The Ten Worst States for Distance Running

South Carolina. Hot as balls most of the year, and a guy in high tops nearly won one of their state cc meets.

The Smartest Let's Run Poster wrote:

Sp!kes wrote:

NJ big mistake. It makes your list look stupid because everybody bags on NJ but everybody in the running community knows the rich history of NJ running.

Bad air quality, too much traffic, too much concrete, and the state just pretty much sucks.

When you get away from cities like Newark, there are actually really good conditions for running. My town has a big reservation with miles of decent trails. If you have ever been to NJ (looking at it from NYC does not count), it is actually a really good state to run in, not the best, but how could you put Alaska ahead of it?

That is actually a pretty legit list.

The deep south should occupy the entire top ten. When was the last time you heard of a great runner or great competition in Louisiana?

As for MN--seriously? A brief overview:

MN boasts plenty of trails, a national-caliber elite development program (Team USA MN), a top-flight DI university, one of the top DIII conferences in the country, and has churned out national-caliber athletes for a long time, including...

Dick Beardsley, Garry Bjorklund, Ron Daws,Steve Plasencia, Will Leer, Hassan Mead, Rob Finnerty, Elliot Heath, Garret Heath, Ben Blankenship, Kara Goucher (Wheeler), Heather Kampf (Dorniden), Gabriele Anderson, Laura Januszewski, Elizabeth Yetzer, Bria Wesch, Jordan Carlson, Jamie Cheever, Justin Tyner, and many more that I'm forgetting!

Minnesota is one of the top states in the US for distance running.

How could that list not have included Florida? Agree that Alabama and Mississippi are horrible, but you at least have cool weather in each of those states for part of the year.

Florida's weather alone should cancel out anything else it has going for it, which isn't much.

4/10

Your original post has not barred us from asking what your credentials for determining this list is. Well? What gives you the all-encompassing knowledge of the running conditions (year round weather, trails systems, etc) of all of the states? OP, feel free to list state by state your experience.

Idaho. Name one runner from Idaho.

The Smartest Let's Run Poster wrote:

I told you not to respond. Minnesota is too cold in the winter.

Then why the helldang isn't Alaska on the list? Or Wisconsin and Maine even?

8/10

good job, you got the kiddies and d3 babies to bite.

Hands down Alaska is the best state to run in. Dont knock it until you have run our trails.

I don't know what NJ you are talking about but I live in the central western part of the state and I can run on trails or the towpath or dirt roads for miles, all without bad air, or any traffic (hell, I can go 6-8 miles on the roads without seeing a car!), or any concrete.

Saying the state "pretty much sucks" is another matter but we do have CC to right the ship.

Nevada

Col. Angus wrote:

Your original post has not barred us from asking what your credentials for determining this list is. Well? What gives you the all-encompassing knowledge of the running conditions (year round weather, trails systems, etc) of all of the states? OP, feel free to list state by state your experience.

I am The Smartest Let's Run Poster. No other credentials are needed.

Arunnertoo wrote:

Idaho. Name one runner from Idaho.

Nick Symmonds.

nonononononono means no wrote:

Nevada

Nevada is close. Mild winters and excellent trail running keep it off the list. I thought I told people not to comment.

name::::::::: wrote:

South Carolina. Hot as balls most of the year, and a guy in high tops nearly won one of their state cc meets.

It's hot as balls in most places. Nice winters, excellent trails, lots of elevation change. No more comments please. This is an informational list.

FlaNative wrote:

How could that list not have included Florida? Agree that Alabama and Mississippi are horrible, but you at least have cool weather in each of those states for part of the year.

Florida's weather alone should cancel out anything else it has going for it, which isn't much.

The heat index in the Midwest is just as bad as the heat index in Florida. The winters in Florida are only about 60 degrees warmer. The last Olympic gold medalist from the United States did most of his training in, you got it, Florida.

My worst states for running list:

Maine/Vermont/New Hamshire: pretty but a lack of top competition and all that snow in winter

Tennessee/Alabama/Missouri/Florida/Georgia/South Carolina: way too friggin hot 10 months of the year

Virgina/West Virginia/Utah/North Dakota: armpits of America

Best states:

Oregon/New York/Massachusetts/California: excellent competition and a real running culture

Colorado/New Mexico/Arizona: altitude, lots of dirt to run on