Winter Training in Tucson
Why come to Tucson for Winter Training?
By Brian Grasky, USA Triathlon Certified Coach and 5 time Ironman
Great bike rides:
Join the Shootout Ride on Saturday mornings and see pros and top amateurs from all over-until you see red from bleeding out of your eyes! The ride gets out of town nice and leisurely, and then picks it up to just subsonic once it hits Valencia Road. Call Fair Wheel Bikes for start times. Park your car on University Blvd. near Euclid and ride west through the Tucson Mountains. Not only is it a beautiful ride, but the short, steep hills will test even the fittest of athletes. Ride anywhere from 1 to 5 hours. Grab a bite to eat at any number of restaurants right by your car afterwards! Ride Mt. Lemmon northeast of town. With Tucson at 2,600 feet and the road up Mt. Lemmon a whopping 8,500 feet, you can climb all day long (literally)! It's a 45-minute ride form downtown or drive to the usual start and finish location, the cyclists' hangout Le Buzz Café. Ride from town to beautiful Madera Canyon and see pine trees and running streams, challenge yourself on the rollers through the wine country of Sonoita, or ride the flats on the 6 foot wide bike lanes north of Tucson through Oracle and Oro Valley. There's a ride for everyone here. Great running locations:
Run past (or through) running streams or climb until your nose bleeds in Sabino Canyon, nestled on the northern edge of town, in the shadows of Mt. Lemmon. Try the 9.2-mile Phoneline Trail loop. Watch out for Mountain Lions. Follow trails on the edge of the Rincon Mountains. Start at one of several trailheads at the east end of Speedway or Broadway Roads. Look out for horses and what they leave behind.
Run through the unbeatable desert scenery in Saguaro National Park. There's one at both the east and west ends of town so there's no excuse not to! If you're lucky, you'll see every kind of desert animal there-javalina, lizards, snakes, jackrabbits, and coyote-especially at dusk. *Remember to keep a safe distance form our desert critter friends. If you're on the west side of town, try Starr Pass trail. The trailhead is in the neighborhood of Starr Pass, right behind the golf course. You'll soon be so far in the mountains you'll forget you're 10 minutes from downtown.
Right in the middle of town is Reid Park. The 3-mile circuit crosses no roads, is paved and lit at night. It's the perfect place for an evening jog or for that time-crunched speed work. Join one of several running groups that meet there for regular workouts.
Wonderful swimming opportunities:
I don't know of any town with the number of public pools Tucson has-27! And many of them are open year-round. For $1.50, you can't beat the price. I'm never alone, but I also very rarely share a lane. Join up with one of several master's groups. www.azlmsc.org, www.tucsonaz.gov/parksandrec/aquatics.php.
For more information about City of Tucson Parks and Recreation prices and fall schedule, call Billy Sassi at 520-791-4245 or click here for a .pdf of their fall schedule. For more information on the Town of Oro Valley Parks and Recreation, located in Northwest Tucson, click here.
Check out Patagonia Lake and Parker Canyon Reservoir for open water swimming. Each is about an hour south and southeast of town. Other reasons to come to town:
No place on earth can beat our sunsets. Add great restaurants, bike lanes and bike-friendly drivers, easy access to trails and the ability to easily get away from the hustle and bustle, and you'll end up staying here like I did! Please feel free to contact Brian for more inside information:
brian@graskyendurance.com
www.graskyendurance.com |
