Anyone else get bored of the same few routes? I live in a largish village so have been running around all the residential roads in a giant convoluted circuit to get to the 5 to 7k distance I like doing. There's two or three variations on the route but I'm getting bored. I run on my own and husbands not keen on me going on country trails on my own. So today I drove about a short distance to the next village to explore a new residential route and managed an 8k safe route. Must say I do like looking at the gardens as I pass, admiring their plants and occasionally meeting friendly dogs and their owners.
What do others do to combat boredom running routes?
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Valcart
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Many do drive to explore new runs and I often think about it! That said, I am very lucky in that I have a lot of different options from my own back door - pavement pounders, trails, woodland, fields and recreation grounds, flat, undulating and downright hilly!! I am lucky ( although I would love to run by the sea!)🙂
I think it is good for you because of all the negative hydrogen ions. - they neutralise the free radicals (positive ions) and help us absorb oxygen better. That's the theory anyway. 😮 I just feel more alive by the sea 😀😀- it's the wind and the waves I think, although they don't always make for ideal running conditions!
I feel the same, getting a bit bored of my local area now to be honest! I live in a smallish town. But I also feel safest running somewhere I know well, so the idea of running in an unknown area makes me feel a bit anxious. I'm just trying to vary the routes as much as I can. I find planning out the distance before I run helps so I know exactly where I need to go, otherwise I can end up running this way and that trying to make up the distance and it can quickly get tedious!
I do a mixture, pavement running around village. But i have lots of different routes.....,, all with hills. I also drive regularly to several different places including local parkruns both on Saturday but also outside of PR times, canal route...., (don't forget there are two directions of travel! ), riverside runs, country parks and a selection of local parks and recreation grounds.
I'm very lucky too, got a whole variety of trails, roads etc., on my doorstep, however, even those can be a bit 'boring' at times, especially if the ground isn't so good and you've got a target distance.
I never thought I'd drive to another location for a run, but I have done....😂.....very lucky to have a NT property with huge grounds, woods and trails nearby.......(as long as there are toilets......😂.....I'll go practically anywhere now)
Another thing you could try is actually mixing up your type of run, e.g do intervals, use the podcasts for stamina and speed, or try listening to a different training podcast.
I live in a smallish village and at this time of year run the trails, country parks etc from home, always on my own, usually, not always with my phone and a whistle. Haven't always carried them it's a recent addition when I realised I might fall and hurt myself away from civilisation 😀. I have never felt threatened in my almost 5 years of running and before that just wandering around the quiet areas. I don't know if it's an age thing (I come from a generation that went out of the door in a morning in the school holidays and returned in time for dinner). The only precaution I take is not to wear both earbuds on the odd occasion when I use my I-pod although I mostly run without any music etc.
I am very lucky as I have fields, woods, lakes, parks, castles and residential areas all in 6km range. My mid-week runs go through woods and residential areas and I can extend them as much as I want. But my weekend runs tend to head for the lakes. I've managed to combine lakes, castle and woods to my longest 21km run, but really my distances are unlimited. I realize I am very lucky. And I take every opportunity I can of running on holiday, or business trips to avoid too much routine.
I live in a hamlet and have country roads on my doorstep but I also jump in the car and drive to run routes.
I also just explore. Just take a road, "what's down there? Oh that looks interesting. Let's see where this goes". That sort of thing. I love doing that! Provided I have my phone and my attack alarm and tell my hubby my route, then I'm happy.
I also run routes in reverse just to mix things up and I love running on holiday 🤗
When I'm in Cambridge, I research stuff about the town that I've never seen, then I plan a run and take pics! Last year I found something on the web about animals in the city, statues, carvings etc, I think it was aimed at kids but I'd never seen half of them, so off I went! I've lived in Cambridge about 20 years, but I'd never seen the woolly mammoth, or the Anthony Gormly...or the Henry Moore...
Then sometimes I get in the car and go run with Madge50 ...
Hey Curly, there's going to be a new all year round practically circular track at Wimpole Hall, 9k in length, should be finished early next year.........fancy it? ........can't wait, it'll be fab 😉👍
Thanks for the tips Madge50 & Curlygurly2 - I hadn't thought of NT places & Wimpole sounds great! Do you remember where the animal statue info was on the web?
Thanks for the great link! I live in Gloucestershire but am from Cambridge & go back regularly to visit family. Have identified some areas around Cherry Hinton to run near to where my Dad is & my brother is in Camborne. It's good to see a familiar pace in a new light!
I get bored alot and I do have routes I stick to. I run in the woods and when i do a new one I spend ages studying the map, walking bits of the route and then on the day I bring a bag of flour ( I get lost v v v easily) to mark my way each time I have to turn etc and it really works!! Have fun!!
I often listen to podcasts to ease the boredom. Because we generally run in the evening, we have to do residential roads in winter so I totally get the boredom thing. Christmas time makes it more interesting as we can look at the fairy lights. At this time of year we run off road and I never get bored of the same routes (probably because I'm not doing enough running to actually get bored at the moment but that's another story).
Sometimes at the weekend I'll drive to a local country park but bits of it are quite remote so no headphones in my ears then.
Good idea about the whistle - I'm not "allowed" to run the country paths near our house on my own either which is a shame as I love them. Still, you gotta keep safe ladies.
Running with my dog prevents me getting bored because I have to concentrate on what he is doing! Sometimes he stops suddenly to sniff or changes direction so I have to be careful not to fall over him! Just watching him is interesting. But also using the couch 25k+ podcasts is also a good way to vary things.
I love this time of year when we're out on the boat as I never run the same place twice. Either set off at the same time as the boat if there's no locks and head off down the towpath till he catches me up, head out if we aren't starting early, or head off if we stop early. Always a good way to explore a new area.
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