Workouts

Our workouts are geared for all runners regardless of age, experience or ability. We emphasize pacing and heart rate training with a view toward keeping you healthy and happy on the roads. Our members have different levels of fitness and not all run at the same speed. In some workouts we divide into two groups according to speed or the distance of upcoming races.

Visit a workout and chat with our coaches about your training. You'll find useful information on the FAQs section but feel free to contact us if you have additional questions.

See below for directions and please note that we changed our Wednesday workouts for the summer starting on Wednesday, May 7th, 2008.

Regular Workouts

Our regular workouts (outdoors) started on April 1st in 2008. For directions, click here.

Monday 6:30 p.m. - MIT outdoor track

Speed Intervals: Weekday workouts range from 60 to 75 minutes. We warm-up for about 15 minutes (about 1.5 miles). After the workout, we cool down and stretch for about 20 minutes. (Even better, we usually replenish calories at the student center's taqueria after the workout.)

Wednesday 7:00 p.m. - by the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade

We meet at 7:00 pm at the water fountain on the running path next to the Hatch Shell -- the path between the lagoon and the Hatch Shell lawn, half way between the first and second bridges. Click here for a Google Map of the meeting place.

Saturday 8 a.m. - meet at MIT student center

Long Run: long runs do not have a specified distance. Members run anywhere from 3 to 20 miles along the Charles River (check the Resources section for maps). Members coordinate to prepare water stops along the route. Some Saturdays before the Boston marathon we do the long runs on the marathon course. Please check out the calendar on the Events section. And don't forget to read the FAQs.

Winter Workouts

Our Winter 2008 workouts (indoors) will start in December and will run through March 2009. If you wish to join us on the indoor track you must contact us at info@communityrunning.org to have access to the MIT track. For directions, click here.

Monday 7:00 p.m. - MIT indoor track

Speed Intervals: Weekday workouts range from 60 to 75 minutes. We warm-up for about 15 minutes (about 1.5 miles). After the workout, we cool down and stretch for about 20 minutes. (Even better, we usually replenish calories at the student center's taqueria after the workout.)

Wednesday 7:00 p.m. - MIT indoor track

Speed Intervals. Varies based on goal: speed interval, tempo and/or strength training. Workouts range from 60 to 75 minutes. We warm-up for about 15 minutes (about 1.5 miles).

Saturday 8 a.m. - meet at MIT student center or Starbucks in Brookline (see below)

Long Run: long runs do not have a specified distance. Members run anywhere from 3 to 20 miles along the Charles River (check the Resources section for maps). Members coordinate to prepare water stops along the route. Starting on Saturday, December 8th, 2007 and until the Boston marathon, we are going to alternate between the Charles River loop and the Boston marathon course. Always check the Calendar to learn where we are running on a particular Saturday. On the Saturdays we run the marathon course, we meet at 8 a.m. at the Starbucks in Washington Square, Brookline, across from the Marathon Sports store (see map). There are metered parking spots in the area and some free spots on Beacon St. You can also take the Green Line (C) to the Washington Sq. station.

 

Directions

The MIT Athletic Center is on 130 Vassar St. and Mass Ave. in Cambridge, MA 02139. If you need detailed driving directions use this link to Mapquest. The MIT Cambridge campus is minutes away from Boston, Somerville, Brookline and Brighton. The closest T-stops are Central Sq. and Kendall Sq. in Cambridge (both Red Line). You can also use the MBTA's trip planner. Enter 130 Vassar St., Cambridge as the End destination. If you work in the Longwood medical area, the M2 shuttle bus is also convenient. Yet another possibly is to bike to the workout. There are plenty of spots where you can secure your bike.

Once you get there, use the map below to find us. Remember that from April to November we train outdoors. In the winter, we use the indoors track. The main entrance to the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center (a.k.a. Johnson Athletic Field) does not face Vassar Street. Park on Vassar Street (the parking lot is free) and walk past the outdoor track.

If you see a bunch of people in running gear, ask them if they are with Community Running.

Too abstract? You can also see a 3D view of the same map.