Over the past several years, Boston has become a haven for distance training. It boasts many of the world's finest training sites as well as running expertise and a knowledgeable following. It is no wonder that a number of America's top-ranked runners have migrated to Boston. Franklin Park serves as Harvard's home cross country course. First developed in 1991 for the World Cross Country Championships, the course has since been a site for both the U.S. National Championships and the NCAA District I and II qualifying meets.  

Harvard fits perfectly into this environment with one of the very best facilities in the world. The subject of numerous television programs and magazine articles, the Albert H. Gordon Track contains a sixlane, 220-yard banked oval with a separate, six-lane eighty-yard sprint straight. Inside the track are two long and triple jump pits, a pole vault runway and multiple high jump aprons. Adjacent to the oval are two throwing circles and a weight lifting cage. Special devices allow hammer, discus and javelin practice indoors.

The track itself, designed on the principles of biomechanics, is unusually fit for both training and competition. The springy "tuned" surface has not only reduced injury, but has accounted for many world class performances. In the 1987 IC4A championships, for example, two collegiate and eight meet records were established. In that meet alone, 35 competitors qualified for the NCAA championships.     

The McCurdy outdoor facility completed in 1983, provides Harvard students with a magnificent compliment to the Gordon Indoor Track. Enclosed by a windscreen, the facility includes eight running lanes which encompass double runways for long and triple jumps, throwing circles for the shot, discus and hammer, a javelin runway and a multidirectional high jump apron. A reversible pole vault runway and additional the cages are adjacent to the track. Such innovative facilities indicate the depth of commitment Harvard has made outstanding program.