Letsrunners, tell me about Michigan.
What is the post-collegiate scene like over there, particularly in the Detroit area? Are there any clubs/training groups based out of there? I know the Hansons Brooks Project is based near that area, but are there any other options, especially if you're a mid-distance runner?
How bad are the winters?
Is the running scene in Ann Arbor better than Detroit?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Ann Arbor is better than most would think for running. It has it's own specialty store, a bunch of pro guys (under Warhurst), a growing collegiate program for the men (under Gibby), and an already highly succesful women's team (McGuire)....and MILES and MILES of dirt country roads. I don't think you'll be able to find a better spot in the midwest to train.
I'm slightly north of Ann Arbor, and there are a miles of trails at the state parks which are a short drive away, if you wish for weekend variety.
I was in town a few weeks back and was surprised at the amount of unpaved roads only a mile or so from UM campus (adjacent to downtown Ann Arbor). Besides the roads there are trails just about everywhere, broken up by road crossing sure, but tons of them right in Ann Arbor.
GOBLU wrote:
Ann Arbor is better than most would think for running. It has it's own specialty store, a bunch of pro guys (under Warhurst), a growing collegiate program for the men (under Gibby), and an already highly succesful women's team (McGuire)....and MILES and MILES of dirt country roads. I don't think you'll be able to find a better spot in the midwest to train.
Besides the pros that Warhurst takes on, do you know if there are other post-collegiate clubs that come out of Michigan?
That's good that the college is developing solid teams, but what do they do after they graduate?
Anyone else?
MichiganMagnolia wrote:
That's good that the college is developing solid teams, but what do they do after they graduate?
Anyone else?
Seeing as Gibby has only been there for a few months, I can't say for certain what will happen with post-grads of his program, but you can look to the fact that he has two of his WM Alums (13:50 guy Colin Leak and XC All-American Christo Landry) volunteering at UM and training under him that it seems likely he will continue coaching the likes of Forys, April, etc. if they stick around. For their sake I hope they do, Gibby is a tremendous coach with a strong backround in developing moderately talented athletes into extremely successful ones...imagine what he could do with extremely talented ones....
The local specialty store is Running Fit (runningfit.com) and from the site it appears that they have a team. E-mailing the guys and gals there might be more fruitful than my posts!