Runners and 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 area 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 email.

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."

Cross-country teams also often practice in the "JP" section of Franklin Park near White Stadium.