As opposed to running in a big loop or out and back, anyone else prefers to just run around a half mile-2.5 mile loops for the entirety of your run?
As opposed to running in a big loop or out and back, anyone else prefers to just run around a half mile-2.5 mile loops for the entirety of your run?
1 mile loop for 12 hours tomorrow!!
For more than 40 years, I would only run single loops. Even for a 20-mile run, if I turned left at the end of my driveway to start, I would be sure finish from the right.
During the past couple years, however, I've been running out-and-backs on a path near my work. I've found that I am now much more likely to add mileage beyond my original plan, since the decision can be made anytime during the run.
And this past year I have been running a "lolly pop" route from my house -- 1.6 miles out to a 4.5-mile loop, and back. I run a single loop for 7.7 total miles, or up to three loops for 16+ miles. It's nice to have the option to abort if things are going poorly, or to run an extra loop if I'm feeling good. Now I actually avoid my old big-loop courses.
I'm a big loop guy, whenever feasible. I'm not a big fan of out-and-backs, but even less a fan of small loops. I get what Allen says about the benefits of being able to conveniently pull the plug by doing smaller loops that offer the option of bailing if necessary. But for me, a lot depends on distance and topography. Where I live, if I want to do a relatively flat 20 miles, my best option is out and back along a river, but even then I would prefer to head out on one side and return on the other.
I sometimes wonder if just doing small loops might train the mind to shut itself off.
Found a 6 mile loop last week. FTW
running in loops wrote:
As opposed to running in a big loop or out and back, anyone else prefers to just run around a half mile-2.5 mile loops for the entirety of your run?
For a long time I ran my 10, 15, 20milers on a 4/5ths of a mile loop. In a redwood forest with original growth huge redwoods, granite gravel pathway, clean bathroom half way in, water fountain at the start.
FTMFW!
For me, it depends in a few factors. If I am stressed or already a bit tired from life, attempting to do a number of small loops will sometimes result in me running less than I intended and almost never mean I run more than I intended. Likewise, out and back runs if I'm already stressed or tired put me at risk of cutting short.
But if I'm feeling tired, but do one big loop that would require me to turn around before the mid mark, I will finish the run unless I'm suddenly feeling injured or something. I'm not going to turn around early just because I'm not feeling motivated, I just wouldn't feel that way.
However, if I'm feeling fresh and the loops are not absurdly boring terrain (like loops around a baseball field or something), I have no problem running what I intended and will sometimes add on.
I run in loops all right. My sexy fruit of the loom loops. I never begin a run without consuming a few fruit loops too. I am as fruity and loopy as they get. FTW!
The only time I run a short loop (
true brit wrote:
The only time I run a short loop (
I'd have thought they would have fixed the error that cuts off everything after you type
true Brit: the "less than" symbol truncates posts
Dur wrote:
true brit wrote:
The only time I run a short loop (
I'd have thought they would have fixed the error that cuts off everything after you type
They'll never fix it, because to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice a gift.
I have a few loops that run often on. I find on the ones with little to no traffic, I can shut my brain off and just run. Almost Zen like.
to see how this ( works or how this < works.
I prefer short loops. One park near my house has a 2.25 km loop (~1.3 miles) with a small hill either at the end of the loop (if going CCW). I like being able to time each loop as it helps reinforce even pacing or not going out too fast.
Another of my favorites is a park with a 6.13km loop, and for longer runs I would do it. Four laps were something approaching 15 miles I think.
I do. I've never been really adventurous so the idea of doing an out and back 20 mile run where I'd be 10 miles from my house or car if something went really wrong on the run was always a little intimidating. One of my favorite places to run was a big graveyard that was two miles around and that had all sorts of roads within the perimeter that crisscrossed, looped, etc. IMy favorite marathons from the old days were the old Philly course, three loops along East and West River Drives, and the Washington's Birthday Course in Beltsville, Md., also three loops. think I have a fairly high boredom threshold. Gary Cohen has an interview on his website with Benji Durden where Benji says that he did a lot of his running, with runs up to 3 hours, on a loop course that took three minutes to run.
In harsh weather where I needed to stop often for water/ice breaks, then yes. Otherwise, no.
I know a 50 year old sub-3 marathoner who does most of his training on a 400m loop (yes, it is a track, but it is also a loop, right?).
I do long runs on a 3.5 mi loop so that I can easily get some calories or drink (at home) if I am practicing “fueling”. I don’t get bored- too busy concentrating on pace and form.
looped wrote:
true Brit: the "less than" symbol truncates posts
Thank you. I was going to say that I only use a loop shorter than 3km or so when it has the benefit of either being flatter (for a tempo for example) or softer than a longer loop. For a steady run I'd rather run one big loop if possible. And I'd much prefer to run an hour or more on a treadmill than one a very short loop - less than 1 km for example.
For many years when I was running higher mileage and doubling, I would often run my morning run around a 3\4 mile park or a 1 mile grass field.
It was easier to manage time and bathroom stops on the early morning, before work runs. I would often run with this older, ultra runner on the 3/4 mile loop, as that was the only place he would ever run.
Running with him kept my morning run pace easy during the few years when I would hit 100 mpw most weeks.
However, for my longer run of the day, and weekend longer runs, I would always prefer one big loop. So essentially any run longer than 6-7 miles.
Those same loop areas were great for doing fartlek style workouts though.