Running in Houston
Good Places to run - Want to know some cool places to run in the Houston area?
Group Runs - Are you new to the area? Visiting for business or pleasure? Want to run or train with a group? Check out these daily group runs.
HARRA affiliated running clubs - Want to join a running club? There's a lot of 'em and you're sure to find one that suits you!
Good places to run
If you just want to get out and run, here are some popular running venues.
Memorial Park - The most popular running location in Houston. There is an ~3 mile loop consisting of crushed granite (no bikes allowed), and the Ho Chi Min trail, for the serious trail runner in you. Parking can be a challenge at 5pm but it's worth it.
Location - The park is bounded on the north by I-10, south by Memorial Drive, on the west by Loop 610, and on the east by Wescott Drive.
Rice - The ~3 mile loop around Rice University is a perfect place to run if you're near the Medical Center.
Location -
Rice is located East of Greenbriar & Rice Village, North & West of Main Street & the Medical Center, and West of the Museum district and Herman Park.
Buffalo Bayou between Shepherd and Sabine (technically it's the Eleanor Tinsley Jogging trail but the locals just call it Allen Parkway) - Voted the best place for an after work jog by the Houston Press, this ~4.8 mile trail consists of an asphault path (no worries, you can run on a dirt trail along side the path). Allen Parkway is a popular place to run if you're looking for some rolling hills. They're not big hills but they are hills. And that smell under the Waugh Street bridge...bat guano from the largest urban, non-migrating, bat colony in Texas.
Location - The Sabine Bridge to Shepherd section is: West of downtown; bounded on the North by Memorial Drive, on the South by Allen Parkway, on the West by Shepherd Drive. NOTE: If you run past the Sabine Bridge (toward downtown) and run over the Hobby Center walk bridge, the loop is 5.3 miles.
Hermann Park - This crushed stone path surrounds the Hermann Park Golf course and is next to the Houston Zoo. It is ~2.5 miles around the park.
Location - North of the Medical Center; West of Highway 288; East of Rice University, & South of the Museum District
Terry Hershey Park - A popular place to run for folks West of the 610 Loop in Houston. This path follows Buffalo Bayou from the Sam Houston Tollway to Highway 6 and eventually to I-10. Lots of rolling hills.
Location - The trail is located East of Highway 6 at George Bush Park and West of the West belt.
Group runs in the Houston area
Houston area running clubs and organizations host group runs every day of the week at locations all over the Houston area. Please be sure to confirm days and times with the contact person!
| Day | Time | Run Type | Distance | Pace | Location | Phone | Comments | |
| Sun | 6:30 a.m. | Long Run | 3 - 20 miles | Variety | Seabrook Trails | barcruns@sbcglobal.net | 281-480-5388 | Bay Area Running Club |
| Sun | 6:30 a.m. | Training Run | 10-12 miles | Variety | Memorial Park Tennis Center | John Phillips | 713-299-0631 | Breakfast afterwards. Website |
| Sun | 6:30 a.m. | Long Run | 12-20 miles | Variety | Memorial Park Stretching Deck | Jennifer Brown | 832-541-6759 | Muchos miembros que hablan espanol |
| Sun | 6:45 a.m. | Long Run | 6-12 miles | Variety | Varies | The Woodlands running club | Woodlands Running Club All runners welcome | |
| Mon | 5:30am | Hills & Speed | 3.5 - 8 miles | Variety | Spots Park & Buffalo Bayou | Will Henderson | 713 510-7520 | Free to try; $50/session; See |
| Mon | 6:00am and 6:00pm | Hills | 3-10 miles | Variety | Buffalo Bayou | Sean Wade | 713 864 8872 | Membership fee or $5 per workout |
