En Route

Part of the excitement of running is exploring new territory on foot, covering distances you never imagined you would. You get a whole new take on the scenery. You’ll notice details you’ve never noticed before. I’ll get lost in the city and take note of new parks I discover, restaurants I would like to try, and stores I’d like to visit. Not everyone has a city nearby, but there is still much to be discovered. Planning (or not planning) routes is crucial to the enjoyment a casual runner gets from their run. Here are a few suggestions of some ways to plan a route.

Suburbs

Explore the neighborhoods. At surface level a subdivision or neighborhood can appear like a boring place. But, sometimes you’ll find looping around the neighborhood turning down every street can offer you a significant distance to loop. You can watch people, observe houses, and become familiar with the dogs in the neighborhood. Neighborhood sidewalks can provide you with a safety net away from traffic. Be watchful for cars pulling in and out of driveways. You also might cross paths with some of your neighbors who run. Get familiar with your neighborhood. Run some different loops and get an idea of how long it takes for certain routes. From there you may be able to estimate a distance and plan future runs.

City

Explore the parks. It can be dangerous and frustrating running through city streets, though sometimes necessary. As an alternative, find out what park options your city has to offer. From my experience, most cities will have parks with a network of trails for joggers. This is a great way to get to know a city. Sometimes the jogging trails will be in prominent scenic places in the city. Another benefit of city parks is they are often lined with drinking fountains. Having a easily accessible water supply and not having to carry it is a huge advantage.

Trails

Find out what metro parks, county parks, state parks, national parks, etc… are nearby. Get a map of the trails. This can make for some great rewarding runs. Make sure you know where you are going and have access to things you need, such as water. It may be necessary to carry your own water supply. This might not be the best place to run and get lost like in a city. Just make sure you have a solid idea of where you are and know your limits. Possibly prepare for more difficult terrain such as hills, mud, and other obstacles.

Be extra cautious if you decide to run on the road. Though they are required to, don’t expect vehicles to give you the right of way. It is better safe than sorry. I would recommend exhausting other resources before resorting to road running.

Mix it up. Keep changing your routes to keep running exciting and interesting. You’ll discover new things and cover more ground than you ever imagined.