Grass or pavement... that is the question

[Littlehelper]

Hi all

As a newbie I wondered what is better to run on - grass or pavement?

Currently my run is part grass and part pavement. Is it ok to run on both or better to keep to one or the other?

[Ally-d Graduate]

I was told to run on grass as its meant to be easier on your joints but i find pavement sooooo much easier

[eveshamgal Graduate]

I usually run on pavement but found a new circular route this weekend and went out on it tonight. It's a mix of grass and pavement and I think I found the grass harder to run on. Might just be a psychological thing though.

[Littlehelper]

Im glad you both said that because I find it easier to run on the pavement and thought perhaps my running technique was wrong. Think Ill change my route tomorrow to just pavement. Give that a try. Thanks

[ktaylor217 Graduate]

Grass or gravel are best for your joints but pavements are easier. I tend to do a mixture, as far as I know there is no treason to stick to one type of surface.

Keep at it!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

In an ideal word a mix would be best which is what I try and do. Not always grass but forest track and pavement. Your joints really feel the difference when you change over the surface. I find pavement easier and believe it or not tar feels better than concrete. Then forest track is my next surface by choice and finally grass, especially if its long and you can't see if the ground is flat. I have really jarred knees in the past while running in fields.

[wilmacgh Graduate]

Go for a mix if you can. I find the pavements round us have so many side slopes with driveways that I tend to go off onto the road in preference but there's hardly any traffic. Short grass is fine but anything tussocky can be hard on the ankles. Like Oldgirl I like gravel paths and tracks. If you can find a school nearby with astroturf that's a nice surface to run on for speed work.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

I made a decision when I started C25K that I would not be running on roads/pavements. My father is in his 80th very fit year and I asked him a long time ago when marathons became popular if he wasn't tempted. "No" he said "I don't want to run on roads, I want to protect my joints" And it has to be said that whilst his running friends have bits replaced, he's all original. As I have been mostly in bed for the last 30 years the last thing I wanted from getting more active was to mess my joints up, especially as I have an old bony spine injury which is (so I was told) going to give me grief (can't get a new one of those). I also run with my dog and it is a lot nicer if she can be off lead.

My favourite surface is little winding woodland paths - lovely and soft and the mental challenge of avoiding the roots. It is where I feel most like a real runner. I like to run in lots of different places. I'm quite fond of streams and the right sort of bog too but clambering over fallen trees and through dense undergrowth doesn't get you 'in the zone'. I do tend to use forest tracks (going for the rougher/softer edges or middle) if I am doing intervals or otherwise working on speed, for the predictability, but although I've been running for nearly 18 months now without an injury so far (apart from blisters), I can tell it isn't good for me to do it all the time. I run in minimalist trail shoes.

The only downside is getting in the car every time. If pavements are all you've got then better that than nothing.