Direction
Let’s say it’s a really nice day and you want to go for a walk. Or, let’s say you’re a running nazi and are going for a run in sub-freezing temperatures. Either way, you walk out of your house, your work, your parents’ house, wherever (!) to get started on your excursion. Which direction do you go? And, is it the same direction every time?
Yesterday morning, I dropped off Gavin at daycare, which is a leisurely three block walk from our house. I go the same way every time, because, well, it’s three blocks straight south from where we live. But, from daycare, I sometimes go for a run or walk before heading home. And every single time I continue heading south.
I could head east. Or west. Or even north (though, that would eventually result in a run-in with a cemetery, which I’d like to avoid). But, my brain always points me in a southern direction. (Given it was 12 degrees yesterday morning, maybe my brain was telling me to seek out warmer climates?!)
Why is that? There’s nothing special about these workouts. I usually go 2-3 miles. Have plenty of options for which streets to travel. And yet, my loop? It’s the same silly circle every stinking time! As this realization occurred to me yesterday morning, I decided to shake things up. I crossed over and reversed the loop. And you know what? I kinda liked it.
So, tell me, when you head out, are you on auto-pilot, too? Or do you seek out new routes to purposefully change up the scenery, give yourself new challenges, etc.??
January 19th, 2012 at 7:30 am
I’m a total creature of habit, so I tend to run in the same direction! In fact, I strongly prefer to run counter-clockwise around the lakes I run around. If I run clockwise, it feels ‘off’. ;)
I always take a left when I hit the river path, because if I go right, I encounter some BIG hills and I am just not a hills person!!
January 19th, 2012 at 9:27 am
I almost always run the same route, only changing it up when I need to add more mileage. I know I should explore more but I love my current route and am a total creature of habit! When I lived in Chicago and was running on the lakefront path, I ran the same way every single time so I could see the seasons change on the path (like the tree by Millennium park, the frozen lake, etc).
January 19th, 2012 at 9:45 am
Definitely auto-pilot for me. Even when I’m commuting, I don’t veer off course. There are some great indie coffee shops that have recently opened up in town. They’re not really on my way, but I could go slightly out of my way and switch things up to visit them. I always say I should. I never do. Maybe one of these days :-)
January 19th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Part of coping with marathon training for me has been routine. It is only when I veer from the plan that I have trouble maintaining the plan. So, I tend to the run the same two or three routes over and over. One of my runs is multiple loops around a lake and sometimes I’ll run that backwards.
But I like to keep track of where my body is, how I’m feeling, how my stride is and that’s all much easier when I’m not looking around and feeling lost.
Now, if I’m not running, I’m all over the place. I’m the queen of thinking that there MUST be a shorter short-cut than my current short-cut so I always find myself in very curious places. I’m actually driving to Chicago this afternoon and trying to convince myself to just stay in the damn interstate. We’ll see how it goes.
January 19th, 2012 at 10:21 am
I switch it up based on how far I am going and if I have the puppy with me or not. But a lot of times I take the same route because I know the distance without having to check my Nike+.
January 19th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
You are braver than me. I just want to hide under the covers when it sub-freezing temps outside. BUT when it’s nice and warm, I do find I tend to go the same route without really thinking about it. It’s probably because I know it well and know it’s safe. When I’m with Matt though, I find we do shake things up a bit and head in different directions, go different routes (we like going for walks and there are a lot of lovely trails here which I would never walk on my own).
January 19th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Same here, sisterfriend. I always go the same way around my neighborhood, even though there are several ways I could go. A while ago I looked up the mileage and now I always go that way. Now I’m itching to look up a new route and try another order/direction :)
January 19th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Gavin looks so cozy!!!
I am always looking for new routes! But Tim prefers the same ole same ole. When we ran our 13 2 weeks before our half, I talked him into venturing into a neighborhood neither of us were familiar with.
OH THE HILL IN THAT ‘HOOD.
HUGE.
STEEP.
ROUGH.
Whew, I learned my lesson. Maybe.
:-)
January 20th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Ooh I think that’s supposed to help boost memory when you switch things up like that.
I’m a total creature of habit. I usually run the same route every time. I used to mix things up a little when I lived in Montrose, but my options aren’t as open here in Hollywood. I think my variety comes in the form of trying to do different stuff -- like hike or sometimes run at the beach or do one of my dozen workout dvds.
January 20th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
In the winter I have to run the same route in our suburban neighborhood (to stay on the left side of the road, running in to traffic) but in the summer I like to go all over!
Keep switching things up! It makes it much more interesting!