running clubs in Louisville

Ken Combs running store

Swags Sport Shoes

Fleet Feet Sports

The Trail Store

Cherokee road runners

Hill runners

Has the culture shock worn off yet?

I will be moving to Louisville in February because of a GE Co-Op, I was wondering what are some good places to run around the area?

Cherokee and Seneca Park are HUGE running areas. In fact I don't think people run anywhere else in the city...:)

Iroquois Park is another good park to run, but it's bit south so doesn't get quite the traffic.

Both areas are pretty hilly.

Fleet Feet has group runs Saturday and Sunday mornings at 8am. People also meet at the Seneca Park Tennis Courts.

The Riverwalk is also a good place to run. It's a 7 mile paved path that stretches westward along the river (I'd recommend not running westward after dark).

As far as teams go, Fleet Feet-Brooks is an official USATF Elite Development Club.

I've lived and run all over the area and currently live near Hurstbourne/Bardstown so if you'd like more specifics on good routes away from traffic let me know:

Alan

Iroquois hill runners is the best in Louisville. We meet at Swags Sport shoes which is run by a World Class runner and National Champion. We have alot of good guys and women. Swags give us a discount on shoes and accessories.

just run on your own. ive found that ken combs, fleet feet, and swags dont hire runners. I mean if i go into a spelcialty running store i want to speak to a runner and get thoughts and recomendations from him/her.

Erwin "Swag" Hartell is world class in his own mind. He is a national champion through his association with a truly magnificent runner, Nick Rose. It appears as though Erwin has brain washed you like many others using his "British Charm". You need to see through the guys and find out who he really is. I will say there are some great people who run with the group through the IHR.

If you are moving to the 'ville you need to evaluate what you are looking for. Are you a guy looking to run between 15-17 min for 5k or the equivalent, hook up with the Fleet Feet guys. If you like the Fleet Feet scene and run a little slower but still like to compete and have a fun group to meet look to the other running groups from Fleet Feet, they cover all paces and abilities. In the Hurstborne area if you are pressed for time and are looking for more nice people to run with, go with Ken Combs. Or there is a group who will race under the Derby City AC name who usually meet as a group at the park, they are some nice local guys and gals who appear to have a good time when they run.

I just warn you there is a lot of back biting in this running community. I have run with a couple of the groups and there is a lot of bad blood in town between running groups-lots of name calling and drive by fruitings. I got tired of it and cut ties with all the groups.

I suggest getting on the web sites of the groups that meet throughout the week and try them out for yourself. Most everyone who posts on here will have a bias toward their group and more often than not you can get better deals on running shoes and clothing at Dick's Sporting Goods.

Check out these groups:

Ken Combs running store

Fleet Feet Sports Louisville

Swags Sport Shoes/Iroqouis Hill Runners

Derby City Athletic Club

I forgot a group who focuses mainly on the marathon, mainly for first time marathoners, but the guys seems to be doing something right, Look up The Training Studio in St. Matthews. I think he is working on groups for triathalons now that the 'ville is hosting the national ironman champs.

I went into the Fleet Feet to find out about their training group and was shocked. A woman (I believe her name was Camille) talked negatively about everyone and everything that wasn't associated with the store that she worked at. I walked out with the worst feeling I have ever gotten from any running specialty store that I have ever been into. I explained that I was running my first marathon and was trying to break 3:30. She laughed at me as if I was a 6 hour marathoner.

You're probably right, Camille owns the Fleet Feet so she is there a lot, and many other people have had the exact experience with her. Catch one of her employees and the experience is totally different. It is unfortunate because the group which runs from her store could be much bigger, she just turns people off to the store.

Like I said before, check out the other groups, if you are a first time marathoner check out The Training Studio, the guy is a great planner and people who've used his program have seen success and had fun.

You could also read a book or two and learn a little about the sport, then just show up to Seneca Park either early in the morning on the weekends or after work during the week and just jump in with a group. I doubt any group would turn you down if you are new to the area or running. Alot of those groups who are meeting are training for a marathon, you can often find someone who is training for whichever marathon you are running.

Or just get out there solo, that is the way it will wind up during the marathon, you against the clock.

Thanks. That is some great advice. I will check them out.

Well, you have 4 devoted running stores for a metro area of barely a million in a city that loves to smoke and eat fried food. That's a lot of stores. People told Estes they wouldn't make it when they opened in the 90s because there wasn't enough need for another running store. Well, they proved everyone wrong and now organize and/or direct nearly every major road race in the city.

Back to running...

If you have the time head across the river to Indiana and run from New Albany north into the Knobs. The river is at 200ft above sea level, the highest knob is 1000ft. You'll climb 800 feet in just a few miles with most of that (400-500ft) in just one mile. Find a road that goes up into the knobs, there are a few good ones (Corydon Pike, Moser Knob, Spickert Knob, Farnsley Knob). The big hills and rolling countryside is outside the city north, east, and southeast. Run along River Road, up Lime Kiln or Wolf Pen Branch.

Hurstbourne is the middle of Suburbia but depending on which end you are on you could find some very good rolling hills. North end of Hurstbourne will take you to Tom Sawyer Park (home to major college xc meets) and some decent rolling terrain in Anchorage. South end of Hurstbourne will take you to Fern Creek and some really good rolling terrain around Vettner Park (Chenoweth Run, Easum Rd), and then further down Bardstown Road (Seatonville is very hilly).

I've run on just about every street from Sellersbur, New Albany, Clarksville, Jeffersonville, and into Louisville. E-mail me if you have any questions about good routes:

atobin@humana.com

Alan

I have had nothing but great experiances at Fleet Feet. I have bought about 6 pairs of shoes from them and will never go else where. Everytime I go into that store a different person works with me and analyses my gait and everytime I have a great shoe. there employees are terrific. I believe a colligiate runner has worked with me and this most recent time last saturday a high school boy worked with me and once again a great experiance. They really know their stuff and are trained well.

