Running has the ability to be performed anywhere in the world. This is one of the reasons our sport is so unique. But with that in mind, what is the best surface to run on?

My personal answer to that question is, there isn’t a best surface to run on. They all have their pros and cons and as such we should rotate them throughout our schedule. Below I have laid out the best and worst features of each type of surface and what it is best for. Feel free to come to your own conclusion and let me know which is your favourite type of surface to run on.

Grass

Best: Soft in nature, it reduces the impact and stress on the joints

Worst: Can often be uneven, which does increase the chance of rolling an ankle!

Trails (Fells/Mountains)

Best: Aside from the often very rewarding view at the top trail running is great for strengthening the leg muscles and tendons as you power up the side of the mountain.

Worst: Can be very rocky underfoot, especially when coming back down

Concrete:

Best: Widely available and well-lit at night meaning if you’re a night owl you can still get out there and log some miles!

Worst: High impact and stress on the joints, especially for new starters

Track: (Only for sessions)

Best: The fastest surface you can get. It is also highly accurate with each lap being exactly 400m allowing you to nail those splits!

Worst: Repetitive in nature

Treadmill

Best: Easily adjust pace and incline to suit your needs

Worst: Requires less muscle activation

There we have it. The best and worst aspects of popular running surfaces. As you can see there is no one clear winner. Like most things in life, a bit of everything never hurt anyone as long as it is in moderation.

If you need more guidance with selecting the right running surface for you or your general running needs Mako Running is here for you! Visit our coaching services tab at the top to learn more about the services we offer!

Take care and Happy Running :)