NAU Killing the Flagstaff Running Community

No one seriously argues that a college track should be open to outsiders during team practice. Leaving it otherwise open builds a running community that helps to sustain the college track team as well in the long-term, from developing running in the area.

What’s with this community BS? The college facilities are funded by state taxes or private funds. They are intended for college use. This notion that local runners sustain the track team is complete fantasy! We’re supposed to let anyone and everyone on the track because 5-6 local runners might buy a track meet ticket or donate $50? The truth is that most local hobbyists do a Turkey Trot or a nearby marathon and have no clue about college track or cross country. They do their race, post it to social media, collect their medal and a bagel, and then jog until they feel the urge to do another one.

Should we allow the YMCA over 30 rec basketball league to use a 20,000 seat arena for Wednesday night games? How about letting pee wee flag football play in a 80,000 seat D1 stadium to foster community? Can I drop in to The Brickyard to run hot laps in my new car because I am part of the Indianapolis driving community?

Get over yourselves!

No, CCC doesn't have a track. There are 4 outdoor tracks in town, if I'm not mistake. NAU, Coconino HS, Flagstaff HS, and Sinagua Middle School (which was a HS back in the day). As others have noted, local public schools also have limitations on using their tracks. Tuesday evening Team Run Flagstaff workouts are one way to ensure access, but that's obviously just 1 day a week and still comes with a membership cost (which I believe is very reasonable)

A good thread on track access for those who aren't students at these universities. Can someone answer some regional questions related to this as I was going to holiday at altitude in your summer (might even bring some runners I coach with me):

Park City, same track access issues?

What about Colorado Springs, is that open to the public for reps?

I recall Laura Muir training at Twin Peaks California in 2017/2018, is access a problem to this track? I'm guessing that this is a high school track?

Aren't there public all weather tracks in Denver? Places like Gunnison used to be popular. Small town Colorado have the same issues as Boulder?

South Lake Tahoe is an expensive place to stay, right? Still have a track?

New Mexico, easy track access in the main towns at altitude?

Thanks

This happens lots of places, not just in Flagstaff. First there's the liability insurance and the possibility (paranoia?) that someone might get injured and sue. Then there's the wear and tear on the track with so many people (college, pros, clubs, hobby joggers) on the track and fighting for space. Charging for access and/or limiting access to clubs with their own liability insurance are effective ways to cut down the number of users.

As for the meets, I thought we were all capitalists here? Just like buying an overpriced beer at a ballgame, if people are willing to pay it then don't blame the university -- it's a good fundraiser for the track program.

• If these athletes are considered to be "pro runners" shouldn't they have their own track??l

My local NHL team allows beer leaguers to come in and play on the ice even on the evening of the games.

Waiting to go in and watch, I’d watch these beer leaguers gather at the arena employee entrance then watch them a couple of hours later leaving the arena with their stick bags or whatever they are called

They didn’t back the local team and they didn’t go to the games on game night.

i don’t know why the team put up with that.

All you need to know here. Lionel Ortega UNM.

sports.yahoo.com

Runner Ortega, engaging by nature, could be stubborn when he believed it necessary

@YahooSports

Feb. 9—Lionel Ortega, says his friend and fellow New Mexico distance runner Matt Segura, was a kind and generous man who made friends easily. "Lionel was one of those guys that would get along with anybody," Segura said of Or...

Open link

All university facilities are off limits to non-students. It's like that even at HS tracks by me. They're all fenced off.

Hard to argue that a university should have to allow public access. If it were open to the public and free you'd get dog walkers, kids on bikes, etc. But the public should have some kind of place to run repeats - ideally a track. There are tons of open basketball courts and soccer fields anyone can use. You can pay to golf in any city in the US. But to use a track? Good luck, you'll probably have to beg or climb a fence.

Most runners would be willing to pay for track access, but that opportunity is rarely available - tracks are just closed to all but scholastic teams, maybe a couple clubs. $20 does seem steep to use a track - but that is what women (and some men) pay for barre and yoga classes. They should do some kind of season or annual pass unless the goal is just to keep people off without actually keeping people off.

Two interesting takes on this. One from coffee club I listened to. One the Grant fisher interview. Coffee club were complaining about not being able to use the track when it had been hired for a kids Easter egg hunt. Basically saying they should have access and ritz saying if only they knew obiri was the worlds best runner. Grant had exactly the opposite view. Said I’m barely professional the way I arrange my trading. I never hire a track. I show up and try to sneak on tracks and hope I don’t get kicked off.

in Colorado track access is actually governed by state law. Any group where the coach gets paid needs to hire the track. The reason for this is basically when we ask taxpayers to fund schools it’s not so other professions can use it while they charge money

Under Ted. Haven’t had any issues since Alex became coach

Democrats controlled China, Italy and Australia?

Generally I tend to agree with this kind of sentiment, but public universities have a public mission and do best when they do small nice things that benefit the community, such as host concerts for low prices, track access, etc.

Public tracks should be more common. Some cities, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Chicago, etc, have public tracks within parks. Portland is the best, as I think it has three public tracks at parks (Duniway, Fernhill and Grant). San Francisco's Kezar is great. Chicago has two outdoor public tracks and an indoor public track.

Public tracks reduce pedestrian/car incidents and provide a safe place for people at risk of falling to walk. We should invest in them more as a country.

Exactly . Every college I know here in the Northeast has times when the public is allowed to use. And even if they don't have an official designated time, you rarely see anyone get scooted off unless there is a meet or practice.