There’s no denying that running is a full contact sport. Even if you have inserts, great socks, and killer running shoes, you can’t avoid your body hitting the ground…and if you can, well, you’ve got bigger things to worry about than running! Seriously though, diversifying where you run can have just as much impact on your performance as how you train…and it’s a lot easier!
Understanding the Contact
While the human body wasn’t made to run great distances, we do have the biomechanical infrastructure to run relatively efficiently. A huge part of this infrastructure is dedicated to absorbing the impact of running…from the 28 bones in your foot to the fascia, tendons and ligaments that connect your lower extremities to your legs through the knees and into your hip. Depending on your gait, your personal impact point will vary, but regardless it exists.
Best Places To Run
The official jury is out on this, but I recommend that most people try to stick to the dirt paths just next to where they usually run. You know what I mean, those little worn out paths that follow the sidewalk or jogging path. These areas are safe, roughly the same distance as your run and you always have a “back up” option should this softer surface go away or become too treacherous.
A close second would be soft tracks that you can probably find at a local high school or athletic facility. Downside is that they are typically short, but upsides they are usually close a grass field which is excellent for strides and/or drill runs.
Heading fully off-road is an option, but you need to be cautious to choose safe places to run. Both from a personal / wildlife perspective, but also from terrain. Lower impact running isn’t worth it if you are rolling your ankle every other step!
Black top running is okay, concrete sidewalks should be avoided at all costs and running on the sand at the beach is great for the random vacation run but shouldn’t be repeated too often.
At the end of the day, the type of terrain you’ll choose will be dictated by your workout goals as much as your local geography. That said, even introducing some variety can help to alleviate the pounding of pavement running. This helps to reduce your chance of injury keeping you health and consistent!
Where do you love to run?
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