Not quite downtown, but Pershing Field has a track that rings the baseball field. In downtown itself, I can only think of St. Peter's Prep, but that is a private football practice field, not really a track, and it may not allow outsiders/non-students.

Anyone know what the closest outdoor track to DTJC is? I know there's one in Lincoln Pk, but I'd rather a place that's walking distance. Thank you.

I think the City owns the Armory and a neighbor told me they let anyone use it if you know who to ask. I don't know who to ask but Councilwoman Lopez probably knows

There is one in the armoury on Montgomery, but not sure how one would get to use it.

http://danfinnclassic.com/imagelib/si ... s/JCA2.jpg&target=tlx_new

Robin.

I was wondering if there were any indoor running tracks in the area. I have severe allergies and it causes asthma/breathing problems, so running outdoors this time of year is really hard on me.

It depends on when you go, too. Low tide is the worst. When the tide is up, there really isn't much of a smell. Either way, it's only for a small stretch - you could always run faster to make it end quicker!!

Thing that really sucks right now is that the walkway along the river has been closed all week for the air races from just south of the old train depot building for about a mile. Really screws up the loop around the park. Doesn't seem as though they should need to close it off completely on non-race days.

You will get used to it. I don't even notice it anymore. haha

Although you warned me about the smell, your description did not do it justice. I didnt breath for 30 seconds....

Yeah, there is. It's not really that well-marked. You pass the Brownstone Diner at the corner and then the Hospital on the right. Keep going past the light rail tracks and you'll see a break in the bushes with a wood-plank path.

Personally, depending on how long you want to run, my advice would vary. I find running around the streets of downtown a bit stressful so I walk to inside the park and start running on the path where the boats are docked (you'll see an entrance to that area on the left side of the path). I do 3 miles roundtrip and wind up ending near the Brownstone and then walk home. It's about a full 60 minutes. But if you typically run longer, the area isn't bad leading into the park... it just smells something awful.

Was planning on running from Downtown JC to Liberty State park. It looks like on Google Maps there is a path at the south end of jersy that brings you into the park. Is this the case, and if anyone has run on it, any info?

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+1 to running outside, especially for your long training runs. You need to get your body used to the wear and tear of the road and a treadmill or slanted indoor track is not a good substitute.

Liberty State Park is ok, but can get a bit boring doing the loops to get 20 miles.

I like taking the PATH to WTC and running from Battery Park up to Riverside Park/Columbia area along the West side. Nicely paved (asphalt, no concrete) all the way through to Riverside park. Up and back is about 13-14 miles, but if you cut across 110th to Central Park and add a loop, you'd get near 20 miles right there.

dave1du, good luck in your marathon training!

Yes, seriously, unless it's below 20F, you're better off running outside - it will better prepare you for the marathon. Liberty State Park, Central Park, NYC along the Hudson, on the boardwalk at the shore are great ways to run 20 miles.

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yeah!

i am kind of wondering that myself.

also, i would strongly advise you to not run 20 miles on a track, it's a great way to get an injury. running in circles over and over and over again for that long a distance can cause inflammation to your outside leg, so if you're running counterclockwise, your right leg. if you're already that far along in your training that you're coming up on a 20 miler, you don't want to give yourself a nagging pain for race day. by mile 22 on race day, the nagging pain will be a colossal pain.

plus, if it's an indoor track, it's probably going to be shorter than a standard 400M track, meaning even more revolutions.

if i may ask.......you're looking to kick 20 soon? are you running a winter marathon, or going somewhere warm soon to run it? if it is in fact a cold weather marathon, i would strongly advise you to run outside in the cold air, it will only better prepare you for the race. if it happens to be super cold on your long day, you could always wait till 12:00-1:00 o' clock so that you run through the warmest part of the day.

just sayin'.

"You can act like a man!!" - go running outside!!!

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Does anyone know of an indoor running track around Jersey City? I know there is one at Chelsea Piers, but I'd rather go to one in Jersey (so I can drive). I am preparing to run a marathon and need to run 20 miles and do not want to do it on a treadmill. Thanks in advance.

Anyone else a Nike+ user? I have been trying to calibrate my sensor and used the outdoor track at Lincoln Park -- but I am questioning the distance of the track. Does anyone happen to know if it is a standard outdoor track (400 meter inside lane)? I can't seem to find any info. on it...

I have a feeling I am way off since every time I cross check measurements (by car or by google maps) it seems way off in comparison to my Nike+ (with Nike+ being far more generous in terms of how many miles I have run).

If you're by Grove why not Liberty State ParK?

There is a foot bridge behind the hospital right near the Brownstone Diner. There's plenty of grass to run on for people with bad knees.

The armory has an awesome indoor track. It is on Montgomery.

if safety is a concern, there's always the JC-Hoboken route, but you gotta cross over by way of Observer i guess, so the middle of the run isn't exactly safe.

a great 6 miler (starting from Bright St.) is to run the length of Jersey, cross over the Holland entrance, then take a street north to Observer, head east and run the length of Washington in Hoboken. there's plenty of people on Jersey Ave. and Washington, the only risk like i said is the scary sections in between.

also, once you get into Hoboken, you can take any street really from there and head north, or circle around Frank Sinatra Park. basically any route you take in and around there is safe.

Not sure if it's open to the public or not, but Ferris HS also has a track. It's right by the armory on Montgomery, about 12 blocks west of Van Vorst Park.

Thanks everyone!

I don't have a car so Bayonne isn't really an option - but I may try Lincoln Park even though it looks like it's a little closer to Journal Square - and I'm closer to Grove. But I like the idea of having a loop to run. Is it a popular running spot? I just want to make sure there are lots of people around since I'm female and I try to be safe when running.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I do a 4 mile (all waterfront including the marina behind Warren street) and a 6 mile loop - all waterfront - up to and around VVP and back to the waterfront. I just run around the construction - run up to where it begins, climb the steps and run along side the constuction which is next to the office tower that has a walkway to the Madalay building. It is here where I meet up back with the waterfront walkway. Nothing like the NYC skyline in sight when out for a run!

i could suggest a route of mine, off the top of my head:

run the length of Montgomery heading west, there's the big hill which is great to really open up the lungs, and take it to the end. hang a left and head into Lincoln Park and run along the perimeter back to where you came from, take Montgomery back.

it's basically a crooked lollipop out and back route, but the inclines/declines are cooperative. you start out with the hill, hit a park mid-way to break the monotony (if you have this problem!) and then on the way back, you have an incline leading up to St. Peter's, but a nice cool down going all the way down the hill into downtown. this was always a nice "any day" type route. because the hills are quite long in distance, you can make the run as hard or easy as you want, just by increasing/decreasing your intensity on the hills.

Your 5 minutes away by car from Bayonne Park. They have excellent facilities and a great track as well. And lots of parking. Give them a shot!

There is also the short loop in Lincoln Park which is 1.2 miles. It's also next to a 1/4 mile track so you can run intervals there as well.

I started a meetup group to (hopefully) fill the void of running groups in Jersey City.
http://running.meetup.com/339/

Please join in and join the run. If you guys are regular runners and have suggestions/alternate running route suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them.

Cheers,
Harish

Liberty State Park is ok, but the brick pathway along the waterside is very hard on your feet - it's like running on concrete. It's endurable for 1 loop around the center transverse (a little under 4 miles), but if you are doing multiple loops, your knees will definitely start to feel it.

Not to digress, but...

Anyone have any idea if LSP changed their hours? They used to open at 6am. My last few runs have been around 5:30 and they seemed to be open, i.e., the usual blockade for cars on Audrey Zapp Dr. was nowhere to be seen.

Why not Liberty State Park?????