Looking for a new running program or... something...

moonangel12

I am not sure which direction to go. I enjoy running! But lately my neighborhood .86mi loop is becoming more and more like a dreadmill. It’s hard to go past 3-5 miles just out of sheer boredom - and with daylight decreasing it’s going to get even harder. I am to the point where I am not even really getting winded, but my legs protest me trying to up the pace so I am thinking I need a focused plan to keep me going and give me something to focus on. I was training for a half marathon, had gotten up to 8 or 9 miles at a time, but a medical thing set me back a week or two, and then the race got canceled (not a huge surprise) so I kinda fizzled out. 5k-10k is my ideal distance. I want to eventually push myself to a half or full marathon just to show myself I still can, but for day to day running I don’t want to burn myself out. Ideas? I did a 4.5mi trail run a week or so ago and it was so much fun! I would love to do more of that, but can’t always get away and am not sure how much I want to venture out solo (especially entering into hunting season). I listen to podcasts and audio books to help pass the time. Music with a heavy beat annoys the heck out of me for some reason. There are plenty of training plans for upping mileage, but what about for longer term running just to change it up day to day? Or build speed or stamina? I have a Garmin and use RunKeeper. Need to poke around both to see what I can find there...

AwesomeSquirrel

I understand and I applaud you for running consistently on an 0.86 mile loop! I have low tolerance for repetition so I’ve just continually expanded my various loops through the neighbourhoods in different directions. Is that an option for you? Sometimes I’ll just zigzag the streets for added distance.

Depending on where you live and how transport is working at the moment you might also be able to go running in a different negihbourhood? A couple of years ago there was a run group in my area who ran all the different metro lines start to finish.

Best of luck!

LadyBattenburg

"Zombies Run!" app? Tells you a brief story as you jog and interjects moments of upping the pace to escape zombies. You collect objects while you run and can use them to build a base etc.

4legsRbetterthan2

If you google Hal Higdon's training plans he has different ones for different goals. You can choose 5k or 10k intermediate or advanced ones, there are a mix of milage runs and speed workout in them.

Garmin also has training programs though their app now. You answer some questions about your goals, do an initial run so it gets a starting point, and gives you workouts. I have not used it much, but it sounds like there are different levels and options and there are 3 different coaches to chose from.

If there is a local running group in your area see about joining, or at least following them on social media. Mine is super active on facebook and can easily give advice for great running locations both road and trail.

As for hunting, from my years of horseback riding and hiking, if an area only allows bow hunting I feel comfortable heading out. Bow hunters have to be pretty close to a target for bow hunting, they are unlikely to be shooting at something they have not clearly identified. Most of my encounters with bow hunters have been very friendly and respectful, I have never had an issue with any.

spiriteagle99

If you can, find alternate routes that you can run. I have a half dozen near my house I run regularly, and I get bored with them, so if I can I go to places I haven't been before. Sometimes a ten minute drive is all it takes to get a different neighborhood to explore. Or I'll have my husband drop me off someplace and run home from there, or I'll run out to meet him at a pub, coffeeshop or diner. I enjoy trail running as well, but that is a bigger time commitment since I have to drive 45+ minutes to reach a trail, but it is something I enjoy when I do it.

Onedaywriter

I live in a cul de sac type neighborhood and I also got bored. There aren’t many alternatives for me because of the position of my home. I sometimes run/walk after the gym in the gym neighborhood (although it’s a little industrial there) or I combine the trip and go to a park nearer to the gym than my home. I figure I’m already sweaty so might as well.
I mix up podcasts and different music genres also to keep it fresh.

Go_Deskercise

I enjoy the hell out of my runs/walks/jogs because of one thing .... my doggies
On days that I don't feel like going, I just start putting on my workout stuff.
They know and start going crazy with excitement so it motivates me to go bc it would be cruel not too.


** Totally not saying to run out and get a dog because they are definitely a handful lol

Duck_Puddle

I live in kind of a weird neighborhood where I’m sandwiched in between very busy main roads - so my best traffic & breathing friendly routes are in my neighborhood. I do a lot of figure 8 loops - and a little side loop here and there. And I’m close to the high school so I add in laps of the track. I’m training for an ultra doing crazy long runs on basically a 1.16 mile loop. Oy.

But-I know the people and the dogs and they cheer for me (the people and I’m choosing to that’s what the dogs are doing) and if anything ever happened, I’m close to home and the people recognize me. And there’s minimal traffic on my route so I can run safely and without inhaling vehicle exhaust or having to wait 5 minutes for a light to change to cross a 5 lane road.

So I get the route boredom. I like getting to trails or other places when I can-but that isn’t as often as I’d like.

As for what to do, I’d agree with checking out some intermediate or advanced 5k-10k training plans. They will have a mix of easy runs and various speed work that make up a reasonably round running program. Hal Higdon has some, Cool Running used to, as do many others. Find one that meshes with your style. Also-mixing in trail running when you can is also great because it uses a lot more stabilizing muscles to handle to varied terrain, you’re almost certain to encounter hills and the surface is softer.

The fun thing about not training for a race is that you can just run for enjoyment. Not that training for a race isn’t fun, but if I didn’t have the ultra on my horizon; a lot of my recent runs would have been very different than they were LOL (eg I would not be running 20+ miles in 90+ degree temps). So you can tailor things for your schedule, the weather, mood (sometimes you just need to run it out-even if the plan says to do hill repeats).