Where We Train
The La Salle College High School Cross Country and Track & Field Program trains year-round at some of the most renowned and senic locations in the entire region. Here are a few:
La Salle College High School Campus/Outdoor Track: Among the premire High School Tracks in the area the Track & Field Team practice at their facility from November through May each year. Also, the Campus itself provides a great place to do some running on soft surfaces with some challenging hills, or just warming up/cooling down for workouts or races.
Valley Green - Forbidden Drive: The primary location for the Cross Country Team and middle-distance and distance runners on the Track Team to train year-round. A 5 mile dirt and stone path that is closed to cars is popular with runners and bikers in Philadelphia. Not only is it incredibly senic but perfect for running due to how easy it is on the legs. With ample trails and hills to run the Explorers can truly call this their home away from home.
Fort Washington State Park: A common spot for the Explorers Cross Country team to run hill workouts and sometimes do Interval training, as well as run through on longer runs from campus by way of the Green Ribbon Trail.
Prophecy Creek Park: A favorite spot of the Explorers during Cross Country providing a challenging layout for Interval training, and enjoyable trails for easy running.
Belmont Plateau: The home course for all PCL Cross Country the Explorers race there every Wednesday afternoon from mid-September till the beginning of November. The 5k course is among the most challenging in the country, and famous for it's brutal hills: Parachute Hill and Flagpole Hill. There are also plenty of trails in this section of Fairmount Park taking runners through the old college course, up Surekill Hill, and back to the trails off of Chamounix Road.
Road Loops: During the winter months snow often forces the indoor track & field team off the trails and onto the roads. For a nice change of pace the Explorers have plenty of good road loops from school. There are two main starting points - Hawthorn Lane, and Cobden & Newbold Lanes. From the Hawthorn Lane start point are more of the shorter, traditional loops - the Mount Loop(3.5 miles), the Arboretum Loop(4.5 miles), the College Loop(5.5 miles), and (the rarely run) Golf Course Loop(7.5-8 miles). From the other start point, Cobden & Newbold Lanes, there are several longer loops through with beautiful local neighborhood streets to explore in the historic Chestnut Hill area, such as the Loop of Destiny, Germantown Avenue(or Gravers) Loop, Springside Loop, and others. To map out a route or find the distance of a run try using this: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/
