Off the beaten path

One unforeseen benefit of all this marathon training is that I have gotten to explore new territory.  I got tired of running my usual routes after running them all three or four times a week, so I started looking for new places to run.  In the past I've been hesitant to explore new places out of fear of dogs, hills, and rednecks, but desperate times call for desperate measures, so I started taking a new turn every once in a while.  I honestly didn't realize how many roads my town had (albeit many of them dirt) or how many birds of prey there are circling these roads.  Not every road has led to a romantic running route (read "The Birds" entry, for example), but many have turned out better than expected, which is more than you can say about many roads in life.  

Here are my tips for breaking out of a rut, whatever it may be:

1.  Start somewhere new. Normally I run from home because it is convenient and time efficient.  But by driving a couple miles away, I open up many new scenic possibilities.  Try running at a new park, around a lake, in the hills, or on a trail, anything that gets you somewhere fresh. 

2.  Try a different time of day.  The world looks different from a different perspective.  Tired of always running in the evening?  Get up early and watch the sun rise.  Or go out for a few miles at lunch to see the bustling world at high noon. 

3.  Vary your mileage. You can't get new places by always going the same places.  Five miles on the same course every day will quickly bore you to death.  Take a shorter day, then push yourself to go longer the next so you can see at least a few new sights.  

4.  Find a buddy.  Everything is better with a friend.  Join a running club, invite someone to meet up, or mentor a younger runner.  It will help to vary the pace and the conversation and you might discover something new by looking through new eyeballs. 

Do yourself a favor. Do your best Robert Frost and take a "road less traveled". Take a different turn today. Explore new possibilities. Make friends with new cows. But still watch out for the birds.  Happy running.