dirt track... once a runner

Didn't QC just do his workout around a grass field? Get a measuring wheel, or somehow measure out 200 or 400 meters around the area. Do your speed work there?

I'm jealous already- enjoy, you will cherish the memory.

Malmo would have to approve it. He's in charge of Summers, track measurements, and dew point.

i recommend using bricks for the rail, if you use trees then they will eventually rot and it would nice to have it last for a while.

hold on there wrote:

Malmo would have to approve it. He's in charge of Summers, track measurements, and dew point.

AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Well done sir, well done.

bump for more answers,

my land is actually in a forest. There is no open plain or field that i could use. However the forest isn't so dense that i couldn't cut down a few trees and lay down a dirt track. I have about 3.5 acres i believe that are available to use

I'm not going to do the actual calculations, but are probably okay on area. An acre is about 4000 m2, so you have alittle over 14000 m2. A 400 meter track is something like 150x50 m or about 7500m2. Obviously it would matter how that was laid out.

As far as cutting down trees that shouldn't be too much of a problem; a friend of mine laid down a ~150 m BMX track in his "back yard" and didn't have to remove too many trees.

This is awesome. You're going to have fun.

I'd use river rocks or something for the curb, keep it natural and still be effective.

Depending on how level it is and the surface, you might be able to get away with cutting out trees and everything then just using a heavy drag behind an ATV. Do a bunch of laps with that and you'll end up with a good trail.

I'd love to see pictures posted when you do it.

It sounds like you have access to bricks. What you should do as a finishing touch is file the bricks down with a really rough rat-tail wood file. This will create a reddish layer of cinder to run on. Very old-school !!

well cinder would be nice, but i dont think i have enough from my fire pit to cover the track... Should i trim the grass as closely as i can and cut all the undegrowth, and then tear up the ground where the lane will be? Is that sufficient? or do i need to truck in dirt from somewhere on top.

Anyone have experience doing this?

Why would you ruin your natural landscape by putting in an oval 400 meter track. Wouldn't a simple pathway through the woods, marked off in 100 meter sections suffice? Would make a lot more sense to me to just clean up a pathway from roots and rocks, maybe put down some wood chips and away you go. Don't destroy the earth, my boy!

doesn't OTC use a wood chip trail? like 2k or 3k i think. they seem to know what they're doing..

I think you'll get total benefit using the natural ground surface if you just clear everything out a make a nice trail loop.

I really wanna do this. I think I'll get this girl who runs that I want to spend more time with and find us a place over the summer. We're both teachers, so we have the time.

Anyone a landscaper? bumping for more answers.

considering a woodchip trail marked off in 100m increments via paint on trees...

I'm not sure I'd even bother using wood-chips. Just measure the path, mark every 100m with spray paint, and use a dirt tamper to flatten the ground as necessary. Maybe utilize a weed eater as well.

I've landscaped for a few years and have experience with skid loaders and ride on rollers. You'd be better off with the tamper, it'd save you a tremendous amount of money and time. You wouldn't know how to use a skid loader well enough to be precise with a trail. It really is an art when you start landscaping with them. Sure you can back drag it but even that may be difficult for you.

Renting rollers and skid loaders is also expensive; Not to mention transporting them to and from the cabin, filling them with gas/diesel, etc. Plus it's not really necessary if all you desire is 1-2 lanes. Do it by hand and save a bunch.

Could the track loop around the cabin? That would be pretty sweet.

OK, now I want to rent a cabin in the Fingerlakes and do this this summer.

Run, eat, drink beer, sleep, run somemore. Go to local bars that serve good fried food. I can't wait. I hear the Pines near Ithaca is a great place.

Start with a 130 m rope. Tie one end to a tree in the middle of the block. Tie the other to your car. Drive around the tree 100 x. Start running.

The more rustic the better. Packed dirt lined with local rock/river rock. If you feel the need to use bricks make some kind of patio sitting area at the "start/finish" line.