Best Place in the US to Train if You Don't Have A Car?

Traveling Man wrote:

Which US city would make the best training base for someone without a car? Ideally, the location would have soft surfaces, trails, and other training resources within the city limits, so that one could reach them on foot. Training venues that are accessible via public transportation can also factor into consideration.

Northfield, Minnesota.

Traveling Man wrote:

Which US city would make the best training base for someone without a car? Ideally, the location would have soft surfaces, trails, and other training resources within the city limits, so that one could reach them on foot. Training venues that are accessible via public transportation can also factor into consideration.

If you don't have a car, where are you going to sleep?

You live in DC and haven't run in Rock Creek Park? You should really explore a bit more. DC, other than the weather, is a great city to run in without a car.

You've got the Canal (wide, natural surface), Mt. Vernon Trail (paved trail), Capital Crescent Trail (paved trail), Custis Trail (paved trail), W&OD Trail (paved trail), Rock Creek park (paved trails, single track natural surface trails, roads closed to motor vehicles on weekends and holidays), plus the Mall/Hains point. Depending on where you live, ALL of these are accessible by foot or by Metro.

There are also lots of tracks with Metro access (B-CC HS, AU, Washington and Lee HS among others).

You can not have a car and run in a different place every day of the week.

Boulder Colorado and ride the RTD

The chicks are snobby and usually all taken though

I've lived in three of the places brought up to this point, and because of a visual impairment, I've been unable to drive. I can strongly endorse Portland, Ithaca, and Washington. Portland has it all" I used to walk to work downtown in twenty minutes. When I'd walk home, I'd throw on my running shoes and be on a forest trail less than ten minutes later. Plenty of good guys to train with and every high school has an all weather track open to the public. Great weather, if a little rainy in the Winter. I'd only add I left there thirty years ago, and the trails seem to have deteriorated in quality since I left.

Ithaca is an absolyutely beautiful small town. The Cornell track is accessible. Plenty of scenic countryside, and really demanding hills. Do repeats up Buffalo street and you'll either get in shape or die.

I fully agree with the other poster's observations about Washington, D.C., where I have lived for 26 years. Two negatives: the climate and the lack of access to tracks,, at least in the city. Other than that, the bike paths, Rock Creek Pkwy., C and O Canal Path, are great places to run. I live less than two miles from the White House, and I can take a 20 mile run out my back door, most of it in Rock Creek Park, and cross one street with a crosswalk each way. I'm a half mile from the C and O Canal Path, which ends somewhere in West Virginia.

I should add I've never taken public transit to any training run in any of these three places. Good luck.

Need some more criteria but an interesting question. Are we talking cities? factoring in cost?

Evening ignoring costs, Chicago, NYC, or SF are not objectively good places to train. I'd argue SF and Chicago are terrible. You can get an urban experience in other cities while having some access to soft surfaces and training resources: Portland, Boulder, Minneapolis.

I think Vancouver has to be the best. It's a major city with a high quality of life - great public infrastructure, amenities, gyms/resources. A map of Vancouver speaks for its outdoor access.

Domestically, probably a college town. Towns supported by universities have great public transit but their size won't impede access to running locations...and cheap rent. Charlottesville, Tallahassee, Davis, CA, and probably places out west I've never been.

San Francisco is totally doable with out a car. But only if the reason is that you just don't want a car or are incapable of driving. If the reason is because you can't afford a car, then you can't afford to live in SF. Median price for 1bedroom apartment has now surpassed $3,000/month.

I agree on Eugene. Stanford, CA is also great. I am sure there are many places. Best to take something called winter into account. I grew up outside of Boston and came to the conclusion that one of the worst places to train for "Boston" is Boston and area.

kiowavt wrote:

Best to take something called winter into account. I grew up outside of Boston and came to the conclusion that one of the worst places to train for "Boston" is Boston and area.

It's certainly not heaven (and probably not the best answer to OP's question), but running through the Boston winter is tolerable. The Charles paths are plowed, and enough sidewalks are cleared soon after storms. There are a bunch of indoor tracks. The cold is rarely bothersome after the first five minutes of a run. Perhaps most importantly, there are plenty of people to run with, as long as you're not a pro.

It's ultimately a matter of perspective, but I'd say there are only 2 to 4 days each winter where bitter cold or heavy snow make running outside truly unpleasant.

NYC, DC and Philly are all cool places to run with out having a car.

- Boston people unfriendly and do not say how are you to strangers at all...Go on the "T" train and you'll see what I mean

- the weather there sucks.

- It's all mostly pavement except if you get in an expensive car to go somewhere like Lincoln MA woods

- Good indoor track access yes that's the one plus

- Everyone seems to have the need to keep up with the Joneses

- potholes will ruin your car(s)

- everyone on the road is only out for themselves

Summary- Home of many elite academic institutions but overall It's an ugly, dirty city and is generally very depressing but I guess the winters could toughen you up as a runner while you get to listen to trashy people say "cah," "Wooster" "Leominster" etc.

- Most people live there because they have to or because they don't know any better and haven't traveled enough

- alcoholism is a big problem. A lot of People have nothing to do but drink and be m@sholes

-Trashy

Go visit:

Dorchester MA aka the Dot

Roxbury MA aka the rocks

Mattapan MA aka MURDERPAN

Saugus MA

Lynn MA

Lowell MA

Springfield MA

Worcester MA

Might have to drive over 10 potholes and go take a piss at a dunkin donuts, a friendly's diner, or a Mobil Gas station and see how friendly people there are. Ask them if they enjoy what they do.

You are right on Xcrunner05. Also, just run over a bridge to NOVA. Tons of trails, paths, and ravines/wooded hills that go for miles. The weather is fantastic for year round running as well. The DC area is a very active running community. Literally any time of the day or night you pass someone running.

In DC you can live near the towpath and the metro and have all the benefits of city living with access to virtually unlimited trail running.

Denver doesn't have public transit or central trail access on the same level, but it's a real city at altitude with more sun than any other city in the country. Boulder isn't a real city, but it has the critical conveniences and is my idea of perfection for running and outdoor activities in general.

Duluth, MN. I lived here for two years without a car.

http://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/best-towns/Best-Towns-16-Greatest-Places-to-Live-in-America.html

Scroll down to #1.

If you are only concerned with training, and never leave your home for anything else, there seem to be many good answers here. However, if you are concerned with the other 22 hours a day, while you are not training, then the best answer is New York City and Manhattan specifically. Training options and tracks (which DOES include Rockefeller accessible via GCT/Metro North) are posted elsewhere.

Reno NV

4,500 to 6,500ft

Inexpensive living

Really no snow (Lake Tahoe 30mins away if you want to go ski, Bus)

Lots and lots of trails. Not many flat ones. Hills for days

Carpool up to Tahoe Rim Trail (25 mins) 8,000 to 9,500ft

Great running community with Road running or Ultra clubs all around town.

All HS tracks are open and never had a problem running on one.

26 Mile bike path along the river.

30+ mile dirt path along Ditch

Peavine mountain 8,300 ft (1 mile from University) has endless trials and dirt roads

Only downside, Not many legit quality races. Big races have lots of hobby jogger but not many fast runners.

Yeah Bah-ston sucks

Man you're living a full life. You seem like a fun person.