Grass running ...do you find it hard?

anthony ashton

02/07/2003 at 00:41

within 1/2 a mile of my home I can run onto a grassed footpath, it is away from the road and very quiet but I tend to avoid it because it seems to bog me down. I never seem to get up to pace and it feels hard work compared to the alternative 'gutter runing' route. I feel sure it is better for me impact wise but none the less I give it a miss on my runs. I feel the same about grass verges, many of the pavements have verges alongside them but the undulations and dog 5h1T keep me on the hard stuff. Am I alone on this one

The Road Runner

02/07/2003 at 00:55

Grass and other soft surfaces *will* slow you down, your muscles have to work harder because the soft surface is absorbing a lot of your energy. The advantage is that if you do a lot of training on grass, you will be less likely to succumb to impact injury, also your muscles will get a harder workout, meaning that you will be stronger when you run on hard surfaces, ie, the road.

Mikey

02/07/2003 at 05:37

Anthony,

RR is right - I used to feel the same way as you do, but I've gradually come to really enjoy running on grass. It does slow me down, but I'm happpy with the reduced impact and the increased training effect.

The only problem I find is that if the surface is not very good, it takes a lot of concentration not to twist an ankle.

I'm currently training for a 10k and was looking for a good grass surface on which I could do some intervals so I visited a nearby football pitch to see if I could get 400m or so of decent grass. After jogging to the pitch, I was pleasantly surprised to find a well kept 400m running track marked round the outside of the pitch!

Happy days :-)

Rgds,
MikeB

Hilly

02/07/2003 at 07:44

You obviously won't want to be doing any off road events then:o)

As the others have already said it will strengthen ankles and muscles making it feel easier back on the road.

Happy running!

Juliejoo

02/07/2003 at 07:59

When I first started running my biggest psychological obstacle was the thought of being seen. So I started on trails - through woods, fields, mud, you name it. Took a while to build up to running far enough to give me the courage to run on the road, but when I did get there I was faster and my ankles are stronger than they have ever been. Even if I go over on one now it rarely affects me for more than a few minutes.

I trail run now twice or three times a week, actually preferring it, but the measured mile down the road is getting faster!

Sassie

02/07/2003 at 08:25

I feel so much better having read this: I could never understand why I find grass so hard!

Pammie*

02/07/2003 at 08:27

And i am glad i am not the only one.

Fit chick

02/07/2003 at 18:55

I actually find it hurts my calves more when on running on grass, also the route I run is beside the river and it is easy to stumble in rabbit holes! Saying that I like the scenery so will keep at it.

Jane M

02/07/2003 at 19:15

I tend to run 1 min per mile slower on grass or off-road than I do on the road for the same effort. Still I prefer off-road (no cars) and its does make you a stronger runner.

RICKSTER

02/07/2003 at 19:33

Running on grass is much better for your joints, as you are putting less strain on them than you would on the road.

Morbid Morrisey Mercury

03/07/2003 at 02:27

However running in long grass is a bit of an art

Hilly

03/07/2003 at 07:52

Especially if you're short, you then need good hurdling technique!

Stickless

03/07/2003 at 09:17

I love running on varied terrain - grass, edges of fields, tracks and trails. I think it's because having to vary my stride slightly with every step to avoid roots, choose the best landing spot, high step over tangly bits means my feet don't get locked into the monotony of tarmac.

Then again, I am not concerned with speed. A route is a route. You run round it. You might compare time round it one day with time round it another, but why? I know when I've done a good run, or when bits of a run have been good, when I have run freely and recovered well.

At least in as much as it matters to me.

It would be absurd for me to get so concerned about time and personal best to worry about the fact that on grass a training run takes somewhat longer than it should on road.

But I fully respect, indeed admire and am considerably envious of, those for whom this is an important consideration.

A Chimp Writes

03/07/2003 at 09:56

Its alright but I hate those races that are on the road but finish with a lap of a running track (Skipton 10k, Horsforth 10k).

Really seem to suck the last remaining life from already tired legs. Also 400 metres (as I suppose we must learn to call them) is further than it looks on telly!!

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