Home base for practice. Runners meet at the stands on the southeast end of the track before warming up on the TCA North Track. Also used occasionally for interval training.
Distance: 0.25 mi
Strides / formIntervalsRace paceMeetup / start
Where we run
Practice routes change with the workout and the weather. This guide names the places you will hear coaches talk about most. Pickup still happens at North Campus unless a meet or special event says otherwise. We prioritize safety with our athletes, and coaches are strategically positioned to cover all athletes.
Around TCA North
All regular season practices will begin and end at TCA North Track unless communicated differently.
A famed benchmark (pun intended) of fitness. This is generally the furthest point we reach in the season for long runs and a longstanding goal for athletes to work toward as their fitness increases throughout the season. Unfortunately, the bench resides on the Santa Fe Trail which remains closed on the Air Force Academy due to heightened security.
Distance: 2.2 mi
EasyRecoveryLong runA great gravel trail that starts at Voyager and Progressive and winds down towards the "Kraken" building (as Coach Brim refers to it) otherwise know as Kratos.
Distance: 0.51 mi
RecoveryThreshold / tempoRace paceFamed single track near TCA North where rumor has it that Grimothy, the kangaroo lives. Sightings are rare.
Distance: 0.32 mi
RecoveryThreshold / tempoLong runRace paceA loop on the Compassion International trail circuit used for intervals and threshold training. Great for seeing dramatic improvement in fitness throughout the season.
Distance: 0.35 mi
IntervalsThreshold / tempoOne of Coach Allan's favorite trails in fall, this winding single track is often used as a loop to build longer runs near TCA. Also, native habitat of Kyle, The Yeti, who has been known to cause trouble ocassionally.
Distance: 0.50 mi
EasyRecoveryThreshold / tempoHillsLong runDeparts on trail from the south side entrance of TCA HS and winds down before ascending the hill towards The Ford Ampitheater. Has a fun water crossing (or two, depending on the loop).
Distance: 0.74 mi
RecoveryHillsLong runNeighborhood park with walking and running paths a short way from TCA North. Often used for game days.
Distance: 1.1 mi
EasyRecoveryNo, your athlete isn't kidding you. It is a sanitation building and always has a recognizable odor around it as we run by. Used as a directional waypoint on long runs—a right turn takes you to the tunnel while a left takes you towards the corral.
Distance: 1.3 mi
EasyRecoveryLong runOften used as a reference for compiling long run routes for our athletes, there is also a good 3/4 miles loop used here for pre-race days to sharpen up.
Distance: 0.38 mi
EasyRecoveryLong runRace paceThe connector from Compassion that journeys under I-25 to the Santa Fe Trail. Unfortunately, with the Santa Fe Trail closed due to heightened alert on the base, this trail connector will not be available to us.
Distance: 1.5 mi
EasyRecoveryLong runA literal fork sculpture as part of The Farm trail system used as a waypoint.
Distance: 1.7 mi
RecoveryLong run
Around town
Routes the team uses beyond the immediate campus loop. More spots will be added as the season goes on.
A beautiful system of trails in Black Forest, often used by High School XC.
An access point off of Woodmen and I-25 for the Santa Fe Trail. We meet here on some optional practice days to run North.
EasyRecoverySite of the monthly Nielsen Challenge. This dirt trail system in Old North End is often used by world class Olympic-level athletes to train as well as hosting a myriad of High School XC meets
From North Campus, runs often head south past the Oracle building and onto the Santa Fe Trail. Unfortunately, closed due to heightened base security.
RecoveryFrom North Campus, runs also head north along Spectrum Loop, across Northgate, and into the Lakes area. Not used as much since the development of The Ford Ampitheater.
Recovery