Why does it feel so odd to run in a clockwise loop? I’ve not done a whole lot of running but my two routes have a “block” to run round and I run both blocks anti clockwise. As I am now running more than I am walking in order to make my route a bit longer I added in an extra leg today but it meant I had to run another loop clockwise and it just didn’t feel right at all!
Is it just me?!?
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Joster
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It is well known that if you run on heavily cambered roads then it is advisable to turn round half way and return on the same side of the road to make sure muscles don't develop out of balance..........but whether that is clockwise or anticlockwise is new to me.........
I prefer anti-clockwise and have to remind myself to go clockwise sometimes in order to balance the wear on my knees. Like a lot of autistic people I’m mixed handed ie have no strong left/right preference, so I’m always pleasantly surprised when I know where I’m going at all 😁
Is it because we’re subconsciously thinking of running tracks? They’re always anti clockwise aren’t they?
Ha ha never really thought about it but yes I too run my routes anti clockwise, wondering now if the left hip/ knee pain I have is due to the camber of people's driveways from always running anti clockwise. So next run on Tuesday I will definitely try running the route backwards aka clockwise.
I think it’s the running track thing! And you are all right - now I’m running a bit further and more regions need to mix things up to keep me/my running balanced.
Were you a track athlete in a former life??? Actually, we see them run anti-clockwise but they run clockwise just as much in training for reasons similar to the camber issue IannodaTruffe mentioned.
What I have noticed is that when I run a regular route for a few runs it seems really weird to run it the other way... regardless of which direction I did first.
I'd never thought about it until now but my 3 runs to date were all variations on the same route. First run was clockwise, then twice anti clockwise which sort of felt better.
I nearly ran clockwise round the track today (first time on a track whilst daughter doing sport) but several other runners gave me a funny look so I did go anticlockwise.... but which ever way I had gone, the issue was running into the WIND on the home straight of each lap! New running day, new running challenge (I am totally new to this game,, as you can probably gather!)
This really interested me so I put it in a well known search engine and it’s a well known fact! It’s been put down to all sorts-
Position of the heart and centrifugal force of the blood going round, rotation of the earth ,and dominant right - handedness of people ! Merry go rounds and church spiral staircases go anti clockwise. Who knew! (I run straight along a prom and back 😜
Well, well, I didn't think to look it up, thank you for those insights! I mixed it up today, did two clockwise loops for the "loopy" parts of my run.... actually realised that in terms of fewer roads to cross, the first clockwise loop is better than going anti clockwise! The second clockwise loop means I finish my 25 minute run in a good spot to then have a warm down walk as well. I'm converted!
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