which would you choose for a month-long training getaway, all other things being equal
which would you choose for a month-long training getaway, all other things being equal
I was told by a former Oregon runner than Boone was the best place he had ever trained. I've had the same experience there as well. So that should answer your question. You can find great running, cheap places to stay and the App State guys will help visiting runners out finding trails, getting into training groups and maybe even with a place to stay.
Never been to Portland or Eugene but can make a big plug for Boone because I ran track and XC there. Blowing Rock, about a 15 minute drive from Boone is home to Moses Cone Park, a veritable runner's pardise with seemingly endless wide smooth trails. Another popular training venue is Grandfather Mountain because it has a 400 meter dirt track, nearby trails and an altittue of approx 4800 ft. However, you don't have to drive everywhere to get a good workout because there are plenty of challenging runs that you can do from your front door, assuming you decide to live in downtown Boone. If tradition holds, there should be some App XC guys who train there in the summer. Call Mike Curcio, App State's Coach, and I'm sure he will help you out. Finally, if you don't believe my hype about Boone, read Lance Armstrong's homage to Boone in his book: "It's Not About the Bike."
I agree Boone is an awesome place to run... many great places to run within a 15-30 minute drive. I go up there every summer for a week, been doing that for five years, so I have my routes that I know pretty well. The coaches and athletes at App. State are great, they'll help you find some of the running locations. Moses Cone Park is incredible, you'll spend a lot time there.
Boone and App st sux,Just what I think. Its got so many red necks there that like to throw stuff out of there car at you. And there is nothing around to do, you run, no fun.
don't know about Boone, but I bet Portland would be awesome during the summer (get a place near forest park), as well as Eugene.
Stay at ZAP Fitness near Boone. Good running, inexpensive accomodations.
Never been to Eugene, but have spent time in both Portland and Boone. It would be a tough call. Boone is a beautiful small college town surrounded by awesome hills. It struck me as rather laid-back and a nice place to get away and relax. There certainly are things to do - it is a college town, after all - but it's small, and quite a ways from any "significant" city. People do seem to fall in love with the place. And I've heard that the athletic staff at App State are friendly and helpful. A friend of mine went there to do a graduate program and never left (and never plans to).
Portland is also nice, but unless you stay in a town closer to the coastal range mountains, you'd need to live in the NW part of the city (Nob Hill area) to have access to the hills and good trails, and from what I understand, housing in that area is *not* cheap. Portland as a city seems rather "mixed" to me - some gorgeous areas, some not-so-goregous areas, some decidedly ugly areas. Lewis and Clark College is the closest to the the nice, hilly part of the city but I don't know a thing about their athletic facilities or how welcoming they are to visitors. Road traffic is terrible. I have heard from Portland residents that rain can be fairly constant, even during the summer.
I guess if I were forced to make a choice, and my priority was training, I'd choose Boone.
mirunner wrote:
Never been to Eugene, but have spent time in both Portland and Boone. It would be a tough call. Boone is a beautiful small college town surrounded by awesome hills. It struck me as rather laid-back and a nice place to get away and relax. There certainly are things to do - it is a college town, after all - but it's small, and quite a ways from any "significant" city. People do seem to fall in love with the place. And I've heard that the athletic staff at App State are friendly and helpful. A friend of mine went there to do a graduate program and never left (and never plans to).
Portland is also nice, but unless you stay in a town closer to the coastal range mountains, you'd need to live in the NW part of the city (Nob Hill area) to have access to the hills and good trails, and from what I understand, housing in that area is *not* cheap. Portland as a city seems rather "mixed" to me - some gorgeous areas, some not-so-goregous areas, some decidedly ugly areas. Lewis and Clark College is the closest to the the nice, hilly part of the city but I don't know a thing about their athletic facilities or how welcoming they are to visitors. Road traffic is terrible. I have heard from Portland residents that rain can be fairly constant, even during the summer.
As a Portlander, I have to say that Portland may get LESS rain in the summer than just about anywhere in the country outside of the southwest or other similar desert-type environs. I think last summer it rained once between July 1st and near the end of September. The typical day has clear skies and low humidity, and is between 75 and 90 degrees. Forest Park is a fantastic place to run, as is Tryon Creek State Park (from which I have taken my internet nom de plume). Additionally, there is now a newly completed terrific 10.5 mile loop on both sides of the Willamette between the Steel Bridge (downtown) and the Sellwood Bridge at the southern end of the City.
I've never been to Boone, but you could certainly do worse than Portland in the summer.
Boone sounds like a wonderful place. If you are looking to be totally immersed in training, I'd pick that spot based on everyone's descriptions. The easy access to some altitude is a plus.
Portland is a great place to train and we have wonderful trails and track facilities that are open to the public. If you are looking at Portland, contact Portland State University Student Housing for cheap dorm room rents. The campus is downtown and offers easy public transportation access to Forest Park and an all weather track at Lincoln High School a few blocks away.
Eugene has awesome trails and Hayward Field is open to the public. For atmosphere, you can't beat Tracktown USA.
You may also want to consider Bend, OR. This is an up and coming town with great trails and unlimited outdoor activities. The only drawback is the need to have a car. You can run for miles up at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort (about 20 miles from Bend and at 5000 - 6000 ft.) on their nordic skiing center trails. There is also some great running along the Deschutes River. (the town itself sits at 3000 ft.)
i shoulda guessed you were from portland, pr.
Try Gunnison Co. Elevation and a shitload of guys to train with.
...I'm also in PDX. Lake Oswego actually. Do either of you guys want to hook up for a run/beer/both sometime?
E-mail me at
if you do.
Tim
Conveniently, I have a place to stay in Boone available for sublease beginning in March until end of July. If anyone's interested, email me. It's about a 10 minute drive to the trails and 2 minutes to downtown. Perfect set up for collegiates who might want to take summer classes while training at App State.
imarunr wrote:
...I'm also in PDX. Lake Oswego actually. Do either of you guys want to hook up for a run/beer/both sometime?
E-mail me at
imarunr@comcast.netif you do.
Tim
Careful, this guy is freaky.
What kind of f***ed up choices are those?
ZHONGDIAN, YUNNAN PROVINCE, CHINA!!!!!
10,500 feet of altitude!!!!
Jason