New to running - track or street??

I've been street running for 1 1/2 years and love it. I go to the gym sometimes when the weather's too depressing to face, but I recommend trying track and street and seeing which you like best.

6 months after I started running outside I started seeing others coming out for runs and now they're regulars and we wave to each other. Haha that sounds sad, but it's fun.

I'm still fairly new to running but when I do get a chance to go out I go to the park and run on their trails. Great scenery and lots of other runners/walkers for motivation.

I've always run off an on, but last year I kind of went crazy about it and ended up running 40+ miles per week. ( i don't do that anymore lol) I started on a treadmill, running 6 miles since I was in descent shape to begin with, an worked my way up to about 14 miles. I have always found that running outdoors is much harder than running indoors/track, but running outdoors is much more interesting and satisfying. Based off my personal experience( i'm sure there are those out there much more knowledgeable than I) It might be a good idea to start off on a tread mill just so you can find your natural pace, and learn how to stick with it. Recently I have started running again with my boyfriend who is built like a tank and not very much of a natural runner- I notice that he has a hard time keeping a steady pace so he tends to run faster and faster till he is exhausted and discouraged- spending some time on a treadmill with a set pace might help with that + easier on the joints.

make sure to get good running shoes!!! good luck

i run better on the tredmill then the neighborhood and i havent tried the track

The track is fine for starting out, but try the street at least once a week. As you get more fit and run longer the track is going to be more like the treadmill. 3 miles on the track is 12 laps without a single left turn or a change in scenery is just too boring, imagine when it becomes 5 or 6 miles.

Start with what works and work to what is enjoyable over time.

I love to run, and without a doubt, prefer outside - track free. One of the main reasons for me was in how I started. I run out and then back to my house. Thus, once I get halfway, I cannot quit...must head back. With a track or a treadmill, it's too easy to stop.

That being said, it is the hardest on my joints as I am running on asphalt or concrete. I try to switch it up and go on a treadmill at least once or twice a week, but it's so boring that way!!!!

I am on week 4 of c25k and have been running on the track. Since I am new to running I like it because it's easier for me mentally to start and stop with the intervals on a track. I have had to learn posture and breathing so running on a track makes it easier for me to focus on that while just going in a circle. I do think it will get boring once I am running longer distances. That will be when I try the bike path. Good luck!

Depends. If you're a numbers junkie, a track is a good place, because like you said, you'll have instant feedback for time and distance.

If you like pretty scenery, then head onto the street.

I myself don't like tracks, because I don't like feeling like a hamster, but that's just me.

One thing you can do to keep track of distance easily is go to a website like Mapmyrun, and figure out your run before you go, so you can know exactly how far you're running beforehand.

I do both but prefer the street only because I find it too easy to quit early on the track. On the other hand, if I run away from my house, then I have to run back lol. And I use MapMyRun to plan the run before I go and wear a stop watch to keep track of my times.

Edited for not being a tech junkie: I don't own a phone, an IPod, or anything else to use for running :blushing:

I think track running is SO BORING! I don't mind running on a treadmill though.

The only tracks here are at schools and they are uptight about people who are not associated with the school using them. So I run on the sidewalks (street running). Also I think I would get bored seeing the same old scenery every quarter mile.

I loved running when i was younger and did majority on street. After 2 Knee surgeries related to basketball injuries the pounding from the hard surface was to much so i moved to the local hs track which is the recycled rubber did that for about 5 yrs now I don't run at all because i got lazy and then fat. But would love to run again.

I always run on a track. The rubber surface is good for the knees, there's no unnecessary hassle with traffic, there's always people to motivate you, its flat, you can do intervals etc.