I’ve got a lot of routes in my neighborhood to run. I’ve got a couple 5k loops, but I’ve had some trouble finding a good out and back run. This sounds like this post should have some deeper meaning about life, but, alas, no, it’s just about running.
Typically, I like out and backs because I feel I do get faster doing them. I typically set a target time for the halfway point, and then when I hit that I turn around and run home. It’s always good to run home, I think. It gives me extra motivation.
So typically, what I do is do a 10 minute out and then head back, trying to cut the return trip by a minute or so. Then the next time out I try to run farther than the place I turned around the first time and so on.
Anyway, my neighborhood is pretty hilly. So I had three out and backs to each of the three main parks in my area. Two of them took me up hill for the first half and then down hill all the way home. The third one took me down hill for the first half and then, of course, I had to run uphill to get home.
I ran some crazy times on those courses. But I’ve found a run that works. It’s basically a series of three hills that allows me to run a flat and then finish the last 10th of a mile down hill.
So, basically, I’m using this out and back to work on speed. I’ve improved my pacing over the course by about 9 seconds since I started running it and I’m almost at 3 miles. It does head west, so eventually, I could end up turning around at the California border, but we’ll see.
Keep running, keep writing.
Chalk Creek Writing Outfit 