Running News Daily

Exploring Different types of running and what is the best

The route you choose can make or break a run It can turn an ordinary workout into an adventure or leave you counting down the miles wishing it was over Over the years I’ve tackled just about every type of running route imaginable and I’ve realized that the layout of a run matters just as much as your shoes pace or playlist

This list focuses on the structure of the route itself not specific training methods like intervals tempo runs or fartleks It’s also not about surfaces so no debate here between grass sand pavement or trails And I’m not talking about hill work altitude training or anything else that complicates the joy of simply lacing up and heading out This is about the route you choose and how it shapes the overall experience

1  Point to Point The Ultimate Running Adventure (first photo with JR after our Coupa run) 

Without a doubt point to point runs are my favorite There’s something satisfying about starting in one place and finishing somewhere completely different It turns a workout into a journey you’re not just running in circles you’re actually getting somewhere

There are really two ways to approach a point to point run Either you start at home and run to a destination or you get dropped off and run back home I enjoy both depending on the day and the logistics

One of my favorite routes back home in California is running from my house in Los Altos to the Coupa Café on the Stanford campus It’s about 7.2 miles but I almost always stop after 10k or sometimes even sooner and walk the last mile to the café.  It's a great way to cool down before sitting down for coffee My wife Catherine often picks me up afterward or sometimes I arrange for a Uber to pick us up.

While in Portugal my go to point to point is running from our little village of Monforte da Beira over to the next village It’s a beautiful 12k or 74 miles and I often run it on Saturday and then walk it with some of our team on Sunday We always end up at a small café where we enjoy coffee water and maybe a little Portuguese pastry 

Point to point courses also make for great races Take the Boston Marathon for example You take a bus to Hopkinton and run your way back into the heart of Boston Or the Fontana Half Marathon where you catch an early morning bus up the hill and run all the way back down

2  Loop A Run That Comes Full Circle

Loops come in second for me and for good reason You start and finish at the same spot without the boredom of retracing your steps If you pick the right route you get variety different scenery changing terrain and a clear sense of progress A well planned loop gives you the satisfaction of completion without the mental hurdle of knowing you’ll have to turn around and run everything in reverse

3  Out and Back Reliable and Straightforward (second photo 5.7 mile run with club) 

Out and back runs are the workhorses of training I’ve done countless miles this way because they’re easy to plan and execute Pick a spot run halfway turn around and head home There’s a mental boost when you hit the turnaround you’re officially on the way back It might not be as exciting as point to point or a loop but it’s practical and sometimes that’s all you need

4  Laps Consistency with a Side of Speed (third photo doing intervals at Foothill College) 

Lap running comes in fourth mostly because it’s more about training than adventure Most of my lap runs happen on a track but I’ve also done them around city blocks or larger circuits Laps are perfect for progressive runs where you pick up the pace with each loop The beauty here is certainty you know exactly how far you’re going even without a GPS watch It’s also great for mental toughness There’s something about pushing through lap after lap that builds resilience

5 Treadmill The Last Resort

Technically treadmill running isn’t a route but it’s a type of running worth mentioning It’s my least favorite but I can’t deny it has its place I’ve probably only logged ten treadmill runs in my life and I’ve never quite mastered the form I always find myself gripping the side rails to keep balance That said I do remember one treadmill session in Quebec City It was freezing outside with four feet of snow so I hit the hotel gym and hammered out ten miles at a 620 per mile pace holding the railing the whole way It was my best treadmill experience but in general I’ll take the open road any day

In the end every type of running has its place Some days you need the adventure of a point to point run Other days a simple out and back gets the job done Whatever the route the key is finding joy in the miles After all the best run isn’t just about pace or distance it’s about how the journey makes you feel And if that journey ends with a good coffee and great conversation even better

Bob Anderson Notebook