Still on the hunt for the right surface?

There are as many variations of running surfaces as there are runners. To give you a better appreciation of what’s out there, here’s a rundown of some familiar ones. Take your pick!

Grass – Soft and easy on the legs and feels good if running barefoot. It makes the muscles work hard. But experts say uneven surfaces like grass (including the next 2) result in most injuries because of the varying pressures. So it is advised to change surface once in awhile.


Sand – You get the same benefit as the grass. You get sea breeze and the surroundings as bonus. You only get this chance when you’re on the beach like Matthew McConaughey in this photo. Feeling celebrity ka pa, another plus!



Trail – Hills. Mountains. Forests. Less Stressful Sights. This is perfect for the adventurous type. For the hikers and mountain-climbers, this is elementary. But like the previous 2, the surface is also prone to sprain, strain and other running injuries.




Asphalt – Our roads are usually made of asphalt so this is the most common. Like concrete, it delivers the most shock to the runner’s legs (sa sobrang tigas). But who can resist, it is the most accessible of all. Other cons: you face pot-holes (or manholes), traffic and lots of lubaks.




Track – My surface of choice. The surface is cushioned so it offers more protection. This is also ideal for speedwork. Track oval measures 400 meters so that gives me a good sense of measuring distances and timing my sessions easily. I just hate the left turns and the pasaway walkers on inner lanes (they’re not even brisk-walking).



Snow – Unless, it rains snow today or tomorrow, you can forget about this one for now (lol!).




Bottomline, it shouldn’t matter what surface you run on. As long as you have the appropriate footwear and the right attitude, you’re good to go. And remember, the more sweat, the better.

See you on the tracks!

(photo source: 2–www.zimbio.com; 4–www.therainman96.wordpress.com; 5–www.astm.org)