtown with little comparative nightlife.

Keep Pittsburgh on the DL, bud.

Downtown may not have nightlife, but there are a number of other neighborhoods with nightlife, to my knowledge (Carson St, Shadyside, whatever is by the universities, etc.)

I definitely enjoy running in Seattle. Mild weather year around and low humidity. Lots of hills and pavement to run within the city. If you’re willing to drive, you can get to trails.

It doesn’t usually rain that hard so weather doesn’t really affect you. I haven’t ran inside for the past few years living here.

+1

Not bad in the rainy seattle wrote:

I definitely enjoy running in Seattle. Mild weather year around and low humidity. Lots of hills and pavement to run within the city. If you’re willing to drive, you can get to trails.

It doesn’t usually rain that hard so weather doesn’t really affect you. I haven’t ran inside for the past few years living here.

Seattle is dudesville. Great if you're a young single women but terrible if you're a young dude!

Whuh? wrote:

No love for San Hoser?

The bay area is nearly perfect. Probably the Palo Alto/Los Gatos portions.

vivalarepublica wrote:

kid from PA wrote:

Our HS team’s stomping grounds... no, but Pittsburgh has a world class trail system (hundreds of miles in Schenley, Frick, Montour, on the side of the three main rivers, the trail that goes to DC, other trails within a 30min drive like the Butler Freeport trail). Decent running community, high school running here is pretty good but road racing, etc. isn't what it was a few years ago.

I don't know why people always bash Pittsburgh here, it's honestly a fairly great city. Only issue most people have is a lacking downtown with little comparative nightlife.

Keep Pittsburgh on the DL, bud.

Downtown may not have nightlife, but there are a number of other neighborhoods with nightlife, to my knowledge (Carson St, Shadyside, whatever is by the universities, etc.)

Haha, I think the majority of the LRC community would struggle a little too much socially to hang on in Pittsburgh. Biggest con imo is the lack of hot chicks!

Also youre sort of right about the nightlife thing, obviously the hipster neighboorhoods have stuff to do and if you're in school or something then the college projects are popping

Example:

Winteristheworst wrote:

Anywhere that has winter (including flagstaff, boulder, Boston, NYC, etc) should not be on this list. Having to run in the snow and ice is a huge inconvenience and while I understand it my only be for a couple of months, that would be enough for me to not want to train there. It needs to be a place that is fair weather year round.

You aren't a real runner if you discredit a city just because it gets cold. I'm in high school and even I'm man enough to run in snow.

Too Many Dudes wrote:

Not bad in the rainy seattle wrote:

I definitely enjoy running in Seattle. Mild weather year around and low humidity. Lots of hills and pavement to run within the city. If you’re willing to drive, you can get to trails.

It doesn’t usually rain that hard so weather doesn’t really affect you. I haven’t ran inside for the past few years living here.

Seattle is dudesville. Great if you're a young single women but terrible if you're a young dude!

Is it’s really bad here? I’m married so I don’t go out with the guys as much, but when I do, there are a lot of nice places to go out. Probably ratio is not the best, but where are these places where ratio is in guys favor? I’ve lived in many places and since leaving college, I’ve never been to a place where you’re just surrounded by girls.

pathetic wrote:

Winteristheworst wrote:

Anywhere that has winter (including flagstaff, boulder, Boston, NYC, etc) should not be on this list. Having to run in the snow and ice is a huge inconvenience and while I understand it my only be for a couple of months, that would be enough for me to not want to train there. It needs to be a place that is fair weather year round.

You aren't a real runner if you discredit a city just because it gets cold. I'm in high school and even I'm man enough to run in snow.

I am a real runner and it has nothing to do with not being "man enough". I'll do it if it's the only option, but trying to hit workout paces on roads that are not plowed and dodging ice patches is not ideal. All I'm saying is to label somewhere as the best running city in the US, it better be somewhere you can do your best running. Running in a blizzard is not that. I've lived in plenty of fair weather locations (and cold locations) to notice the difference.

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill is like 2:1 girls to guys :)))

Not bad in the rainy seattle wrote:

Too Many Dudes wrote:

Seattle is dudesville. Great if you're a young single women but terrible if you're a young dude!

Is it’s really bad here? I’m married so I don’t go out with the guys as much, but when I do, there are a lot of nice places to go out. Probably ratio is not the best, but where are these places where ratio is in guys favor? I’ve lived in many places and since leaving college, I’ve never been to a place where you’re just surrounded by girls.

You haven't been to Albuquerque! Señoritas everywhere! I do a lot of running on the trails along the Rio Grande River or Sandia Mts and a week doesn't go by when I don't meet a gorgeous gal jogging or hiking on the trails. And they initiate contact with me - I've never had that happen at some of these high-powered high-male big cities that I lived in before. And the suburb of Rio Rancho is loaded with beautiful girls. Driving around that city and my neck gets really sore...if you know what I mean. ?

Sorry guys - but it's gotta be Bay Area.. not even close.

Great trail system, tons of races, perfect weather year round.. close to some of the best national parks around.

NotEvenCloe wrote:

Sorry guys - but it's gotta be Bay Area.. not even close.

Great trail system, tons of races, perfect weather year round.. close to some of the best national parks around.

Okay...wonderful - but the girls? What about the "girls?"

Winteristheworst wrote:

Anywhere that has winter (including flagstaff, boulder, Boston, NYC, etc) should not be on this list. Having to run in the snow and ice is a huge inconvenience and while I understand it my only be for a couple of months, that would be enough for me to not want to train there. It needs to be a place that is fair weather year round.

Winter, unless of the extreme Canadian variety, is not an issue anymore due to the revolution in apparel over the last 20 years.

Even wind chills near zero F feel like 50F inside my Gore-tex pants, jacket and running shoes.

I actually do my best marathon training in winter, away from the heat and humidity that slows everything down in warmer months.

Houston hal wrote:

Definitely Houston in top 3...lots of nice trails and very comfortable temps throughout the year.

Would agree with Houston. Winters are often warm and summers are mild.