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Running in Suburbia is so. darn. boring. (Read 297 times)

duckman


The Irreverent Reverend

    I am so bored running in suburbia. I've lived here for nearly three months, and it is so. darn. boring. Any advice?

     

    I got back into running 3 1/2 years ago, when I was living in Arlington, VA, which has hills and windy streets and the wonderful W&OD trail, and where on long runs I could run along the Potomac and into DC - Georgetown University, various monuments, the Kennedy Center, and the Capitol Crescent trail.

     

    Then we moved to Saint Paul, MN, where long runs would take me around lakes, through beautiful downtowns, and along the mighty Mississippi. Sure, there were boring spots - like the first two miles of every run through the warehouse district - but the payoff was great when I got to the Mississippi River, or the Saint Paul Cathedral, or the Stone Arch Bridge with a great view of downtown Minneapolis.

     

    Where I live right now - Carmel, IN - is a great place to live, to send kids to school, and to enjoy a night out with the family ... but I have been very bored running here. I do like the Monon Trail - a great "rails to trails" trail through the heart of town, and stretching for more miles than I could run - but it is 3 miles from my house. On today's long run, for example, it was 2+ miles down one large suburban road, turn, then 3+ miles down another suburban road, turn, then 2+ miles on the Monon, turn, then 3+ on another large suburban road ... And if I run through the subdivisions, I get lost on all the windy roads populated with houses that all look the same.

     

    I know. I just need to suck it up and deal with it. But as someone who got back into running in two different yet spectacular towns for running, with great and rewarding views and experiences - such as running in the fog along the Mississippi with bald eagles flying overhead, or rowers rowing in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial - I'm having a hard time getting excited at the sight of a Starbucks or the new sign at the nearby subdivision.

     

    Rant over. Thanks for listening. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

    Husband. Father of three. Lutheran pastor. National Guardsman. Runner. Political junkie. Baseball fan.

      I know what you mean, though my problem went away once I was regularly running over 4 miles.  The first couple months, when a long run was 3 miles, were painfully boring jogs through subdivisions.  Though there was the mild entertainment of counting rabbits and turkeys.

      Julia1971


        I took this picture from Gravelly Point this training cycle.  Not quite the Lincoln Memorial but pretty spectacular.

         

         

        There was a thread earlier this year where people couldn't understand why people would chose to live in an urban environment.  Everyone has their preferences but I my favorite runs are the ones where I get to see the city "waking up".


        Feeling the growl again

          I never felt Carmel was particularly good for running.  I've also run much better (and safer) trails than the Monon.  I actually prefer the White River Trail downtown that I run on over lunch.

           

          I live ~30 minutes west of you.  Much easier to run on the rural roads, but my particular area is flat and just as boring...just fewer cars to deal with.  The corn is coming down so it will be going from corn alleys with zero sights to windswept plains.

          "If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does.  There's your pep talk for today.  Go Run." -- Slo_Hand

           

          I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills

           

          jerseyrunner


          Half Fanatic 12680

            I live in a suburban neighborhood, too, but there are several nice parks in my town within 2-4 miles so I plan my routes to run through those. I'd see what you could find in your general area. The miles to the park are boring, but the reward is there. Also, I listen to books on tape when I run; even the pretty park scenery gets a little boring when you see it 5 times a week. My DH likes to listen to podcasts so that's an option, too.

             

            I have more of a problem finding routes for cycling. In town there are so many stop signs and crossings that it's all stop and go. The parks I like to run through have paths that are good for walking/running, but not for cycling and the distances are fairly short (2 mile loops). So I don't get much cycling in during the week but on Sundays, DH and I drive about an hour to some beautiful spot near farmland, or the ocean, or along the canal between PA and NJ and we have a nice long ride. Although it wouldn't work every day, you could "treat" yourself on weekends by driving to a scenic location and taking a nice long run.

             

             

            kcam


              Suck it up man.  I've found that even the most scenic runs can get a little stale after you've run them a few hundred times!

              stadjak


              Interval Junkie --Nobby

                Move.

