Type: Paved Path, Loop
Difficulty: 1 / 10
Altitude: 15 ft
Elev. Gain/Loss: 5 ft / 5 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes, with leash
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Yes
Filed Under: Cycling, Running
The "Goodyear Blimp Base" run follows a 5-mile, double track, paved path around the Pompano Beach Air Park. The Air Park is roughly square with 1 1/4 mile sides. The path is flat and does not cross any streets. Bikers, in-line skaters, walkers, occasional horseback riders and runners share this path. Some walkers bring dogs on leashes but the faster inline skaters and bikers may pose safety hazards to slower walkers, leashed dogs and runners. I haven't noticed any conflicts or problems among the various users of the path.
The Pompano Beach Air Park contains the Goodyear Blimp Base (the largest and most prominent structure), a small airfield and helicopter field, the Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Club and the City of Pompano Beach Equestrian Park. These facilities contribute scenic beauty and interesting activities to the 5 mile run. The City of Pompano Beach maintains the path and its grass borders quite well.
In the winter months athletes are on the path all day and early evening. In the spring, summer and fall the heat and humidity encourage dawn and dusk/early evening exercise. Although the path is well lighted, the busy urban streets that border the path seem to discourage late night use, especially alone.
The path offers a great 5 mile tempo run or daily run for fitness. Markings on the course show several distance intervals. Several laps on the 1 mile gravel path at the adjacent Pompano Beach Park plus a loop or two around the blimp base would make convenient 10 or 15 mile runs. There are two equally spaced water fountains and several benches along the path.
The "Goodyear Blimp Base" run borders Federal Highway (US #1) in Pompano Beach, Florida. The easiest access to the paved path around the blimp base/air park is the parking lot of the Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Club. Take NE 10th St. west from Federal Highway and take the first right turn into the parking lot. There is an alternate entrance to the golf club from the south-bound lane of Federal Highway but the traffic on Federal Highway is relatively heavy. One can also access the path from the Pompano Beach Park located directly across NE 10th St. from the golf club entrance or the parking lot of the Pompano City Centre shopping mall on NE 12 Terrace.
The "Goodyear Blimp Base" run proceeds as follows:
. Start at the parking lot of the Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Club. Cross a small footbridge from the parking lot to the path. Turn right on the path parallel to NE 10th Street. Mile 0.0
. Run beside NE 10th Street past the fire station, Anthony Aviation, the helicopter facilities, and American Flyers to NE 5th Ave. Mile 1.1
. Turn right beside NE 5th Ave and pass the air field, Goodyear Blimp Base and City of Pompano Beach Equestrian Park to Copans Road. Mile 2.6
. Go right along Copans Rd. beside the Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Course fence to NE 12 Terrace. Mile 3.3
. Turn right onto NE 12 Ter. passing the Pompano City Centre shopping mall on the left and keeping beside the golf course fence to Federal Highway. Pass a small water treatment/storage plant at the intersection of NE 12 Ter. and Federal Highway. Mile 4.0
. Run south parallel to Federal Highway and beside the fence of the golf course to NE 10th Street. The path turns right at NE 10th St. to finish at the entrance to the parking lot of the golf club. Mile 5.0
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