Indy Runners : Forum

Hey everyone, I am looking to get into trail running and wanted to see where your favorite trails are.  I have always been a bit hesitant to run by myself on the trails, for safety reasons I suppose, but does anyone have any suggestions for places they like to run ?  Thanks!

Most people would say the best place in town is Eagle Creek Park on the NW side of Indy.  It has 15+ miles of primarily dirt trails through the woods.  Lots of high school and collegiate runners run there.  I'd recommend running with someone who knows the trails the first few times so that you don't get too lost, otherwise you might end up running a few extra miles.  There is a fee to get in, but annual passes are available.

Fort Benjamin Harrison is on the NE side of town.  It's a state park.  Again, there is a fee to get in, but annual passes are available.  It has less trails than Eagle Creek.

If crushed limestone trails are good enough, I strongly recommend joining us for the Indy Runners club runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00pm at Hinkle Fieldhouse (http://www.indyrunners.net/view-content.cfm?sectionID=11&menuID=5).

Brian
Indy Runners

Thanks for the info - I've been nervous about going to the Eagle Creek trail myself the first few times and haven't been able to find anyone to go with.

 

Do the club runs have people from all different paces participating?  I typically run a 9-10 min pace but wasn't sure how that might fit in

Hi Kelly -  There are are several groups who head out from the Butler T-Th club runs and I'm sure you'd fit with at least one. Paces range from -7 to 10+ minute miles, so hop in. There you will likely meet some other trail runners or get contacts.  

Norm  

kellyv,

  I mostly run the streets on the NW side of Indy.  If you're looking for someone to run with, post back.  Although I trained for it and then ran the mini in '07, I've been relaxing back to about 6-8 miles twice a week.  If you think you can swing an early or late in the day schedule, post back and we'll try to coordinate a run.

JJB

kellyv-

I recommend Westwood Park near New Castle. It is a bit of a drive from Indy (about 20 min. from Pendleton), however it is worth it. The trail is shared by bikers, hikers, and runners. I am one of the few people that run it though. It is 10.5 miles and it circles a large lake, so once you start you have to finish or turn around. Don't run it on a day after a heavy rain, too muddy. Also run the hiking/biking trail, not the horse trail. To many horse flies on the horse trail.

I would recommend running it with a friend. I run it on Sundays. My arrival times vary according to when I feel like getting there, however there are usually several other people there around 9-11 am. Let me know if you have any questions about it.

- Doug

Here is my list of some places to TRAIL RUN in and within an hour of Indy:

* indicates a DINO venue (or past venue), info available at DINOseries.com

*Fort Harrison State Park - two loops totalling about 10k unpaved trail, plus 3 mile paved trail loop

*Eagle Creek Park - 10+ unpaved groomed miles on east side, 5(?) more primitive trail miles on west side

*Southwestway Park - 4-5 miles of "spiderweb" trails.

*Southeastway Park - 2 miles of trail, plus a 1- mile "once-paved" loop and plenty of grassy area

Holliday Park - 2-3 miles of trail, lots of stairs

Marott Park - a couple miles of trail in 2-3 different parts of the park. Holliday and Marott are connected in the Holliday Park Trail Run route.

* Town Run Trail Park - 7 mile loop, very busy with mountain bikes... running can be less enjoyable during busy times

*Westwood Park (New Castle) - 10 mile loop, challenging and scenic

*Washington Township Community Park (Avon) - 3-4 miles of trail ranging from easy to really steep

*Brown County State Park - stellar scenery, with hiking and MTB trails there is probably 20 miles

*Morgan Monroe State Forest - many excellent options, including 3 Lakes Trail, Tecumseh Trail, etc...

*Yellowwood State Forest - many trail options, site of Tecumseh Trail Marathon finish line and fun run (5 mile trail around the lake)...

Johnson County Park (Edinburgh) - you can run a rat-maze of grassy trails through this flat brushy woodland.

There are more, these are just the ones that came to mind.

Regarding safety... I would feel pretty safe (even as a woman) on most of these trails. Carry a cell phone in case you get hurt, and I suppose a pepperspray might add peace of mind.

I love trail running. I can run all day on trails... pavement tears me up. It is so much more interesting and a more well-rounded workout.

Wow thanks for all of the responses!   I try to hit Holliday Park every other week and am hoping to check out some more of the suggestions shortly.  thanks!

I know this thread is kind of old, but 1) I just moved back to Indy area and B) just joined the forums looking for some folks to run with so I feel quite justified in bringing it back up.  I also find trails more interesting, although I think one tears me up as much as the other.  That's why I like EC so much - you can go from one environ to the other at will, plus there is a variety of elevation change mixed in with some stairs. 

With nothing more valid to add than that, I will note that I'm going to try and link up with some friends and run a new route w/ in Zionsville tomorrow evening, so I'll report back.  I think it's 50/50 trail/paved.

well, I've had the opp to run the Rail Trail (or whatever it's called in) Z-ville a cpl of times, and it's not bad.  the wooded trails are short and nothing spectacular, but the two times I was out there, there was not a lot of traffic, so that was nice.  you can't really get to the trails without running the old tracks, so if you ran it from start to finish, you'd traverse pavement, crushed rock, and dirt for the approximately 4.5 miles. so at least there's variety, at least for a discontinued RR line.  it's not Eagle Creek, for sure, but it's free and completely accessible.

for those looking a challenge, i did note that some runners have created their own path up to the bridge, electing not to use the wooden ramp.  that leaves two steep grades (~12-15%) on the dirt.  watch out for ankle-grabbing tree roots, though.

i've been out there with a few friends, so if anyone is interested in running it, i'm still looking for a running partner (prefer AM).  Zionsville, Eagle Creek, Carmel are all close to me.  also like running neighborhoods and towns.  (always thought it was fun to watch ppl get their days started and heading off for the rat race whilst i was running the streets.) 

just my $0.02 - sorry for the lengthy post, but it doesn't seem that ppl use these boards much, so i doubt it will be read before Halloween.

glad to hear some decent reviews about it - I'm looking to get there in the next couple weeks.  Just ran the Indpls marathon this weekend so need to rest up a bit!

kellyv-i run 15 miles every saturday am at eagle creek park off road. some on park trails both marked and unmarked. about 1-1/2 miles of road to get from trail to trail.  if you want a guide to the trails in the park, let me know and i would be glad to run with you almost any saturday except 3-29-08 as i am a volunteer for the sam costa race in carmel.  if you have any qualms-i am 65 years old, married and quite harmless.  my 15 mile loop is quite scenic, has vertical climbs, access to porta-johns and water fountains(when they are turned on), and uses unmarked trails that are seldom used by anyone else but an occasional runner or mushroom hunter.  send me a return e-mail at your convenience if you are interested in running trails at eagle creek.  you will see lots of deer and sometimes coyote early in the morning.  bill