Am I allowed to run on school tracks?

Is different everywhere, but I've generally not had a problem using them in my area when it isn't a school time, and there are no sports teams using the track area. A quiet Saturday/Sunday morning is usually a good time to hit my local HS track. But hopping fences to get on the track may be frowned upon.

It varies a lot from school to school. My impression is that the fraction of schools that allow random people to use their tracks is also going down.

My mother still lives a couple blocks from my high school, which used to have a track and field that was available for public use when not being used by the school. There was even a free community exercise session held there each morning that my mom attended regularly for decades. A bit ago a tornado directly blew over the track and wrecked the facilities and stands. They rebuilt it with a big wall and gates which, of course, have been closed to the public ever since.

LULzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=12509909

Many school tracks have signs posted about public use. Ie...no pets, not during functions, etc. Early mornings are usually good and weekends. After work can be an issue as school sports can still be active past 7pm.

Spoken like a real chomo

in the fair year of 2025, most tracks which are not designated for public use will have a locked gate. if there is no gate, or there is an unlocked gate, you are good to go.

if the track has "open hours" for the public, these will generally be listed on the website of whatever facility or municipality owns the track.

any ungated or unlocked gate to a track is fair game until you're told to scram.

etiquette rules would be the same as if you were practicing with your own team, just don't be a dick.

honestly all of this should be common sense to a teenager but maybe you are twelve so i'm cutting you some slack.

If its locked, then no, if it has free access (no locking gates) then yes....its pretty evident if they are allowing open access or not.

Avoid COVID by living outside of Seattle or San Francisco.

Most times you will get treated like a terrorist! Not kidding, good luck!

This is the normal answer. But if it's "open" I still wouldn't go during school hours. You could call the school and ask.

It depends on the school. Call the one you want to use and ask them, not the general public of a running forum.

No matter what the rules, it never hurts to be respectful and act like you know what you're doing. Don't create reasons for someone to kick you off. Like, don't go to the bathroom where there isn't one.

Looking at you, Bowerman

That's nasty. But I guess that is partly do to the hobby jogger boom of the 1990s. Now MJ wants to "create" something entirely different so our sport, like ALL the others is only for the young and fit who can sprint. You've got FIGHT for your RIGHT to ppaarrtteey!

The BEST answer for many of you is to move to smaller towns where they actually DESIGN GATES so people can get onto tracks anytime day or night. You do not have to live in NYC or Boston!

If you are using the track and walking and someone is running a four minute mile you should let them run in the inside lane. Move out a couple lanes. Try to yield to the faster groups when at a local track.

If students are using it during school hours or for practice it is best to leave. In the winter PE classes usually do not go outside, November -March most people wont care.

As others said read signs and avoid jumping fences when possible.

It's been 5 years and you're still concerned about COVID?