I'm thinking about moving to Houston for a new job. I've only spent two days there, so I'm not sure what it would be like.
Are there good places to run? Is there a good running community in Houston? Is the smog there a real problem for running?
I need help! Any information will be very greatly appreciated.
kill yourself now!
summer is brutal. hot humid may - october.
I've been there a couple times for extended stays for work and found it to be not a bad place at all for running. I stayed in the Galleria area (to the west of downtown) and there are plenty of neighborhoods to run in as well as Memorial Park. My first exposure to Memorial Park was less than spectacular, b/c I thought it was just a 3 mile long gravel oval that got REALLY crowded after work....but then I found all the mountain bike/running trails in the woods and loved it. Not the most robust trail system, but a nice shaded dirt trail system that will allow you to add some pleasant miles to any runs in the area.
I know that there are other places to run as well, outside of this area...in fact I posted the same type thread you did about 3 years ago and guys had some good advice.
I live in Atlanta and found Houston to be much more intense weather wise. It's way more humid and hot. On the plus side, if you travel for any races you will be at an advantage - similar to training at altitude, it makes running in other environments seem easy.
I find Houston a fine place to run, in spite of the heat. Smog is not a problem, especially if you run in the parks or in the grassy fields. Of course, if you like running down the roads, alongside cars, then you will encounter ridiculous emissions and diesel fumes.
Two places filled with runners: the loop surrounding Rice University and Memorial Park. If you're looking for hills, then Allen Parkway is a solid spot.
As a college runner raised in Houston (and here until I leave for work), I'm still able to log 80-85 mile weeks in the summer without using the treadmill. I do a ton of doubles, but that's not necessary if you can wake up at 6 in the morning and bang out your 10 or 12 in the morning before the humidity assaults you around 8:30.
Stick wrote:
I'm thinking about moving to Houston for a new job. I've only spent two days there, so I'm not sure what it would be like.
Are there good places to run? Is there a good running community in Houston? Is the smog there a real problem for running?
I need help! Any information will be very greatly appreciated.
What part of Houston are you going to be living in? There are good places to run in just about every part of Houston.
There is a very solid running community in Houston. There are 5Ks and Track meets hosted throughout the summer. I don't find smog to be a problem, then again my parents live in the suburbs where I run.
The humidity is FREAKING BRUTAL. Run in the morning or in the evening. You'll maybe die if you run in the middle of the day.
Oh yeah there's also a big Road Racing Club in Houston with a lot of teams on it.
Their website is:
And I use the event calendar on:
, they have most Houston races listed on that site.
Thank you everyone. That is reassuring (mostly!). It's good to know that it's at least possible.
I second the suggestion of suicide.
Extreme heat and humidity, swarms of ants, and 150 TGIFridays does not an attractive world class city make.
Except for my friends who work for the Houston Dynamo soccer team (who should still be in San Jose).....the whole place can disappear and no one will care.
It's not as bad as it's cracked up to be. Take water breaks.
The main Memorial Park loop (not even a full 3 miles, IIRC) is horrible, I've never had an enjoyable run there. The singletrack trails on the south side of Memorial Drive, however, are really nice. I've run and mountain biked back there, though I've also heard about how it's a haven for homosexual hook-ups (a la rest areas in "There's Something About Mary"). I prefer the areas along Buffalo Bayou closer to downtown, where they held XC nationals a few years ago and where they used to hold the Rice meet. The terrain undulates more and it's uncrowded and unsecluded. There are parks in all the outlying areas, but most of the terrain there is either rutty grass or paved. I've trained in the middle of the day in the summer there, it's not that bad. At least by early afternoon the humidity has burned off some. Even for such a huge metro area, Houston has a great competitive running scene with many clubs that are about competing and not just about training fatties for marathons. Most of them are members of HARRA, linked in another post on this thread. I now live in a place that some rank highly as a 'running city' but the competitive scene here is really weak compared with Houston's, it's not even close and that sucks. It's a much better training environment, so there's that I guess.
Watch out for fire ants, they are obnoxious bastards.
I lived in Houston for three years. Those were miserable years, the worst in my entire life because I did not fit in. I am more hippie, not at all Right Wing Christian religious. But maybe it will work for you. Look for housing near Memorial Park. Even if you drive to Rice University for track workouts or to the parks for long runs, at least you will be in close proximity to trails, grassy areas, hills, and the local races. I think there is a nice apartment complex off Allan Parkway. I liked doing mile repeats on the marked road across the street from Memorial Park. The local race scene is good for workouts and there are some decent track clubs. I think Jon Warren is in charge of the Houston Harriers. Good Luck!