Coolest tracks in US

It is kind of strange and is not the fastest, but my vote is definitely for Franklin Field. If you run in lane 8, the spectators can actually touch you.

Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC has one of the most amazing tracks I've ever seen.

It's a Mondo track that looks directly out at downtown Charlotte and is beautiful when both the track and downtown are lit up at night.

They're a Division II school.

http://robertsvolleyballchallenge.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/johnson_c_smith_stadium.jpg

i too remember the old bu track haha. I like the Widener track. It has a big cliff(going up) all the way down the homestretch like less than 50 yards away from the track. They must never have wind problems there- the stadium is on the other side and the whole thing is down in a bowl obv.

Air Force is pretty cool

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/afa/graphics/outdoor-track-lg.jpg

Wario Stadium is pretty cool. Not sure if that's in the US though...

Southern Utah University's Eccles Coliseum is amazing.

Greco-roman themed

New video board

Decent seating (6000?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ecclescoliseumatnight.jpg

I took a few classes at the Hong Kong School of Science and Technology. The school sits on a cliff overlooking the East China Sea. It was a pretty cool experience doing some intervals here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HKUST_Athletics_Field.jpg

Paul Derr Track at NCSU. Except for its doping tainted former clientele like Gatlin, Jones and Graham, its a beautiful little facility in the Carolina Pines. Scene of many, many memorable races and HS records. Many years hosted the Nationals HS meet. US champ HJ Jesse Williams cut his teeth there as well.

Santa Barbara City College. My god, its in heaven. Where else can you walk off the track and 2 minutes be into a serious bodysurfing cool down?

While it no longer exists, the South Lake Tahoe track used for the Olympic Trials when the Olympics were held in Mexico City, looks amazing. I've seen much better photos, but can't find them. Built in the woods, so cool.

http://tahoeculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/1968-track.jpg

you could probably find a better photo ON THE FIRST PAGE

I actually ran at Norfolk state university for junior Olympics and really enjoyed it....green track with full stands around all turns. That and unc Greensboro are the best quality tracks I've run at.

Omaha Central's track has a good view of the city's skyline.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i12.tinypic.com/34obrtj.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.growomaha.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php%3Ft%3D253%26sid%3De4ad6bc8e85ffa7962fc0b30d693e081&usg=__ebs-2QzNt01cTLeL7srCl476AHE=&h=520&w=783&sz=115&hl=en&start=24&zoom=1&tbnid=bqOH6wTENCHYrM:&tbnh=152&tbnw=232&ei=V_XmTcOzD4SisQOqrpjpDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Domaha%2Bcentral%2Bhigh%2Bfootball%2Bfield%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D679%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=965&vpy=203&dur=985&hovh=183&hovw=276&tx=184&ty=157&page=2&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:24&biw=1280&bih=679

That's one of 10 Olympic Stadiums in which I have run. (Seoul, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Melbourne, Helsinki, St. Louis, Berlin, Montreal, Nagano, Sapporo) (But I only ran around the outside of the Sapporo stadium).

I ran a meet at WashU in 1989, the 10km in the morning, the 1500 around Noon and the 5000 at about 3:30pm. That day SUCKED.

Doesn't beat the triangle track, but for those who don't like the straightaway, Texas tech has a circle indoor track.

Its in this bubble:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fansonly.com/schools/text/manual/graphics/facilities/2010/photos/atc.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.texastech.com/facilities/fac-atc.html&usg=__In0ajfIZHhG1GZFWZ8jCkE3bKFM=&h=293&w=440&sz=82&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=rOi5mvSbx6cnTM:&tbnh=144&tbnw=201&ei=Av_mTZjmJYfZgAfP9sS3Cg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtexas%2Btech%2Bindoor%2Btrack%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D619%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=335&vpy=85&dur=4112&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=130&ty=101&page=1&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&biw=1280&bih=619

Kind a hard to get a picture of the indoor facility where you can actually see its a circle.

But its actually a pretty fast track, Jeremy Wariner ran 45.8 there and Haron Lagat and Fred Samoei a sick 3.58 (despite altitude).

It's not the prettiest or most well maintained, nor does it have a view of the ocean, but it was a delightful surprise. Lakeshore Park in Chicago (Streeterville). Only 4 lanes, definitely needs resurfacing, lots of walkers and dogs and other folk who aren't familiar with track etiquette, but so what? I travel to Chicago a lot and always stay at the Peninsula. This track is 4 blocks away and a great place to get in those intervals. http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1T4GGLD_enUS364US365&q=chicago,+il+60611&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x880fd368b87f5083:0x539e6bb375841b31,Chicago,+IL+60611&gl=us&ei=UgPnTYP1KJH2swPPl-nxDQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CB8Q8gEwAA

Gotta put a vote in for my favorite hometown track, Mackay Stadium in RENO!

The first curve goes UNDER the end-zone grandstand, and the second curve goes around the other end-zone grandstand. The whole stadium sits in a kind of a bowl, so there is less wind. Reno is usually windy in the afternoon.

The other nice thing about Mackay stadium is that you can just hop the fence and run there anytime. We Nevadans are an accommodating, fun-loving, casual bunch of folks! As long as you are there just to run, no one's going to care.

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/nevada/reno_mackay.shtml

http://www.nevadawolfpack.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10000&ATCLID=530170

jericho miler wrote:

From my experience:

Coolest Stadium

Outdoor: Santa Barbara City College

Indoor: Penn State (hydraulic track is sick)

Have you ever checked out Navy's indoor track? It's like Penn State's track put into a nicer building.

Track outside running store in Anchorage, Alaska. 84 meters long but great view.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1913860618597&set=a.1913860458593.232774.1604393809&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1913860938605&set=a.1913860458593.232774.1604393809&type=1&theater

yes, one of the few tracks in chicago. tuesday nights in the summer your soundtrack is free jazz from the steps of the MCA. could be worse!

HLB wrote:

It's not the prettiest or most well maintained, nor does it have a view of the ocean, but it was a delightful surprise. Lakeshore Park in Chicago (Streeterville). Only 4 lanes, definitely needs resurfacing, lots of walkers and dogs and other folk who aren't familiar with track etiquette, but so what? I travel to Chicago a lot and always stay at the Peninsula. This track is 4 blocks away and a great place to get in those intervals.

http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1T4GGLD_enUS364US365&q=chicago,+il+60611&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x880fd368b87f5083:0x539e6bb375841b31,Chicago,+IL+60611&gl=us&ei=UgPnTYP1KJH2swPPl-nxDQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CB8Q8gEwAA