The Course
The ABCs and running series:
Today's topic "The Course"
Path, route, trail - whatever your want to call it - it's the journey we take each time we lace up our runners.
Most runners I know have a route already in mind. I've yet to encounter a runner who just wanders out the door with no destination in mind. [Any Zen runners out there?]
We used to just check park trail signs or do a ride about in car or bike - calculating the miles by setting the odometer. Now, it has become a fine science using modern gadgets. You can buy an upscale pedometer (Nike+iPod
You can even gmap your run in with several programs. I like this one at usatf. But I found when the mileage was biked out - I was running further than mapped. [A good thing - I guess.]
Course profiles:
Training
I like to use pre-measured routes so I know my exact time. I head to the local school track or marked pathways in the park. [Avoid traffic!] I sometime reverse the direction - just to keep sharp. [Why are so many of the school tracks fenced up? To discourage bums from training for a 1 mile record?]
Vacation
When traveling - choosing a place to run before the morning is of utmost importance. [Yes, I need to run - even while on vacation.]
It is sometime helpful to call the Hotel's concierge to see if they know of any local run sites.
Here's an example of courses I've tested: parking lot towers, golf courses, a cemetery, secret levees, beaches, and the Texas outback.
Race
It is always smart to peruse the map offered when you register for a race. I remember one run in California; we followed the leader down the wrong street. All Hell broke loose when we realized we had been taken off course. I don't usually pre-run race routes. I like to keep them fresh and exciting.
So for us that feel the need to monitor every footstep planning the run is less of a hassle. Maps can reveal places to discover... courses we have yet to encounter.
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