Where to Run

We can run anywhere, but different places have different feel, has its own advantages and disadvantages.

• Running Tracks
  • PROS. Soft padding, measurable distance without the need of a gps device.
  • CONS. limited views,you run in circles, often in one direction. My concern is that it may lead to slight imbalance between your legs and feet. May have to pay entry fee.
  • MY VIEW. I personally use it for Interval training or when I just want to do a quick sprint of 2.4km.
• Treadmills –
  • PROS. Comfortable, being indoors you can be protected from the weather. certain treadmills even have elevation settings, and monitoring devices, such as heart rate monitors, calories burnt, distance, speed and time. Certain people claim they are faster and run further on treadmills than outdoors.
  • CONS. Very limited view, there is no twist and turns. does not simulate air resistance. The equipment can be as costly as USD$299 as seen on this amazon. or as much as USD$999 as seen on another.
  • MY VIEW. Not a fan, I like to run with a view. Also, I remember when I was running on treadmill, my running form tend to go heel striking. A different feel to when I am trying chirunning, when I need to lean forward to fall forward. So to me it doesn’t feel natural. And finally, I’m a cheapskate. Why would I buy a machine for me to do at home what I can do on the road for practically free.
• Roads
  • PROS. provides almost unlimited space for running. It is a very good environment to simulate actual race day, as most runs are done on the road.
  • CONS. watch out for motorist. (I will cover about safe running later)
  • MY VIEW. The most ideal route. Some runs use the same route every year, so training can be done using those same routes.
• Hill Running
  • PROS. Provides with a workout that helps build strength and speed.
  • CONS. some hills may be tricky. need to be careful during the run. Not an ideal reflection of actual race day, unless they are also hill runs.
  • MY VIEW. Something that can be done once or twice a month. I actually joined a hill run, did terribly, but my run 1 week later was quite fast. Also an urban alternative is the fire escape.
• Recreation Parks
  • PROS. A relatively very safe place to run. Since it is a public place, a lot of people are there to keep you company.
  • CONS. sometimes limited distance (can be overcome by doing laps). Irregular shape also makes it difficult to track performance (unless using GPS)
  • MY VIEW. If you want to have a relaxed run. it is probably the best place to go. But not suitable if you are either doing Intervals or even long distance run. 
• City Area or in parking lots.
  • PROS. long after working hours this place is almost deserted. A good time and place to do short runs around the block.
  • CONS. during working hours quite packed, a lot of people a lot of cars.
• Beaches
  • PROS. It is a good training area for injured legs and feet. or for those who are just begining. The soft sand absorbs impact on landing that it is easy on the joints. alternatively, some runners may go barefoot, or run in the water for resistance training runs.
  • CONS. certain beaches maybe significantly affected by tides and wave as determined by the lunar cycle. causing a nice beach area into a watery area.
  • My View. I like beach running especially since I used to live next to one. the cool breeze, the soft land. I actually used it to begin my barefoot running. Just watch out for the broken shells, dead carcasses of fish, jelly fish, and other creatures.

I personally started running around a mosque compound that was more or less 1 km in length. In which I graduated to running onto the roads. But when I picked up barefoot running, I started at the beach, to the running track, and on to the road.