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advantages or cross country running??
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hey, since re-stating my running ( great north run and london marathon my targets) i had found my joints had become very unused to pounding the roads, so too the measure of running cross country tom ake it easier on my joints. i am loving it! i can feel my muscls really getting a workout!! i suppose i am answering my own title but is cross country a good idea. i am still hitting roads sometimes to run the country and sometimes for my whole run. my training now is to run 4 times a week, atleast 1 long run every fortnight (did 10 miles sunday which was almost double my normal run), guess this was kinda a blog rather than a question lol comments welcome!
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Comments
I prefer it to the roads/streets. I've read its better on the joints but I've also read it makes no difference!
To answer your question I don't think theres any advantage/disadvantage, just your personal preference
i think the adjustments the leg, knee, ankle and toes have to make when running off road help to build stronger muscles and joints in a way that roadwork can't. the downside is tripping or twisting something but, for me, off road is well worth the risk
I agree, I do most of my running on trails. It strengthens your muscles, and it strengthens your soul.
But there is one real advantage on running on roads. They give you a regular even surface to run on, which is exactly what you need if you are doing speedwork, reps, intervals etc in preparation for a race. You also find that you naturally run slower on rough terrain. Tree roots, stones, rough surfaces all act as trip hazards if you are bombing along doing 8 x 200 or whatever.
I therefore do long runs in the beautiful countryside, and speedwork/ paced runs on roads.
........ or should I say pavements, with watching out for traffic!! I try and find a "big block" where I dont have to cross a road.
Traffic.............. definitely a hazard when running in urbal areas!!
if I happen to fancy stepping out a little, i'm 0.5 mile from the promenade at Crosby, giving me 2.5 miles traffic free (except for bicycles), either smooth tarmac or beach.