To continue down this path of beginning exercise, I thought I’d talk more about where one specifically exercises and the benefits and negatives that come with each terrain. Below I have compiled a small list of common exercise destinations.
Road
This is obviously the most simple and self-explanatory. Nearly everywhere you go, there’s a long stretch of open road, possibly with even a sidewalk. It’s flat and fast and tends to not have many hills. It’s also incredibly convenient just to walk outside of your door and go for your walk, run or bike ride. However, there are several drawbacks to road running.- It is very hard on your legs. Each step you take sends “shock waves” up your legs and puts stress on your joints. Sure, if you have good running sneakers with high cushion it will absorb some of the shock but entirely stopping this is unavoidable.
- The streets are busy! Often times there is no sidewalk along side roads and running right next to cars can be scary. It is especially not recommended to run on the roads in the dark without proper night gear (head lamp, tail lights, etc.).
- It’s often not very shady. Running on the roads with the hot tar can be incredibly hot so make sure you are properly hydrated/have extra hydration before going out!
Trails
This is my personal favorite way to exercise. Trails often are very scenic and can make the exercising seem a little less painful. Trails also are often shady and keep you away from the sun on a hot day! However, trails can be very hard to come by, especially in a busy city.- If you can get yourself to a trail, it is highly recommended and can relieve some of the stress put on your body if you exercise on the roads every day. Trails are also very “rooty” and “rocky”. Using a pair of trail shoes with soles that have a more aggressive tread than a traditional shoe may be required for some trails.
- Trails are not recommended for those that have balancing problems. Additionally, you should always go with a friend when on the trails as it some trails can be very windy and branch off in multiple directions. Getting lost in the woods by yourself is no fun.
Trails provide uneven terrain, rocks, roots and inclines and declines, increasing difficulty for more advanced runners. Shutterstock
