Macon Tracks Running Club Group Runs

Running is more fun when you're with a group.

Macon Tracks Running Club offers two training runs every week. We do a long run on Sunday morning and a track workout on Tuesday evening, taking care of the speed and endurance aspects of your training. All you have to do is show up! Want more? Scroll down for additional group run and cross training options.

Sunday Loop the Loop

6:45 a.m. at the Triangle

Looking for company on your long runs? Sundays at 6:45 a.m., the Triangle is the place to be. Go northwest on Forsyth, cross Bass Road, and turn right on Old Forsyth (just past Howard Middle School). Link to map. Park on the “triangle” just before the railroad tracks. The full loop is 12 miles, with water stops at 4.5 & 9 miles. Often people will run to the first water stop and back for a total of 9 miles, or take the shortcut back along a dirt road for a total of 7.5 miles. There is a wide range of paces. We re-group at the water stops. This is a great time to catch up with old friends and make new ones, get or give running advice to your comrades, and improve your endurance at the same time. Start running the loop, and, before long, you'll be ready to run a marathon!

Sunday Drink Rotation March 2013 - August 2013

Click to view a map of the Georgia Industrial Children's Home, a great place to get off-road and run in the shade.

Cross-training? Here are some other places frequented by the runner crowd:

Swim at Northside - you too can have your very own swim coach! Masters swimming takes place at 5:15 a.m. or from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Coach Jos will help you with your technique and give you a great workout. Swimming is an excellent way to recover from those long runs and, who knows, there might be a triathlon in your future. The cost is $40/month or $5 to drop in. Show up at the appointed hour and give it a try!

Swim at Lake Juliette - in the warmer months swimmers meet on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Dames Ferry Landing pavilion for open water swimming. Please read the guidelines put out by Georgia Power before you go, and e-mail Doug Ellis to be put on the list of swimmers. For distances, check out this detailed map. During the months when the campground is closed (fall & winter), you'll need to e-mail Doug Ellis to get the code for the lock if you want to swim from the pavilion.

Looking for trails? Check out the Georgia Industrial Children's Home at 4690 North Mumford Road in Macon. There are approximately 7.5 miles of mostly single track shaded trails ( link to map ). It's a great place to run, especially in the summer.

Tuesday Track Workout

6:30 pm at Stratford in Macon

A group of runners gets together every Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Stratford Academy track in Macon to do interval training. Have fun with friends and improve your race times. To receive track night updates, join our Facebook or Twitter page. The Stratford group meets year round rain or shine.

We do different combinations of interval distances, usually for a cumulative total of 3 miles of fast running. Kids are welcome to join in. Everyone runs at their own pace and the workout can easily be modified for your fitness level by adjusting the number of repetitions or the distance. Pressure is low, encouragement is high. Still not convinced? Read about the benefits of interval training in this Runner's World article.

Start training now and get ready for a new p.r. come race day!

Noon Run from Mercer University

Join Mercer's Run Club every Thursday at noon (weather permitting) on Mercer University’s main campus (on College St). Meet at the Mercer School of Medicine (north entrance, facing the Patterson Building). The distance is about 3 to 6 miles around downtown Macon at varied paces. E-mail Kevin Hatfield for more information and to be added to the Mercer Run Club listserve; click here for flyer.

The Early Bird Gets the Run in

For all you early risers, head to Wesleyan College on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 5:45. Meet in the Wesleyan parking lot at the corner of Forsyth & Tucker Road (or park at the Eckerd's across the street). On Tuesday, the run is 5 miles, and on Thursday, it's 6 miles (map of Thursday route). Contact Mary Katz for more information. Be there on time and be sure to wear a reflective vest. A small handheld flashlight is useful, too.

There is something magical about running in the dark when most everyone else is asleep. This run is especially appealing in the summer as it's usually cool at 5:45 in the morning. Get your run in early and feel energized the rest of the day!

5@5 Early Morning Ingleside Run

This informal group meets almost every day of the week at 5:00 a.m. Park at the Lutheran Church. The route is down Ingleside to Henry Burns Park, right on Ridge to Forsyth, back down Ridge to the Blind Academy, up Vineville to Pio Nono, then back to the church, approximately 5 miles. Pace varies from 8-10 minute miles. E-mail JD Miller for more information.

Tuesday Evening Run Fit Run in Warner Robins

Meet at Run Fit Sports (4025 Watson Blvd - near the Bike Shop and Tuesday Morning) at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings for 15 minutes of stretching and a 30 minute run. Beginners to advanced runners welcome. Call (478) 953-4892 for more information .

Wednesday Evening Run Fit Run in Macon

Head to Run Fit Sports (4524 Forsyth Road) for a 5:30 p.m. run on Wednesday evenings. Distance - 4 miles; Pace - 8 to 9 min/mile. Call (478)477-7577 for more information .

Thursday Evening Run with Coach Dark

Covenant coach and teacher David Dark is starting an evening run from his house near Vineville Baptist Church at 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays. The run will last from 20-60 minutes with a pace of 8:30-10:00 min. miles. Please e-mail David if you'd like to come.