Ah, the joys of running in my small neighborhood, where every step is like déjà vu! Forget exploring new trails or stumbling upon scenic views – here, it’s the same streets, the same mailboxes, and the same barking dog that probably hates me by now. I’ve memorized every crack in the sidewalk, and I could probably run it with my eyes closed (but won’t… for safety reasons).

Sure, it’s not the most thrilling route, but here’s the upside: I’m never more than 30 minutes away from my house! That means if disaster strikes – whether it’s my legs staging a rebellion or my stomach throwing a tantrum (see previous post) – I can make a quick getaway back to safety without having to crawl home from miles away. Plus, when the inevitable “Do I really need to run today?” mood hits, I can quit anytime without the looming threat of being stranded in the wilderness (aka two streets over).

It’s basically running with a built-in emergency exit! No suspense, no mystery—just the same loop over and over… and over. But hey, at least I know where all the good shortcuts are.

Happy running (or bailing out when necessary).

What are some of your favorite running routes to alleviate monotony?