                2021 Goals: 50mpw 'cause there's nothing else to do

                Julia1971


                  I live in a suburban neighborhood, too, but there are several nice parks in my town within 2-4 miles so I plan my routes to run through those. I'd see what you could find in your general area. The miles to the park are boring, but the reward is there. Also, I listen to books on tape when I run; even the pretty park scenery gets a little boring when you see it 5 times a week. My DH likes to listen to podcasts so that's an option, too.

                   

                  I have more of a problem finding routes for cycling. In town there are so many stop signs and crossings that it's all stop and go. The parks I like to run through have paths that are good for walking/running, but not for cycling and the distances are fairly short (2 mile loops). So I don't get much cycling in during the week but on Sundays, DH and I drive about an hour to some beautiful spot near farmland, or the ocean, or along the canal between PA and NJ and we have a nice long ride. Although it wouldn't work every day, you could "treat" yourself on weekends by driving to a scenic location and taking a nice long run.

                   

                  I think music and podcasts are great for this taking your mind off the boredom.  Another idea is to run a familiar course in the opposite direction from what you usually run it.   (An RAer suggested this to me this week when I was complaining about course boredom).


                  Kalsarikännit

                    Suburban fartleks. Intervals and recoveries between Chili's, Olive Garden, Applebee's, TGI Fridays, and other crappy chains.

                    I want to do it because I want to do it.  -Amelia Earhart

                     


                    Feeling the growl again

                       even the pretty park scenery gets a little boring when you see it 5 times a week. 

                       

                      While I find myself looking back fondly at some other places I used to live/run, you're right.  After awhile I was bored with even some of the most scenic runs, as Ken indicated as well.  That's the one nice part about my rural run vs suburbs around here....Basically I create my own "scenery" in my mind, getting lost in my thoughts.  Probably 2/3 of running from my house is on the same 8.25 mile loop or large portions of it, through flat, featureless farmland.  But that's OK as I'm not really paying attention to it.  But in the suburbs it's harder to tune out because of traffic and street crossings.

                       

                      Yesterday morning I went for a pre-dawn run of 6 miles.  I had to deal with 3 cars.  I was surprised at the heavy traffic.

                      "If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does.  There's your pep talk for today.  Go Run." -- Slo_Hand

                       

                      I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills

                       


                      Why is it sideways?

                        You should write the story of your daily loop. I bet you will find it to be more interesting upon reflection.


                        Cool Jump Suit

                          I agree.  I live technically 1 mile from Carmel.  I've run around town and the Monon, but it gets old.  The Sam Costa HM gets grating too. I like running at Ft. Benjamin Harrison and the Fall Creek Greenway though.  They aren't too far away from you.

                          So bittersweet,
                          This tragedy
                          Won't ask for absolution;
                          This melody,
                          Inside of me,
                          Still searches for solution.
                          A twist of faith,
                          A change of heart
                          Cures my infatuation.
                          A broken heart, 
                          Provides the spark
                          For my determination.

                          duckman


                          The Irreverent Reverend

                            Great picture, Julia. There is a beauty to running before and as the city is waking up ...

                            Husband. Father of three. Lutheran pastor. National Guardsman. Runner. Political junkie. Baseball fan.


                            Feeling the growl again

                                The Sam Costa HM gets grating too. I like running at Ft. Benjamin Harrison and the Fall Creek Greenway though.  They aren't too far away from you.

                              Heh.  Don't get me started on Sam Costa.  Grating barely covers it.  Smile

                               

                              Yes, some of the greenways are trails in disguise.  I have not run them recently, but the levee trails along some of the river greenways are pretty decent.  Thought they run through some pretty sketchy areas on occasion.  Also make sure you check out Eagle Creek, a short drive from Carmel, good, hilly trail loop ~6 miles.

                              "If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does.  There's your pep talk for today.  Go Run." -- Slo_Hand

                               

                              I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills

                               

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