Runners, Coaches Make Use of Arnold Arboretum

The Arnold Arboretum has long offered Boston-area dwellers a scenic escape from the hustle and bustle of city life while serving as a research institute for Harvard University, but it also serves another more subtle function: it makes for fantastic training grounds for the area's track and cross-country teams.

Coaches are drawn to the open spaces, soft ground, and hilly terrain the Arboretum provides.

"There's a lot of benefits to running [at the Arboretum]," said Tony DaRocha, the head coach of Emmanuel College's cross country and track and field teams. "It's a great place to train for colleges, high schools, and the general public."

DaRocha formerly coached at the Boston Latin School and his teams participated in the Foot Locker National Cross-Country Championships in hilly Van Corlandt Park in the Bronx. During those years, he says, the Arboretum particularly allowed his teams to get a feel for what he described as a similar turf.

Brookline High School's track team also makes occasional use of the area for practice. The team appreciates the Arboretum because it is off-road and allows runners to get a feel for softer surfaces, Head Coach Mike Glennon said via e-mail.

In addition to track teams, individual athletes also make use of the Arboretum. Kirstyn Giangarra of Roslindale is currently training for a marathon and runs regularly in the Arboretum. She finds value in the varying terrain and its vast expanse, allowing for a lengthy run.

But of particular value to Giangarra is the scenery.

"It's gorgeous here," she said. "And running in the city streets stinks."