Where do people run?

[Swimmer50]

I'm new here, and to running. I've just completed week 2. I'm wondering where people run? I've been running round the streets near me but find it difficult when I'm going up hill (slight incline). Does anyone else have the same problem?

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

Hills are hard at first but as you get stronger you’ll find them easier. Here there’s a disused railway line with long steep gradients which is great for building stamina, and a hill so steep they do an annual hill climb race on it, but we also have a community park with a lake, a wildflower meadow and woodland, which is much closer to the level. I feel very lucky ! Varying where you run can keep you focused and enthusiastic, and there’s loads of choice here. Hope you find some great places to run too x

[scouse55mouse Graduate]

Hi I graduated last week and I know exactly what you mean. I’ve been running around the local streets trying to avoid the main road as I find the fumes especially deisel unpleasant. I have a lot of hills near me, not massive and not very noticeable in the car but killers for running. The other problem here is that a lot of the pavements are on a slope, either sloping away towards the gutter or down towards the houses. I used to find it tricky walking but running on a sloping pavement is really uncomfortable. I think what you need to try and do is find a route on the flat, you can google running routes and there’s various apps that’ll show you routes and stick with them at this stage. I’m at the point where a couple of hills are good for me as they push me a bit more but you don’t want it to be harder than it needs to be and put you off, you need to build your fitness first. Keep going as you will be surprised at how quickly your fitness improves and at some point those slight hills will be no problem for you x

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

I live on a hill. Initially I started on the streets around me. I did my first 10k on a canal path to make it easier and took my car there.

Training on your hill though will make you a stronger runner in the long term. I now actively seek out bigger and bigger hills sometimes even going up and back down and up again just cause I can 💪😉

[Swimmer50 Graduate]

Thanks everyone, that's motivating. I'll keep going. I may also see if there's a park I can drive to and try running around there

[GraceEvans91]

I found an old quarry and run from the school run to the quarry and around it for as long as the programme carry’s on then run home. Last time I did the couch to 5k last year I alternated the quarry then local streets but road crossing got dangerous in a busy area so I’m trusting in the quarry this time... p.s beware of the dogwalkers lol x

[angie31964 Graduate]

I have just been going out of my house and running in my local area. Sometimes I go left, sometimes I go right. I have a lot of inclines but I figure, what goes up, must come down lol.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

During C25K I was mainly to be found in the park (still am) and the nice flattish grass of local football pitches. I don’t like road running because there’s a lot of traffic here and the air is awful, and now I can run further than when I finished the plan I love the hilly trails that are all around me... I avoided hills like the plague on plan though... when I was in the parks, the duck ponds had many laps run around them 🤣

Great job getting started... you can do this... enjoy your journey.

[Sammy-Lou]

Hi swimmer50 I run around a field at home which has hills. I’m not great on hills! However even though this is lovely this time of year - when the dark nights set in I will be restricted as I live off a lane so it would be dangerous to venture out in the dark.

So only this week I bought a second hand treadmill. I’m doing my runs on it this week as field has been cut for hay - plus I want to get used to my treadmill. Im enjoying it immensely (I have the running bug) but am hoping I can alternate between field and indoor ! I’ll see how it goes! 🤞🙏