Which is a better city for running - Dallas or Houston?

Yes

Houston. The main problem I have with running in Dallas is that the Katy trail is the only protected trail that is well lighted for early morning runs. It is mostly concrete and shared with cyclists. It is out and back from downtown to SMU. It has enough of an uphill going to SMU that you will notice a difference on your splits if you are doing a workout. Houston has Memorial park (3 mi crushed granite trail with lights 24/7) and now has lights on a 4.75 mi trail around Buffalo Bayou near downtown. That trail is concrete but has parts that are asphalt.

For racing, there is no comparison when it comes to the marathon. Houston is hands down the better event. Better organized, better course and stronger field from the elites to sub 2:30 to sub 3s. There is a good racing and club scene in both cities. DRC has a very good free race series. HARRA has a good race series in the fall and spring. Houston has a slightly better sub elite scene with some 50 year old guy running 15 min 5ks. But it comes and goes.

D or HTown? wrote:

I have to choose between the two and was wondering which was better for a runner

You could always choose Hell.

Thank you

I am an early morning runner. What about White Rock Trail and Santa Fe Trail in Dallas? Does Houston have anything longer than 4.5 miles? Seems short

Houston is a shit hole. Choose Dallas. It still sucks, but not as bad. Running isn't your only criteria for picking a city right? Dallas wins out with everything else.

Houston has a very long Terry Hershey Trail and is in the process of creating a 25 plus mile Cypress Creek Trail.

Tons of parks around Houston.

Pick your weather. Houston is year round training. Mild winters but more humid summers. Dallas is dry but there is actually winter there.

I have lived in Houston for several years now, never lived in Dallas but quite familiar with the city. I can't really weigh in on Houston vs Dallas but to shed some light on the Houston area:

Memorial Park is a preferred spot in the area, given the 2.9 mile cinder loop is lighted dusk to dawn with large crowds year round. There are several miles of single-track trails in the back of the park, and easy access to the Buffalo Bayou trail network. Bear in mind, that is a concrete/asphalt trail network, but great views of downtown, rolling hills, and plenty of water fountains for the mid-summer runs in which you'll easily shed 5-10 lb's.

Terry Hershey has been mentioned and is a great spot, too, if you're on the West side. If you find yourself on the north end, WG Jones State Forrest has a nice network of trails with tree cover in The Woodlands (Huntsville State Park not being too much further north).

Hermann Park near the Medical Center is a decent spot, though I prefer hopping on the cinder trail around Rice University's campus.

Lastly, simply because I'm friends with them all, I noted one person pointed out the local scene didn't have much beyond the 50-year old, former Olympian Sean Wade who is still running sub-15 5k's. If I'm not mistaken, three men and three women who are Houston residents qualified for the Marathon Trials. That excludes a handful of other men who have been low 2:20 for 26.2 and at least one swift non-US woman.

Houstonian Here... wrote:

If I'm not mistaken, three men and three women who are Houston residents qualified for the Marathon Trials. That excludes a handful of other men who have been low 2:20 for 26.2 and at least one swift non-US woman.

And one Houston resident qualified for the Olympic steeple trials right up until she wasn't.

D or HTown? wrote:

Which is a better city for running - Dallas or Houston?

Is this a trick question?? Isn't the answer: NEITHER ?

Must be tough wrote:

You could always choose Hell.

Oh right, THAT's the right answer.

oh gawd yes wrote:

D or HTown? wrote:

Which is a better city for running - Dallas or Houston?

Is this a trick question?? Isn't the answer: NEITHER ?

Must be tough wrote:

You could always choose Hell.

Oh right, THAT's the right answer.

Obviously completely ignorant to both cities. Always blows my mind when people comment on things they know nothing about.

Houston has tons of massive master-planned suburbs that also are geared toward running. It doesn't need to be a city park for you to get a run in.

Neighborhoods like Cinco Ranch, The Woodlands, Bridgeland, etc all contain plenty of greenbelts or paths that make long runs easy to do right from your door.

in town, there are actually a lot of paved bayous now...even in the hoods. Aldine has one going along their bayou parallel to West Little York. The Heights has one that connects to Allen Parkway/Buffalo Bayou (an area adjacent to Memorial that wasn't mentioned.)

You can actually run all the way from downtown to Katy along the Bayou if you want. There might be a small area where you have to hit the sidewalk between 610 and the belt, but you can get from Tinsley to Terry Hershey if it is something you want to do.

