There is a H.S. that is really close to my house. It is a Suburban Public High School. Is it ok to use their track or can I get in trouble for doing so?
I just want to have a 400m track so that I can have a more accurate way to pace myself when I run. Also, it would be nice for when I start intervals in the warmer weather.
Go to the track and look at who's there. If your local tracks are anything like mine, they will be clogged with morning "walkers" who walk four abreast in the two inside lanes.
I can't imagine why, when you live in a nice area, you'd choose to walk around and around a track rather than just go for a walk. But I don't understand a lot of things about people.
You'd probably be fine using the track as long as the local track team (or running club) isn't training at the time.
It really depends on the school. Where I live there are
"No Trespassing" signs posted at most public school tracks in the county, and apparently it has something to do with a non-student tripping over a hurdle and suing one of the schools. So now you have to get special permission and pay to use most of them. It really sucks. I have found one middle school nearby that just has sort of a "don't ask, don't tell" policy and I use that one.
If I were you I would just use which ever track you like until someone tells you not to. And, obviously, avoid using the track when teams are practicing.
Thanks to both of you. I live about 1.5 miles away from the track, so I have no idea if there are any morning walkers, but I think there is a larger senior population there, so maybe there will be some walking there. It is perfect distance for me to run there for a warm up and then do my workout and then run back home as a cool down and stretch at home.
I think I will try just using the track until I get kicked out. Maybe I can order the school's gym uniform and they will think I am a student :P I look like I am 16, so as long as I shave, I can pass as a H.S. student. Odds are I will be the only one on the track though (unless the school is using it). It is pretty deep in the campus and you cannot even see the track from the streets.
Yeah, it sucks with all that trespassing stuff. When I was in H.S., I remember a "No Trespassing" sign on the doors of the stadium which was where the track was. It sucks that I have no access to a track other than H.S. tracks because running in the streets doesn't work when you want to do workouts.
Now, I have to find an indoor track for the winter that is free... I don't want to get a gym membership, because then I am paying $35 - $55 a month and I cannot afford that.
Thanks again!
LookingforTrack wrote:
Yeah, it sucks with all that trespassing stuff. When I was in H.S., I remember a "No Trespassing" sign on the doors of the stadium which was where the track was.
This seems to usually be a case of either liability (school district won't want to pay damages if you get hurt on their property), or cost of maintenance. For a school with a nice surface, they will generally want to host big meets a couple of times a year. Between general weather wear, and the track team (and probably a few gym classes a day) using the track, the surface will get used up pretty quickly.
For some reason, walkers, recreational joggers and the like seem to insist on using the inside lanes. Rather than try and force visitors to use just the outside lanes, it seems easier to just keep everyone not associated with the school locked out.
I agree--definitely sucks. If you're running a lot, and doing intervals on a regular basis, hopping a chain-link fence should be easy. ;)