I have been to Swags twice and everytime the employees act like your not even there. I have had 2 pairs of shoes that really hurt my feet. Im a marathoner so you can imagine what an unfomfortable pair of shoes can do. I have actually never seen Swag in his store so ive never really met the guy so I cant say anything one way or another. He also has older models of shoes which is kind of bad since everyone wants the new ones and the life of the shoes dies overtime. Swag also doesnt carry nike so if your a nike lover dont try there.

Ken combs, ive never been there but ive never heard anything negative. He runs a good business and if you live in that side of town go for it.

Id say Fleet Feet and Ken combs are a good deal.

Stay away from Swags, thats my honost opinion.

pshhh wrote:

just run on your own. ive found that ken combs, fleet feet, and swags dont hire runners. I mean if i go into a spelcialty running store i want to speak to a runner and get thoughts and recomendations from him/her.

Cross the river and go to Pacers and Racers in New Albany. I believe just about everyone there is a current runner or has been a runner.

They do have folks that meet on Sunday morning for a group long run and on Tuesday evening for a track workout but no official running club.

I have had nothing but great experiances at Fleet Feet. I have bought about 6 pairs of shoes from them and will never go else where. Everytime I go into that store a different person works with me and analyses my gait and everytime I have a great shoe. there employees are terrific. I believe a colligiate runner has worked with me and this most recent time last saturday a high school boy worked with me and once again a great experiance. They really know their stuff and are trained well.

I have been to Swags twice and everytime the employees act like your not even there. I have had 2 pairs of shoes that really hurt my feet. Im a marathoner so you can imagine what an unfomfortable pair of shoes can do. I have actually never seen Swag in his store so ive never really met the guy so I cant say anything one way or another. He also has older models of shoes which is kind of bad since everyone wants the new ones and the life of the shoes dies overtime. Swag also doesnt carry nike so if your a nike lover dont try there.

Ken combs, ive never been there but ive never heard anything negative. He runs a good business and if you live in that side of town go for it.

Id say Fleet Feet and Ken combs are a good deal.

Stay away from Swags, thats my honost opinion.

pshhh wrote:

just run on your own. ive found that ken combs, fleet feet, and swags dont hire runners. I mean if i go into a spelcialty running store i want to speak to a runner and get thoughts and recomendations from him/her.

Cross the river and go to Pacers and Racers in New Albany. I believe just about everyone there is a current runner or has been a runner.

They do have folks that meet on Sunday morning for a group long run and on Tuesday evening for a track workout but no official running club.

I have had nothing but great experiances at Fleet Feet. I have bought about 6 pairs of shoes from them and will never go else where. Everytime I go into that store a different person works with me and analyses my gait and everytime I have a great shoe. there employees are terrific. I believe a colligiate runner has worked with me and this most recent time last saturday a high school boy worked with me and once again a great experiance. They really know their stuff and are trained well.

I have been to Swags twice and everytime the employees act like your not even there. I have had 2 pairs of shoes that really hurt my feet. Im a marathoner so you can imagine what an unfomfortable pair of shoes can do. I have actually never seen Swag in his store so ive never really met the guy so I cant say anything one way or another. He also has older models of shoes which is kind of bad since everyone wants the new ones and the life of the shoes dies overtime. Swag also doesnt carry nike so if your a nike lover dont try there.

Ken combs, ive never been there but ive never heard anything negative. He runs a good business and if you live in that side of town go for it.

Id say Fleet Feet and Ken combs are a good deal.

Stay away from Swags, thats my honost opinion.

I have had nothing but great experiances at Fleet Feet. I have bought about 6 pairs of shoes from them and will never go else where. Everytime I go into that store a different person works with me and analyses my gait and everytime I have a great shoe. there employees are terrific. I believe a colligiate runner has worked with me and this most recent time last saturday a high school boy worked with me and once again a great experiance. They really know their stuff and are trained well.

I have been to Swags twice and everytime the employees act like your not even there. I have had 2 pairs of shoes that really hurt my feet. Im a marathoner so you can imagine what an unfomfortable pair of shoes can do. I have actually never seen Swag in his store so ive never really met the guy so I cant say anything one way or another. He also has older models of shoes which is kind of bad since everyone wants the new ones and the life of the shoes dies overtime. Swag also doesnt carry nike so if your a nike lover dont try there.

Ken combs, ive never been there but ive never heard anything negative. He runs a good business and if you live in that side of town go for it.

Id say Fleet Feet and Ken combs are a good deal.

Stay away from Swags, thats my honost opinion.

I have had nothing but great experiances at Fleet Feet. I have bought about 6 pairs of shoes from them and will never go else where. Everytime I go into that store a different person works with me and analyses my gait and everytime I have a great shoe. there employees are terrific. I believe a colligiate runner has worked with me and this most recent time last saturday a high school boy worked with me and once again a great experiance. They really know their stuff and are trained well.

I have been to Swags twice and everytime the employees act like your not even there. I have had 2 pairs of shoes that really hurt my feet. Im a marathoner so you can imagine what an unfomfortable pair of shoes can do. I have actually never seen Swag in his store so ive never really met the guy so I cant say anything one way or another. He also has older models of shoes which is kind of bad since everyone wants the new ones and the life of the shoes dies overtime. Swag also doesnt carry nike so if your a nike lover dont try there.

Ken combs, ive never been there but ive never heard anything negative. He runs a good business and if you live in that side of town go for it.

Id say Fleet Feet and Ken combs are a good deal.

Stay away from Swags, thats my honost opinion.