| Mon | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Memorial Park Track | Al Lawrence | 281-890-7644 | Coaching service/fee required |
| Mon | 4:30 p.m. | Social Run | 6-10 miles | Variety | 1017 Oleander, Lake Jackson | Brett Puderbaugh | 409-265-8313 | Brazosport Area Road Runners |
| Mon | 6:00 p.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Jane Long Middle School Track/Bellaire | Pat Powers | 713-771-7448 | Coaching service/Andy Stewart/fee required |
| Mon | 6:00 p.m. | Track Workout | 800 meters to Marathon | Variety | Memorial High School Track | Doug Storey | Contact Doug Storey, USATF certified coach | |
| Tue | 6:00 p.m. | Hill Workout | Varies | Variety | Rice University Stadium Parking Lot | Eddie Rodriguez | 281-772-8307 | Bayou City Road Runners, Rice Track Bleachers, no fee. Website |
| Tue | 5:00 a.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Memorial Park Track | Connie Lawrence | 281-890-7644 | Coaching service/fee required |
| Tue | 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Memorial Park | Connie Lawrence | 281-890-7644 | Coaching service/fee required |
| Tue | 6:00 p.m. | Speedwork | Varies | Variety | Memorial Park Stretching Deck & Loop | Jennifer Brown | 832-541-6759 | Muchos miembros que hablan espanol |
| Tue | 6:30 p.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Clear Creek High School | barcruns@sbcglobal.net | 281-480-5388 | Bay Area Running Club |
| Tue | 6:00 p.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Clements High School Track, Sugar Land | Andy Stewart | 281-242-7700 | Coaching service/fee required |
| Tue | 6:30 p.m. | Social Run | Varies | Variety | Russo's on Stewart Beach | Wes Williams | Galveston Island Runners - El GIRO | |
| Tue | 6:30 p.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Rice University Track | The Kenyan Way | 713-864-8872 | Coaching service/fee required |
| Tue | 6:30 p.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Memorial Park Track | Gary Mulvihill | 832 457 5254 | Runner's High Club /fee required RUNNERSHIGHCLUB |
| Tue | 6:30 - 6:45 p.m. | Social Run | 4 miles | Variety | Blockbuster Video (S Braeswood @ Hillcroft) | SWHBBRA | 713-771-7448 | SW Houston/Brays Bayou Running Association |
| Tue | 7:00 p.m. | Speed and Hill workout | 3-6 miles | Variety | Terry Hershey Park | Barry Chambers | 713-857-2447 | Houston StridersStrider Membership Required |
| Tue | 7:00 p.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Rice University Track | Barry Chambers | 713-857-2447 | Houston StridersStrider Membership Required |
| Wed | 5:15 a.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Brazoswood High School Track, Lake Jackson | Brett Puderbaugh | 409-265-8313 | Brazosport Area Road Runners, breakfast afterwards |
| Wed | 5:30 a.m. | Speed Work | Varies | Variety | St. Martin's Church -- Galleria Area | John Phillips | 713-299-0631 | |
| Wed | 5:30 a.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Memorial Park Track | Al Lawrence | 281-890-7644 | Coaching service/fee required |
| Wed | 5:30am & 6:00 p.m. | Hill training/track | 3-6 miles | Variety | Buffalo Bayou/Allen Parkway & Lamar HS | In Flight Running | 713-523-2577 | Coaching service/fee required. Website |
| Wed | 5:30am and 5:30pm | Intervals and Tempo | 3-10 miles | Variety | West side of Memorial Park | Sean Wade | 713 864 8872 | Membership fee or $5 per workout |
| Wed | 5:30am | Hills & Speed | 3.5 - 8 miles | Variety | Spots Park & Buffalo Bayou | Will Henderson | 713 510-7520 | Free to try; $50/session; See WillsHills |
| Wed | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Memorial Park Track | Al Lawrence | 281-890-7644 | Coaching service/fee required |
