running path
 

for those that run outside.
say you take 30min runs.
do you prefer running the same path every time?
what do the pros do?

I always run to a friend's house in case I am too
tired (read: lazy) to run back. Then I can get a
ride. But if I wasn't so lazy, I think I'd like to take
different route every time for the scenery and
exploration.

I usually take the same route, BUT only once a week, the other times i kind of zig-zag around the original path.

Remember this, it works for me, let the mind wonder...(think about that for a minute).

it's good to run the same route cos you get a feel for it, also you should know what time you should be doing on it

it's good to run different routes cos it stops you from getting too bored. I also tend to include hills sometimes and if I'm almost home but still feeling good then I'll go off in a different direction

so I've got a short course with 2 fairly evil hills, a long flat course that I know my times on, and some woods/parks round here to run in if I want to see pretty stuff - ducks, flowers, trees, girls etc ;)

disclaimer - not a pro but run a fair amount

I run various routes. Some overlap while some I actually drive to. I like running in the town I grew up in (it's about 12 miles from my house now) and I'll take a little drive over and run for a few miles there then drive back home.

If you are forced to run the same or similar routes and you find yourself getting bored, try running them in the opposite direction. You'll be amazed at how different they actually are.

thanks for the replies.

I insist on running the exact same path. same side of the street aswell.

for myself, its more psychological than anything.

I find that if I'm training, it helps to run the same path each time. I keep all my times logged in Excel, and I can go through and see how I've progressed.

Otherwise, I like taking different routes, and I usually don't care much for how far I went.

Alsoy, onetime2's suggestion of running the route in reverse is a very good way to relieve yourself of the same old route. It's nice to see things in reverse from time to time.

I've been running the same 5K trail in the same direction for about 3 years now. I haven't got bored of it yet...but i now run with a mp3 player which has changed my runs completely

I'm not a pro yet, but I very much prefer to run as many different places as possible and with as nice scenery as possible.

But whenever I was home for college, without a car, in the middle of NYC, I'd have to run the same out and back path that was perfectly straight and flat for the entire time. It was mind numbingly boring, but it did allow me to concentrate on just running since I didn't have to worry about where I was going or cars, or anything. It also encouraged me to run faster, since I couldn't get distracted by things like scenery. I'd put maybe 500 miles on that path in a summer. Good times.

I wouldnt call myself a pro. But my routine is to generally run the same course, because i know the distance and my times. Every now and then ill do a stairs run though which really throws a curveball at your body. Its like using a jump rope, which i highly recomend as an alternative to running every now and then.

I switch it up almost daily. It really depends on my mood and how far I want to run that day.

I usually stick to the same path. Every once and a while I'll take my car and find another good 3 mile route just to mix it up a bit.

I run 4 to 5 times a week and have pretty much 3 routes that are all loops from my house. When they start getting boring I will run them in the oppisite direction than normal. Makes it seem like a new route and kinda mixes things up abit...