The Ten Worst States for Distance Running

Really? 3 seasons? Try one and a half if you are real lucky.

The Smartest Let's Run Poster wrote:

dfsdfsdf wrote:

When was the last time you heard about a distance runner from Hawaii?

Alaska?

Montana?

Revise your list.

Most of Montana and Alaska both have great weather three seasons of the year and mountain trails to run on. Hawaii has consistent weather, incredible views, one of the largest marathons in the world, and some of the most varied terrain on the planet. Hawaii makes the top 10.

I have lived and trained in Missouri for the past 3 years, and am entering my second year of college. After dealing with summers full successive 100 degree days and winters that have month long periods of below freezing days, I always get excited to go to travel to meets with runners that don't have to deal with that kind of weather.

Tiger_runner wrote:

Criteria for worst/best running state:

1) Amount of annual snowfall

2) Average range of temperature change in a year

3) Humidity/Dew point in the year

4) Effort of state to keep Trails/sidewalks/roads runable

5) Frequency of homosexual slurs directed a runners by passing motorists/pedestrians

7) Average time of road race finishers from state

8) Number of elite training groups in state

9) Number of deaths caused by runner-vehicle collisions

10) Percentage of state citizens who are “students of the sport”

Since you left out number 6 I'm guessing you just made these up off the top of your head?

nikeman wrote:

Idaho needs to be on the list. I was born and raised and still live here and even I agree that it sucks.

I'm pretty sure that when you lured me here, you said Idaho was great for running. I think it is, at least in the Boise area. The weather is usually tolerable and there are lots of places to run.

Let me say, Minnesota is awesome for training. The summers are tolerable, fall is beautiful and spring isn't too bad. Winter can get hold, but I found that it made me tougher.

I go to college in Iowa though, and Iowa absolutely SUCKS. The winter is colder than minnesota because it's so windy, the summer right now has been just awful, the humidity is beyond ridiculous and it's hot. There are very few good months of training that can be put in year round, it's disgusting.

Solid list. Kansas should be added. Along with Nebraska it is probably the worst state for a distance runner to train. Minnesota and New Jersey are both pathetic states and are placed about right.

My List of Worst States for Distance Running:

1. Alaska

2. West Virginia

3. Oklahoma

4. North Dakota

5. South Dakota

6. Louisiana

7. Mississippi

8. Alabama

9. Nebraska

10. Tennessee

if you're going by the caliber of runner each state produces, then unfortunately Vermont has to be on this list. It's also near impossible to train outdoors during the winter.

However, I don't think there's a better place to run during the spring/summer/fall than Vermont. Lots of dirt roads, no traffic, absolutely beautiful.

what about wrote:

I'm surprised no one has mentioned wyoming, I don't know any decent runners that have come from that state. Sure its probably nice to run there but if you even look at the highschool results any medicore runner from any other state could probably win the state championship there.

I've only been to Wyoming once...and I was literally just driving through the state. Wyoming, on paper, looks like a great state to train: altitude, lots of backroads with minimal traffic (I assume), lots of trails (I assume), and probably at least a decent road racing series in either Laramie or Cheyenne (maybe Casper).

However, when I stopped in Wyoming, the wind was insane. I mean like steady 30 mph (possibly more) and if that wind occurs with any regularity, it would totally suck to train there. Give me extreme heat or cold any day over wind. Judging from the sh!tons of wind turbines I saw off I-80, I imagine the wind is a regular occurance.

I honestly dont think you can say that states that are "hot as balls" are bad. I mean pretty much everywhere in this country is going to be "hot as balls" in the summer but atleast the the southern states will not be so cold in the winter

Having run through a few Vermont winters, I disagree that it is near impossible to train outdoors. Yes there are a handful of days when heavy snow or sub zero cold may make it uncomfortable, most of the time it is fine. The biggest impediment to winter training here is lack of daylight for people working 9 to 5 jobs. The lack of elite runners is a strike against VT, if that is one of the criteria, but Wheating is from Norwich Vt even though he went to school across the river in NH. He apparently took great pride in being the first VT native to break 4:00 in the mile.

My apologies to the OP, I know we're not supposed to comment on the list but I have to say...

Oregon is not good... the pollen EXPLODES!

Sorry you are from Minnesota! Of course that explains why you are a candy arse.

Judi St. Hilaire is a Vermonter.

sub 4:00 wrote:

Original ranking was way off. This is based on culture/community acceptance of running, available sidewalks/trails/tracks, history/tradition:

1) Mississippi

2) South Dakota

3) Nevada

4) Hawaii

5) West Virginia

6) Alaska

7) Kansas

8) Alabama

9) Louisiana

10) South Carolina

Thanks you! By putting Mississippi at #1, you've done so much to help keep our wonderful local scenes truly local!

Seriously: This thread is a parade of ignorance staffed by people who for the most part are letting their Mouse-hands do the walking.

Have you ever been to Mississippi? Have you ever run in Mississippi? Have you ever raced in Mississippi? The 300 Oaks 10K in Greenwood, for example, or the Double Decker in Oxford, or the Ole Miss Open? How about the SEC XC championships on the Ole Miss golf course, where Ole Miss star Barnabas Kirui mopped the table with Arkansas's finest on a crisp fall day?

I didn't think so.

Apart from know-nothingism, what are your criteria?

Uncomfortably hot weather and low population density? Is that really what it comes down to? It's easy to snicker and remain ignorant.

I lived in NYC for 22 years and trained regularly in Central Park and Van Cortlandt Park. I'm happier running in Oxford. It's sunny most of the time, winter as well as summer. If races in which you're jostling with 5000 others is your idea of a great time, hey: I won't try to persuade you.

Please continue to speak out of ignorance. Do NOT let anybody know how sweet the running scene is down here.

I should have said "Thank you," not "Thanks you." Sorry about that, bossman.

The Smartest Let's Run Poster wrote:

From worst to tenth worst:

1. Nebraska

2. Mississippi

3. North Dakota

4. Louisiana

5. New Jersey

6. Alabama

7. South Dakota

8. Iowa

9. Minnesota

10. Missouri

Please don't respond to this thread. Comments about states on this list or not on this list are not permitted. This list is accurate and is based on years of research and is for informational purposes only.

You do have the right to disagree with this list and you also will be wrong if you do.

Factors considered are weather, terrain, quality of races, quality of runners, and other factors.

You should do a list of the 10 worst countries to run/train in.

Uh, you obviously haven't been to Phoenix in the summer. It's impossible to run in Phoenix in the summer

I'm so surprised nobody mentioned Arizona. The summer is unbearable. Hot, dry, dusty.

I'm currently a high school runner. I spent 15 years in Minnesota. My family just moved out here, and I would take -15 any day over Arizona.