| Wed | 5:45 p.m. | Tempo Run | 5-7 miles | Variety | Rice University Stadium Parking Lot | John Phillips | 713-299-0631 | Bayou City Road Runners, socializing afterwards. Website |
| Wed | 6:30 p.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | Brazoswood High School Track, Lake Jackson | Brett Puderbaugh | 409-265-8313 | |
| Wed | 7:00 p.m. | Track Workout | Varies | Variety | McCullough JHS Track | Dan Green | 409-321-0433 | Woodlands Track Club |
| Wed | 7:00 p.m. | Varies | Varies | Variety | Memorial Park Fitness Center | 713-797-8498 | Power In Motion - Official HARRA Program. Website | |
| Wed | 7:15 p.m. | Training Run / Trails | 3-6 miles | Variety | Memorial Park (southside) | Barry Chambers | 713-857-2447 | Houston StridersOpen run. All are welcome. |
| Thu | 5:30 a.m. | Hill Repeats | Varies | Variety | Kemah Bridge | barcruns@sbcglobal.net | 281-480-5388 | On The Run / BARC |
| Thu | 6:00pm | Speedwork | Varies | Variety | Memorial Park Stretching Deck & Loop | Jennifer Brown | 832-541-6759 | Muchos miembros que hablan espanol |
| Thu | 7:00 p.m. | Speed and Hill workout | 3-6 miles | Variety | Terry Hershey Park | Barry Chambers | 713-857-2447 | Houston Striders Strider Membership Required |
| Thu | 7:00 p.m. | Hill workout | Varies | Variety | Spotts Park | Barry Chambers | 713-857-2447 | Houston Striders Strider Membership Required |
| Fri | 5:30am | Hills & Speed | 3.5 - 8 miles | Variety | Spots Park & Buffalo Bayou | Will Henderson | 713 510-7520 | Free to try; $50/session; See WillsHills |
| Sat | 5:30 a.m. | Long Run | 12-22 miles | 9:00 to 10:00 | Memorial Park Tennis Center | Don Ruggles | 281-980-1235 | Sometimes meet on Sundays |
| Sat | 6:00 a.m. | Long Run | 10-20 miles | 7:45 to 8:45 | Memorial Park, Stretching Deck | Paul Cooley | 713-665-3800 | Houston Masters, Open to all runners, Bubba's for breakfast |
| Sat | 6:00am | Long Run | 3-24 miles | Variety | Starts at Jackson Hill | Sean Wade | 713 864 8872 | Membership fee or $5 per workout |
| Sat | 6:30a.m. | Social Run | 6- 12 miles | Variety | Independence Park in Pearland (we meet near the pool) | Pearland Area Runners Club | Pearland Area Runners Club | |
| Sat | 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. | Social Run | 6- 12 miles | Variety | Lake Jackson | Brett Puderbaugh | 409-265-8313 | Brazosport Area Road Runners, breakfast afterwards |
| Sat | See website | Training Run | Varies | Variety | Galloway Training Program | Doug Storey | Fee required for training program; Saturday mornings complimentary. Website | |
| Sat | 7:00 a.m. | Long Run | 10 - 15 miles | Variety | Memorial Park Stretching Deck | Gary Mulvihill | 832 457 5254 | Runner's High Club / No fee required; RUNNERSHIGHCLUB |
| Sat | 6:00 am | Long run | 3-22 miles | Variety | Memorial Park & Fleet Feet Rice & Woodway Locations | In Flight Running | 712-523-2577 | Coaching service/fee required. Website |
| Sat | 6:00 - 8:00 a.m. | Social Run | 4 miles | Variety | West of Stella Link/S Braeswood (Great Glasses Optical) | SWHBBRA | 713-771-7448 | Call to confirm exact location and time |
| Sat | 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. | Social Run | 8 - 12 miles | 8:00 to 9:00 | Pine Forest Elementary, Atascocita, Pine Cup & W. Lake Houston Pkwy | Anastasia Aourik | 281-812-2904 | Breakfast at Manhattan Bagels afterwards |
| Sat | 7:00am | Training Run | Varies | Variety | Clear Lake Park | CLF President | (281) 330-8771 | Clear Lake Fitness ClubWebsite |
| Most Days | 7:00 a.m. | Training Run | Varies | Variety | Terry Hershey, Bear Creek, Cullen Park, Stratford High School | Steve Shepard | 713-797-8601 |