Excelsior Track

I’m kind of torn about this review. I appreciate that the track and field is close by my house and I can walk my dog here for exercise routinely, but there are definitely aspects of the track and field that can be improved upon. First of all, the grass in the field is all tore up from the soccer games that happen here literally all day every Saturday and Sunday. The field is at least 70% dirt and weeds at this point. The games that go on here can be quite tough on the grass and there’s just no recovery time since they play year round. The track itself is ok decent; sometimes they seem to come in and smooth it out I think? I don’t know if they do it often or just once a year. They recently spent some effort to revamp the patch of grass in the middle of the track; they reseeded it and fenced it off and now it looks good, but I think they only did it for the pending graduation ceremonies that will be happening next week. Sometimes the school rents out the facilities for filming and occasionally you will see a bunch of trailers parked in the lot, but they haven’t restricted access to the track as a result of any filming that I know of. Other than that, you can run, jog, walk to your hearts content. I see people doing the stairs of the stadium and sometimes groups doing boot camp like exercises together. Other times you encounter other people who bring their dogs to the track. Now as a dog owner; there are two rules you should always keep in mind: this is a people facility, not a dog facility so keep your dog leashed and pick up your dog’s poop. You shouldn’t bring your dog here off leash, use some common sense. People will bring their dogs here and let them run around chasing and barking at other people or dogs, not cool. And what’s up with letting your dog poop everywhere and not picking it up? Pick it up for crying out loud! I like that I can go here but I’m worried about the bad apples ruining it for the rest of us.

I wish there was better lighting for the track at night. There are a lot of locals who come here to walk or run. No one is crazy, or bothers you, or gets in your way. Everyone kind of keeps to themselves which is cool. Parking can get packed since there are other sports going on. You can park on the street or in one of two parking lots. Be careful when running in the night as there are several holes in the track.

Excelsior Track… A nice dirt track where plenty of locals, young and old-​er, go for their fitness needs. The track times seem to vary. We’ve gone on occasion to find the track closed, but the soccer field open, and vice versa. We usually go at a later time, so if we huff and puff from too much exertion, then no one will recognize us. The track lights aren’t on, but that’s okay. The lights from the cars driving by on Alondra, and the Weinerschnitzel business lights, and even the track lights from Falcon Stadium are enough to light your path around the track.
Because it’s a dirt track, and a well-​travelled track, be aware of any dips and divets along the way. Once you’ve hit one of those dips and divets, you kind of know to avoid it the next lap around.
Running the stairs on the bleachers… I wouldn’t recommend it, although I do it on occasion. Running up is no problem. It’s the running down that throws me (and the hubby) off a bit, because the spacing between the stairs is so wide. I feel like a bobble head toy when I try to run down these stairs…
Parking has never been a problem, even when the adult-​ed classes are taking place in the buildings close by.