Hi all, I am moving to N.M. from Detroit for work, and was wondering if anyone lives there or has insight on the running scene. I am a 1:15 half type guy, and am looking for good areas to train in, and people to run with. I will be living about 2 miles from UNM. Also, I do duathlons so if there is any insight on quick ways out of town to train on the bike...Thanks all.
Bump from one Michigander smart enough to get out to another...
Good move & Good luck!
there are some unbelievable trails in ABQ, but unfortunately you are going to be in the wrong area of town to enjoy them too much without driving. it's not a long drive east to the foothills though.
check out The ABQ Running Shop for running info; The Bike Coop by the university for cycling info and Nob Hill Velo for group rides:
I used to live in Albuquerque. You should find a place to live on the north east side near the foothills. You can easily drive to the UNM track for track workouts.
I am a young guy right out of college who is looking for a cool place to move to work at a running shop and run a lot-and am also thinking about Albuquerque(I am from the midwest). I too would appreciate any thoughts on the running scene there-how many young, fast guys are there(fast=1:15 half marathon or faster).
And what specialty running shop are you referencing? I saw three on the Runner's World list(not that I spend much time on Runner's World...)
contact Henry Rono on the 'Rono thread'; he lives and trains in Alququerque with a group of runners of all abilities.
Maybe Joining wrote:
I am a young guy right out of college who is looking for a cool place to move to work at a running shop and run a lot-and am also thinking about Albuquerque(I am from the midwest). I too would appreciate any thoughts on the running scene there-how many young, fast guys are there(fast=1:15 half marathon or faster).
And what specialty running shop are you referencing? I saw three on the Runner's World list(not that I spend much time on Runner's World...)
running stores are NOT for runners anymore.
the scene in ABQ is either elite or joggers. Maybe a few people could run under 15min for a 5k there who are in the local scene.
nyc wrote:
Maybe Joining wrote:I am a young guy right out of college who is looking for a cool place to move to work at a running shop and run a lot-and am also thinking about Albuquerque(I am from the midwest). I too would appreciate any thoughts on the running scene there-how many young, fast guys are there(fast=1:15 half marathon or faster).
And what specialty running shop are you referencing? I saw three on the Runner's World list(not that I spend much time on Runner's World...)
running stores are NOT for runners anymore.
NYC, you are exactly right.
ABQ is insane in terms of running and the amount of quality fast people there training.
As a 1:15 half guy you have three choices:
1) training with the fast elites and hang on in the back...if you can
2)Run with the non-elite groups in town....or run away fro them to be honest (lots of weekend wariiors, plodders, 1st time marathoners)
3) Round up all the back of the pack americans that are training with the kenyans and start your own group.
There are a ton of elites in town right now training....
You could also go train with Larry Mboga...he is in town right now.
The Aish's were in town, and Nicole still is, not sure if Mike Still is.
Mbarak Hussein lives and trains here, Paula Radcliffe trains here frequently, supposedly there is large group of kenyans coming over next week or the following.
Rono has a group here. There is a group of jamaicans here as well (yes distance runners...awkwardly enough)
The UNM group is getting better and better with a 1:50 800m guy, 4:00 miler, and 14:00 5k guy. That is not including a few former UNM athletes as well as Jeremy Johnson who is from Albuquerque.
Great place to train and live...might want to pick up your training a notch though so you have somewhere to fit in.
the scene in ABQ is either elite or joggers. Maybe a few people could run under 15min for a 5k there who are in the local scene.
I notice noone has mentioned RACING in Albuquerque.
there arent manyraces in albuquerque, at least not many good races that offer prize money
The best way to get in shape is to stay in Detroit, one step ahead of the prosecutor. Orgies at the Manoogian Mansion are a great way to blow off steam after a hard day of running.
i would rank the athlete's edge #1 in worst race orginaization. from poor course direction, failure to chip races when advertised, last minute changes in start times, and high prices to top it off. however, every trail race i have participated in has been top notch, but not organized by the edge.
CWS wrote:
i would rank the athlete's edge #1 in worst race orginaization. from poor course direction, failure to chip races when advertised, last minute changes in start times, and high prices to top it off. however, every trail race i have participated in has been top notch, but not organized by the edge.
you're right, the athlete's edge races are horrid. I dont even consider them races anymore.
don't forget that the indoor track season in abq was pre-empted by a bowling league. if you live near UNM, like I do, you can take a short drive down to the Rio Grande and run as many miles as you want in either direction on either a bike path or dirt (gravel), with markers every quarter mile north of bridge street and less frequent markers south of bridge street. unm does tempos out by the nature center (see their website) at the 3M mark north of central. exposed to the sun most of the way and flat, but you can get good intensity at a mile high there. then you can run half mile loops at johnson field on dirt at unm, you can run shorter runs on the grass median strips and park up on carlisle and ridgecrest in nob hill (they start about 1.4M from UNM). then it is about 20-30 minute drive from UNM up I-40 east to Tramway (left) and up any of the streets to the right to the foothills and parking. From there you can run along the line of the mountains at about 6000-6500 feet (or even run up from tramway to the trails) or go up into the mountains, which crest at 10000 feet (there is supposedly a 26 mile trail on the crest itself). there are many, many trails. down near UNM, you can also run along the arroyos starting at Indian School Road by the UNM North Golf course (which itself has a 2 mile loop mostly on dirt) for many miles, though mostly on pavement.
as for sub-elite or local competitive types to run with, I don't know--but it does seem true that mostly there are elites and joggers. You'll see the elites around Albuquerque Academy, apparently: I've seen five Kenyan runners (unfortunately after their runs). The ABQ road runners are very friendly and have, among the guys, at least two at 2:42/2:49 marathon pr, probably more, but their training is very casual at this time of year, building up much more in the summer for La Luz, Duke City, and Chicago. Aside from their two English transfers, a 4:02 miler and a 4:06 miler/14:00 5k runner, UNM has a bunch of good runners between 4:10 and 4:26 mile (many having run in that range in high school).
Albuquerque is a hole! Don't EVER MOVE THERE!
Yeah, cause Michigan is hell. Boating in the summer, snowmobiling in the winter, great sports teams (except the Lions), tons of good colleges, beautiful land in mid-to-upper state.....Jeez.....IT'S LIKE HELL I SAY!! haha
(In a talking-to-a-baby voice): "What, was it too cold for you this winter? Awww, you better move out west where you'll be happy all year long. Awww." haha
albuquerque isn't bad. there are good restaurants around the university. the mountains are close and provide great views. you have live high, train low possibilities. lots of hiking. and it's a real city, unlike that overrated tourist trap to the north, santa fe.