Best cities to train in?

Los Angeles

Fizzy O'Logic wrote:

Manhattan, KS

manhattan kansas? are you joking? the only kind of person who considers manhattan kansas a great place to train is someone who's never lived anywhere else.

I live in Los Angeles and the running scene sucks and the talent is weak.

Everyone dresses like a professional runner though. Here in LA it is better to lose pretty than win ugly!!

Punk in Drublic wrote:

I live in Los Angeles and the running scene sucks and the talent is weak.

Everyone dresses like a professional runner though. Here in LA it is better to lose pretty than win ugly!!

That sounds accurate.

When I was a kid my dad lived in LA and trained for a couple marathons with a couple running clubs. He told me that there was a problem of people joining these clubs just for the free shit they gave away. One woman joined the Niketown club so that she could be entered to win a free pair of shoes. After she won her Nike Shox, she quit the club. My dad told me another person joined a club based on the opportunity to win a Pontiak Aztek.

He also claimed that everyone was so sick of running on pavement that when the would come across a playground with wood chips instead of sand, they would run around the swingset a few times just to experience running on a soft surfaces.

Ok you can't just discredit cities like Chicago or Seatlle. Sure there is more pavement and it takes a while to find some trails but that is true for any major city. Most of the people posting on here who are bachelors and have the ability to move to different places will search for major cities in which to find a job. Sure you can live in Podunk, Nowhere, USA and run on soft surfaces but you can count on not making any more than $25K/yr and having a crappy social life with no culture or entertainment desirable for a single 25-30yr old male. On the other hand you can come live in a happening, beautiful city, enjoy gainful employment, beautiful women, and spicy social scene while maintaining a solid running schedule and pushing through the concrete/asphalt aspect (one of the very few cons).

Culver City

Frisco

Culver City? Dont try to church it up. It was already stated that L.A. sux.

yea ok wrote:

Say word wrote:

West Memphis, Arkansas

Yeah I'm sure West Memphis is an awesome place...

I would say Marion, Ark since that is where the Anytime Fitness is where I can hit the treadmill for a safe run. (Assuming I get there via Military rd without getting a ticket since the speed limit is 35 out in the middle of the country.)

I won't even DRIVE through East Cleveland with the doors locked and windows up not stopping at any red lights!!

flagstaff arizona!

Natasha Hastings wrote:

Los Angeles

{{cough}}

{{wheeze}}

{{gasp}}

{{cough}}

San Diego

Haha those of you that are putting Los Angeles are crazy. Besides nice weather, running here pretty much sucks. Unless you like a lot of pavement, smog and busy roads. I live here so I can say that and after moving here from the pacific northwest, I must say I would much rather run up there. Trails everywhere and clean air. I also find the running culture down here a lot different.

North San Diego

Culver City

I've spent time in several towns in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Washingtonh, Colorado, and Oklahoma, and as far as running goes, my favorite was probably Stillwater, OK, but I'd rather live elsewhere. Boulder, CO is a great place. Like someone already said though, the best towns are small college towns with some mountains or forest or something nearby. Spearfish, SD is pretty good. Pullman Washington isn't bad. Moussoula MT seemed like it would be good, though I didn't actually do any running while I was there. Pocatello, ID is pretty good as well (haven't run in Boise), and come to think of it, the Salt Lake City area is pretty good too, though I wouldn't want to deal with the mormons.

Well, considering the summer heat, maybe Stillwater isn't that great, but it does have nice weather 8 months of the year and good running areas (miles of dirt roads, lakes, etc). I'd probably want to do something like Boulder I guess, though I'd really like to spend some time in Flagstaff.

Anyone saying places like Seattle, LA, Chicago must live a pretty sheltered life. If you think concrete jungles are good places to run you need to get out more.

Compton, California

Corvallis and Bend, OR.

Sorry boys, but go to the English south coast. Went to the University of Portsmouth and trained with my guys there. Publically available tracks, QE2 park 20 minutes drive from the city with miles of (hilly and non-hilly) soft surfaces. mild climate year-round (0-30 Celcius due to the english channel). Good Air quality (same reason). Decent costs of living.

Plus:

A large running community with national-level athletes and at least 2 relatively serious athletics clubs (1 from the university, 1 public club) Great local races for pre-season build-up. 85% of Seasons localtions w/in 3 hours of driving.

I think that qualifies the english south coast (many spots with very similar conditions) as the best place to train.