Running surfaces

[rEdShawks]

So many people tell me so many different things about the best running surfaces. Most say grass is best, which is great since i cant find grass to run on. I have 4 main options

concrete- which is pretty much unanimously the worst running surface

A wooden boardwalk - I live in miami beach and there is a wooden boardwalk near by which is 1.8 miles long, so if i run it back and forth i get 3.6 or go for long run and do it back and forth 2wice and get 7.2 miles

Asphalt- The road, or there is a park nearby which has a 400m track but the track is not clay its asphalt (running store told me asphalt the best)

Treadmill- a pretty expensive one

So whats the best for my ankle/knees/everything

I usually run around twice a week on treadmill and track and once on boardwalk

Please give me some advice on which surface to run on

*sources would be very appreciated, but post even if u dont have ures

 

[clinchman]

Wood has a little give - so I would think it would be fairly easy on your body. I was under the impression that an all weather track was the best because it has a lot of give. If it were me, I'd go for the boardwalk.

 

[Standard]

Just curious what are you running for? and what type of running? i've always found running in the sand to be a great workout and lower impact but a trade off is you can't run as far and in soft sand there can be a bigger potential for ankle injury.

 

[Revok]

You should be able to get away with doing LSD on the roads provided you have decent shoes. You might get shin splints for a couple of weeks but it's just something you've gotta go through. For sprints go with the boardwalk.

 

[liquid!]

Lsd everywhere. Don't overthink this. Get out and run. Put your headphones on and explore your city.

Sprints in the sand.

 

[rEdShawks]

Just curious what are you running for? and what type of running? i've always found running in the sand to be a great workout and lower impact but a trade off is you can't run as far and in soft sand there can be a bigger potential for ankle injury.

i dont fight, i run for myself, makes me feel good, but i do races every once in awhile (non-competitivley) but hope to get competitive

 

[Ziltoid]

Just curious what are you running for? and what type of running? i've always found running in the sand to be a great workout and lower impact but a trade off is you can't run as far and in soft sand there can be a bigger potential for ankle injury.

OH man. I used to run in the sand everyday when I lived right by the beach. Great friggin workout for your legs. Is it better running with sneakers or no on sand?

 

[indigoluxe]

Running on the boardwalk for a month. Stepping up your milage. It will act as a good intermediary. Then move to LSD on concrete, otherwise you'll actually start to hate running.

 

[rEdShawks]

Running on the boardwalk for a month. Stepping up your milage. It will act as a good intermediary. Then move to LSD on concrete, otherwise you'll actually start to hate running.

isnt lsd concrete really bad for ankles

 

[rEdShawks]

isnt lsd+concrete real bad for u?

 

[liquid!]

Of course the softer the surface the better. If you're a lightweight you have very litle to worry about.

If you're planning on running any road races you should to shift over to a harder/similiar surface as a race nears.

Your overthinking this a bit. Go outside and run where you feel most inspired or the most local "talent" is. Explore you city on foot.

I personally go out of my way to find trails and bike paths on weekdays, as I hate running alongside the road.

 

[vince89]

If you have high arch or flat foot, bad running mechanics and bad shoes then yeh youre almost guaranteed to get shin splints.