Grass V Pavement !!!

[7ermintrude]

W3R2 and i thought i'd have a change of route and try one of the 3 minute runs and a grass track... turns out thats a lot harder going that i thought it would be.Several people have said it's bad for your knees running on pavements etc. After today i'd say it was worse running on grass..anyone else found that?

[nicolaclaire]

I feel like grass offers more resistance and makes the running harder, thought I was the only one.....glad I'm not the only one!

[7ermintrude Graduate]

i thought it was like trying to run through treacle.. i'm sticking to pavements

[Rollertoaster Graduate]

I definitely prefer pavement as it's more predictable - I don't spend my time looking down in case of a sudden unexpected dip! I find it much easier to run on. I thought it was just me too!

[carolinew Graduate]

I do a mixture. The grass absorbs more of your momentum, which slows you down, but its kinder to your body, whereas on pavement you retain your momentum as the hard surface bounces you back off! I usually try a to incorporate both, to make sure my old knees stay healthy. Once I've finished the program I want to do more trail running as there are loads of places to tun around the outskirts of my village - but they're all hilly unlike the streets of the centre that I'm using now!!

[epld]

I did one of the C25K runs on grass and swore never to do that again!! I was struggling as it is, and the grass made it 100x harder! I stick to pavements now and use knee supports to give my knees a little help!

[runningwild Graduate]

I think I'd mix it up when I'm more used to running. Have tried running on grass and it is harder, so for now stick to the trail.

[swanscot Graduate]

Like carolinew, I run on a mixture to save my old knackered-from-years-of-hillwalking knees. I start off on the road, then onto a off-road track, followed by woodland path and another farm vehicle track, but sticking to the grassy strip in the middle not the gravel wheel tracks. Then return the same way.

As I lengthen my route, I'm going to have to have more road running to get into one of the two private estates where I'll then get onto the forest or farm tracks.

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

I do a mix. Pavement, gravel and grass - haven't had a go at mud yet, but I will

I thought pavement (asphalt) was bad for the back (right?) and gravel was best. I'm Ok with all 3 but definitely prefer gravel. Now sand (beaches) that is hard work

[7ermintrude Graduate]

not a chance of a gravel track anywhere near me sadly.. grass nearly killed me but perhaps worth another go when i get better at this running thing so far i have had no problems with knees or back so on i plod and so glad it's not just me that has a grass issue

[happierswimming Graduate]

It isn't the grass so much that makes running on grass easier on the joints- more the soil under it. It's easier on the joints if you run on soft ground but in hot weather the soil can be as hard as concrete so there is no real advantage. (Not an issue this year!) However, I consider at the age of 61 that i'm too old to risk my joints by running on pavements and use wet ground. That usually means the grassy park

[Skandia Graduate]

Grass is really hard work! I tried it on week 3 and had to give up and go home. Back to the pavement after that much smoother and more predictable. There's enough to think about a it is without worrying about lumps, dips and doggy doos! My 50 year old knees seem ok so far (week 6 run 3 now)

[Diamondwitch Graduate]

I've done 99% of my running on grass, half of it mown, half not. I didn't realise how hard it was compared to pavement until my run yesterday where I ran a different route. I'd never given it any thought but now I'm thinking that's probably why yesterday's run went so well! Doh!