I don't know of any indoor tracks that you don't have to circle many times per mile (anywhere from 16 -22). LA Fitness and Gold's Gym both have pretty decent treadmill equipment for winter time conditioning as well as weights, stationary bikes and other equipment. The newer LA Fitness centers have indoor pools also.

As far as outside tracks, I use the Tucker High School track after 4:30. They resurfaced their track last year and it is really nice. Sometimes the football team or band is practicing on the field inside the track and their is a "no trespassing" sign outside the gates. But residents and the public use that track regularly after school hours with no problems. If you want to use a specific school's check with their office. Some will let you and others can be tacky about it although our taxpayer dollars pay for the track.

Although not necessarily convenient Agnes Scott College in Decatur permits the public to use their track when not being used for school functions, which is not very often. If you are interested in that one I would call the school just to find out if there are any off limits hours.

anyone running the Virginia Highlands 5k Saturday?

i'll be there to try the knee out on a shorter distance. first 5k since 1984

I was planning on running the CRR New Year's Eve run (7:30pm) but found out I'm invited to my brothers for fireworks. I still make the ATC Resolution Run tomorrow at noon. I'm not sure of any other runs around.

Annie in Decatur

Ran the 10K Resolution Run today. Not a stellar performance by any means but, at least I was there starting the New Year on the right foot.

This was my first time to run this race. I thought it was kind of a tough course. The lady making all the announcements kept saying it was a "rolling course". ROLLING, INDEED!

- Will

Hogpen Hill Climb 17k
Helen, GA, Saturday - January 17th
Anyone on this thread competing or have competed in this race? I am coming in from Indiana and will will be in Atlanta from Jan 15th-18th to take part.

Craig

quote:<HR>Originally posted by crunningman:
Hogpen Hill Climb 17k
Helen, GA, Saturday - January 17th
Anyone on this thread competing or have competed in this race? I am coming in from Indiana and will will be in Atlanta from Jan 15th-18th to take part.

Craig<HR>

I ran Hogpen in 2001 and 2002 and I'm considering it this year. The course can vary with the weather. In 2001, it was an out and back 11 mile run because the DOT had closed the top of the mountain road. We ran to the base of the mountain (rolling ~3 miles) and then ran up the mountain about 2 miles before turning around. It was cold, windy, and blowing snow. In 2002, it rained hard the whole time and was about 35-38 degrees. We ran the normal "17K" course. 17K should be about 10.5 miles but I remember being surprised at how quickly the finish came after the 10 mile marker. I don't know if the mile markers were off or if the course is more like 10.25 miles and they just call it 17K. When you see the sign with the hiker crossing the road, you are almost there because the finish line is about where the Appalachian Trail crosses Hogpen Gap. I didn't run it in 2003 but I think the course was altered again and did not go up the mountain road.

For the normal 17K course, you run ~3 rolling miles to the base of the mountain and then start up the mountain road. This road is 7+ miles to the top. It becomes very steep about half-way up. Runners are expected to provide there own transportation back down. If possible, try to have someone drive up to meet you with warm, dry clothes. If not, someone will usually give you a ride back down.

Hey people,
I'm starting a new job in Alpharetta this week, and living in Buckhead its going to be well dark before I get home. Are there any decent courses or trails in the Alpharetta area? I do a good 10 miles or so a day, and this would be a good way to kill time afterwork waiting for the traffic to calm down. I'm going to be up near Old Milton Pkwy and North Point Pkwy, any ideas would be a good help. Thanks.
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