When the weather isn't 100% unbearable outside, you can generally find me running through Crafton. The town itself isn't very big, but I've mapped out both a 5k and a 10k course (the 10k does involve a bit more "circling the block" than I'd like, though). The nice thing about running in Crafton is the fact that there is a nice mixture of "holy crap" hills, "not-so-bad" hills, & flat land. I've found it to be great in terms of training for both short & long runs just because it's perfect for endurance building.
Because I consider myself somewhat of a "regular" when it comes to neighborhood running, I've listed five easy ways to spice things up when you're starting to get bored. As someone who has tested all of these strategies, I can tell you that they really are a nice way to break up an otherwise typical "neighborhood run".
2. Go Down Memory Lane: If you live nearby or in the area where you grew up, I can't tell you how much fun it is to literally turn your run into a trip down memory lane. Make a point to run past places where you used to hang out, old friends' houses, the swimming pool where you used to spend every summer, etc... Every time I do this, I find that I get so lost in my own thoughts that I end up running longer without even thinking about it.If you want to up the ante - create a playlist to listen to during your memory run that's full of music from the decade you grew up in.
3. Get Funky: While this doesn't specifically apply to running in a neighborhood, it's something that I only do on training runs (not during timed races) to have a little bit of fun. Whether you want to do it with your current playlist or put together a new one - make up a "movement" for a part of every song. It could be something as simple as playing the air drums during the chorus or you could make it more challenging like doing a spin move and a tuck jump when the bridge comes in. Not only is it fun to listen to every song start and think "Ok, what's my move for this song?", but it's also a nice way to add in a little bit of extra "OOMPH" if you get fancy with your cues.
4. Switch It Up: I've found that so many runners JUST run and totally forget how important strength training is, as well. To incorporate leg work into your regular neighborhood run, do lunges down alleys instead of jogging. Anytime you know your approaching an alley, slow down a bit to regulate your heart rate, and lunge the length of the back road. Lunges will not only help you build strength in your legs, but they can also help reduce your risk of injury & improve your balance.
5. Capture It: This is something that I just recently thought of & I'll eventually be chronicling it here on the blog. At some point on your run, choose a spot to stop and take a picture. Try to pick a location with some character, too. Take a photo in this same spot every single time you run. It could be on your warm up, in the middle of your run when you find you typically need a break, or somewhere on your cool down. If you're a regular neighborhood runner, there's a good chance you take the same or a similar path back home when you run. Right now I only have 7 of these pictures, but I am loving this project already. Once the seasons begin to change, you can imagine how interesting it will be to see the transformation.
Keep Running,
Kelli