My brothers-in-law ran 50 miles around the city by hitting various bayou paths.

Anyway, there are plenty of places to run.

My advice is to pick the city that is best for your career long-term and go from there.

oh gawd yes wrote:

D or HTown? wrote:

Which is a better city for running - Dallas or Houston?

Is this a trick question?? Isn't the answer: NEITHER ?

Must be tough wrote:

You could always choose Hell.

Oh right, THAT's the right answer.

This. Or Fort Worth and commute to Dallas. Better yet, Austin and get a new job.

Fort Worth better than Dallas? What about White Rock Lake?

D or HTown? wrote:

Fort Worth better than Dallas? What about White Rock Lake?

Yes, by far. Fort Worth is a safer, friendlier city overall, and it has the Trinity Trails (bike path). I was never a fan of White Rock Lake because of the crime around there.

Dial it up wrote:

oh gawd yes wrote:

Is this a trick question?? Isn't the answer: NEITHER ?

Oh right, THAT's the right answer.

Obviously completely ignorant to both cities. Always blows my mind when people comment on things they know nothing about.

Yeah, but who are we to take away the small boost of self-confidence this basement troll gets by parroting stereotypes and groupthink regarding Texas cities?

I've lived and run (a lot) in both Houston and Dallas.

Weather is rough for both spots, so that it s non-point. Hot and humid in Houston, versus Hot and humid in Dallas.

Dallas has lots of options, but you have to get to them...remember, Dallas is a very sprawling city. I live in a Dallas zip code but it takes me over 45 minutes to get to White Rock Lake some mornings.

Options for both cities:

Dallas:

Katy Trail - 7 miles (3.5M out and back). Part of the trail has a track-like surface, but majority is concrete.

White Rock Lake - 9M loop or 10.4 mile loop if you park at Norbuck Park. Can also be made into an 11+ mile loop (weird, I know).

Norbuck Park - All grass. High School XC course in the fall. Hills. Probably a 2 mile perimeter loop.

Trinity Corridor Park - All dirt. 20+ mile long service road. Can be rocky in some sections. Also flooded for half of the year. Best spot to run in Dallas when conditions allow. Not safe if you are a female and running alone.

Houston:

Memorial Park - All dirt. 2.9 miles. Lit nearly 24/7. Bathrooms 24/7. Tons of people; yet not so crowded you cannot run fast. Pretty close run to River Oaks (nice neighborhood) and the Bayou trail system (concrete).

Rice Loop - All dirt. 2.9 miles. Not lit completely. Have heard rumors that it is not safe for a female running solo early or late. Hard to run fast from my experiences as the trail is narrow and it gets crowded quickly.

Hermann Park - All dirt. No idea how long...think there are multiple loops. Can cross the street to Rice Loop though which could make for a longer run. I believe Rice University and University of Houston cross country teams use this spot for workouts.

All in all, Houston has much better options for softer surfaces, but Dallas has better 'long' options.

Probably doesn't help. But that's my 2 cents!

optional wrote:

Houston:

Memorial Park - All dirt. 2.9 miles. Lit nearly 24/7. Bathrooms 24/7. Tons of people; yet not so crowded you cannot run fast. Pretty close run to River Oaks (nice neighborhood) and the Bayou trail system (concrete).

Rice Loop - All dirt. 2.9 miles. Not lit completely. Have heard rumors that it is not safe for a female running solo early or late. Hard to run fast from my experiences as the trail is narrow and it gets crowded quickly.

Hermann Park - All dirt. No idea how long...think there are multiple loops. Can cross the street to Rice Loop though which could make for a longer run. I believe Rice University and University of Houston cross country teams use this spot for workouts.

All in all, Houston has much better options for softer surfaces, but Dallas has better 'long' options.

Probably doesn't help. But that's my 2 cents!

Memorial Park and the Rice Loop are not all dirt. I believe Memorial Park is crushed granite and the Rice Loop might be gravel. The Rice loop is nice because it is pretty much all shaded. Memorial Park doesn't have nearly as much shade.

Agreed, and Norbuck Park is still a great place to run during the week. Only saturdays and some friday setups for xc races will take over the park, otherwise it is a perfect location

I prefer Houston, Delaware over Dallas, North Carolina but Dallas, TX over Houston, TX.