Trail vs Pavement vs Dreadmill

[colby]

I pretty much run exclusively on roads out of convenience (and because I race on the road), but when I hike with my dog I do run some of the segments. I feel like running in the VFFs will make a more natural transition to the trail because I watch where I step much more than I did in shoes. We'll find out soon enough, I haven't done trails/hiking yet this year. Running on the trail does require more balance, and ankle/calf strength, sort of like going (semi-)barefoot, except with bonus obstacles! The area I run hill repeats in has some sections of packed gravel/dirt on the sides that I really love running downhill in, it's so much more natural than downhill on pavement.

I find it harder to correct my form on the treadmill because the speed adjustment isn't as natural, so I don't get into as good of a rhythm as I do when I run outdoors. My heart rate ends up higher at the same pace, and I get frustrated, which doesn't really help. I really have to try to zone out a bit and relax on purpose, so I guess it's good mental training? I only use the treadmill if it's really icy outside or I am traveling and not comfortable with running outdoors where I am.

So, since I pound the pavement a lot, I do choose asphalt - we have a lot of multi-user paths/trails around here that are asphalt, thankfully. At the end, I do enjoy some nice jogging/walking in the grass.

[Skierchickie]

In order of preference:
1) trails
2) trails
3) trails
4) two-track trails (the first 3 were singletrack)
5) dirt / gravel roads
6) pavement
999,999) concrete
1,000,000) treadmill

Actually, I take that back - the treadmill shouldn't even be on the list. I pretty much wouldn't do it. Maybe if I was locked in a room with one for a month, with no other exercise options....

When I was marathon training, I did get to enjoy some of the more scenic, shady, paved roads around here (which are awesome, I must say), but normally roads just pound me and bore me to death. I see people running along the highway all the time - I always wonder why, when it's straight, wide, cars are whizzing past at 65, and there is no shade. I don't really enjoy running on the gravel road I live on (and it doesn't have much actual gravel left) - something about the wide, semi-straight so you can see for a long way qualities of a road just make it all feel like a chore. If I'm on a road, I'd much rather be biking.

Oh - the question. I don't really do anything different, but I do need more cushioning in my shoes for pavement. Those VFF things - don't you get beat up running in them? I just think about how my legs feel when I run, and I just don't think I could wear them. I wonder about blisters, too - anybody care to comment?

[Red Rock]

This has been a really intresting thread to read. Gosh, I didn't know that the majority of you all liked the trails that much. Wow. I guess I was from a different planet or something.

Many years back I trained on concrete/sidewalks. This totally killed my joints, so I said forget it. So I have now moved to trails. Around here there are places where it is very sandy, as if you were at the beach. The only difference is the sand is red. I think that is what made my first run so hard. I was using al sorts of muscles that had not been used before. My feet were placing differently too. There is hardpack/gravel/unpaved roads. I have taken a run on one of those yet.

Red Rock

[colby]

Oh - the question. I don't really do anything different, but I do need more cushioning in my shoes for pavement. Those VFF things - don't you get beat up running in them? I just think about how my legs feel when I run, and I just don't think I could wear them. I wonder about blisters, too - anybody care to comment?

The difference in surfaces is definitely less subtle than it is in regular shoes, but because I run with more "proper" form, I actually hurt less when I run in them (the impact is more evenly distributed across my foot and through my body). That said, I do avoid concrete. I can now FEEL what I knew it was doing to me all along.

Blisters: I actually have fewer blisters in them, because my feet don't really move in the shoes. I had to get rid of callouses I have developed from wearing shoes because they were more irritating than useful. I do wear socks 99% of the time (so far), even in the rain. I think it might actually be parts of the way my socks have been worn that is causing my blisters, adding a layer of friction between my feet and the "shoe".