No Track. Where do I do my speedwork?

I'll check out google maps. I was unaware that it may be that precise.

Measure 50m, cut a string at that length and use the 50m string to measure 200 in 4 easy measurements

Why do most California schools and Southern states have the feeling to lock up tracks? Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, basically every public school's track is open to the public.

There is really no reason to know precise distances until you actually race.

You think a Cheetah worries about this sort of thing?

land of the free wrote:

Why do most California schools and Southern states have the feeling to lock up tracks? Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, basically every public school's track is open to the public.

Taggers I guess.

Naam wrote:

Just measure out a field with goggle maps that's what I do. Mine is a 1km loop and I've created my own hard packed trail from all the running. Google maps is 99.9% accurate, I've measured our local track at 400.1m and the parkrun course is 3.1 miles which was done with a wheel.

Another option I love is using audacity to clip songs to 2 minutes and make a playlist out of 2 minute songs so each time a new song comes on I start/stop the repeat. Don't even have to worry about a watch.

Just checked it out. I'm a google maps believer now.

F*ck you mods. You think it's cool to delete anti-trump threads. Now you have to work.

800 On Pure Hate wrote:

Even though I live in a city with more than 5 high schools and two colleges with tracks, none of the tracks are accessible.

Where am I supposed to do my speedwork?

What have you done in this situation?

What other options are there besides using a measuring wheel to measure out distances at a park or something?

My local track was destroyed by an e/quake so it is a major problem for me as well. But as someone else stated on here fartlek and hills and be creative.

I live in a medium-sized city with three public school tracks, all of which are locked up tight. There's a cinder track in a city park, but that thing sucks. Meanwhile all of the nearby small towns have their tracks open for public use anytime there's not a school activity. For at least one of them it was a condition of the tax referendum to build the facility. It's well worth the 8-mile drive to hit a nice track workout and not worry about jumping fences or getting kicked off.

Just jump the fence & run on hate.

LappedMiler wrote:

Getting that measuring wheel was the key.

I calibrated my road bike, then measured off a mile in quarter mile increments on a nearby dirt road in a metro park. If I had it to do over, I'd mark the 1000 meter point, but otherwise this works for me.

800 On Pure Hate wrote:

Naam wrote:

Just measure out a field with goggle maps that's what I do. Mine is a 1km loop and I've created my own hard packed trail from all the running. Google maps is 99.9% accurate, I've measured our local track at 400.1m and the parkrun course is 3.1 miles which was done with a wheel.

Another option I love is using audacity to clip songs to 2 minutes and make a playlist out of 2 minute songs so each time a new song comes on I start/stop the repeat. Don't even have to worry about a watch.

Just checked it out. I'm a google maps believer now.

I use Google pedometer all the time. Plenty accurate enough.

Try UC Riverside. According to their website...

The track facility is available to the Riverside community to utilize. During the academic year, the facility is open to the general public from 9 am - 5 pm weekdays. During the summer, the facility is open from 5-8 pm on weekdays.

Big John wrote:

Try UC Riverside. According to their website...

The track facility is available to the Riverside community to utilize. During the academic year, the facility is open to the general public from 9 am - 5 pm weekdays. During the summer, the facility is open from 5-8 pm on weekdays.

Doesn't happen that way. Been there many times when it's "open" but every gate is locked. Gave up on it.

The hate keeps me warm wrote:

Just jump the fence & run on hate.

I do that. Let the hate flow through you.

800 On Pure Hate wrote:

Doesn't happen that way. Been there many times when it's "open" but every gate is locked. Gave up on it.

Check with the local running club. According to their website they run there every week. They at least list an email address that you may contact with "any questions". Perhaps they can tell you if it is still open, which gate to enter, etc.

Jeez, if you want to run 200 repeats surely you can just do 35 second efforts? The body has no idea how far it's run, just for how long. It's one of the main problems with training to a fixed distance rather than time. Say a runner starts out doing 5x1km @ 3:30. As they get better they get down to 5x1km @ 3:00. Progress? Sort of.... it's a different session now..... You're now doing 15 mins worth of work. Previously it was 17.5 mins. Quite a sizable difference. Surely a better idea is to keep the time worked the same but as you get fitter you end up running further for each harder effort.

Food for thought.

I need to have a more precise measurement of time over a certain distance. If I were training for a 5k, I might consider what you suggested, but it doesn't work for the 800 meter training I'm doing.

Thanks. I searched again for local clubs besides the school club and found the one you mentioned at

I'll meet up with them. Hopefully somebody knows what's up around here.

Let the Hate flow through you.

Interesting that people feel they can't train properly without a real track and yet everyone aspires to go to Kenya and train on that red dustbowl of crappy footing.