Running is full of choices! Some are easy, some not so much. Whether you’re training for a marathon or just heading out for a casual jog, every runner has their preferences. Today, I’m playing a little “Would You Rather: Runner’s Edition” to see where we land. These are just for fun, but I bet you’ll learn a lot about yoursel, and maybe get inspired for your next run!
Would you rather… run a flat race in 80° heat or a hilly race in 45° chill?
This is a tough one. As a Florida runner, my body doesn’t know what to do with hills, but the siren song of 45°F might be too tempting to resist. Also, hills are a little more interesting than pancake flat roads. Obviously, the grass is always greener on the other side, but I think I could deal with elevation if it meant not dealing with heat and humidity.
Would you rather… have brand new running shoes or brand new race gear?
Tricky, tricky! After much deliberation, I think I would take the brand new running shoes. In general, running gear, shoes included, are expensive, but to me, shoes are a more valuable commodity. I can pick up a tank top or pair of socks here and there as needed, but shoes are a much larger investment. On race day, I want my outfit to be tried, true, and comfortable and I don’t carry a lot of extra gear, but my shoes… well, my trusty Adrenaline GTS models are usually ready to go straight out of the box, so I would be absolutely thrilled to snap up a new pair.
Would you rather… run on the road or run on the trail?
Trails are so gorgeous, but so very unstable. I will walk or hike in the woods all day long, but with my ankle, I really prefer a good, firm road. At the moment, the asphalt and concrete isn’t particularly hard on my joints, so I’m going to keep that going as long as I can.
Would you rather… PR in a race or run it with your best running buddy?
I don’t even need to think about it. The best races are run with your best buddies. No PR could ever compare to spending those miles with your favorite person or people. Period.
Would you rather… wake up for a 5AM run or wait until 8PM?
I think you already know the answer to this. My body is built for early mornings and all the sunrises. It’s not what I would prefer, but it is what happens. That being said, I’m very much an early bird and I prefer to be finished with all intense activity by mid afternoon.
Would you rather… cross the finish line in the middle of the pack or be last across but with the loudest cheers?
Not every finish line moment looks the same. Mid-pack runners get the comfort of blending in, while back-of-the-packers often experience so much heart and emotion. I don’t love getting lots of attention, so I think I’m totally down with coming across in the middle of the pack. Either way, no matter what, a finish is a finish.
Would you rather… run without music or run without your Garmin?
I am perfectly comfortable running any distance without music or other entertaining sounds, but I hate the idea of not collecting data about any walks, runs, or workouts. After all, if you don’t have your smart watch, do the miles even matter?
Running is personal, and the beauty is that none of these questions have a right or wrong answer. Whether you choose heat over hills, friends over PRs, or morning over night runs, every choice shapes you as a runner. Now it’s your turn! Drop your “Would You Rather” answers in the comments or share some of your own!
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Link Up With Tuesday Topics
This week, let’s send a huge thank you to Zenaida, The Running Teacher, for all the time, energy, and heart she has poured into hosting Tuesday Topics. Her dedication has kept the conversation going week after week, and the community she’s helped build is something truly special.
While she’ll be stepping back from Tuesdays, this isn’t goodbye! You can still catch her blog every Friday as part of our Fit Five Friday series.
We are so grateful for all she’s done! Please join us in celebrating Zenaida and showing her some love!
And now, let’s welcome Jenny, from Runners Fly, as she joins us as our new co-host! Please join us every week for a new topic! Write on our weekly prompt or choose your own topic! Make sure to add your post to the link up, link back to your hosts, and comment on the other shared posts!
Oh, these are good! Such a fun way to think about running quirks.
I’m with you on the 45° hilly race, heat is tough. And shoes over gear any day, nothing beats the feeling of fresh cushioning.
I could never run without tracking the data on my Garmin! If it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen! Do you ever actually leave your watch at home, just to see how it feels? I’m not sure I could do that…
Nooooo! Why would I do that????? Not fill my rings or get my miles? Absolutely not!
We do have a prediction run here, where you can’t have your watch or your phone and I hated it. HATED it.
These are really fun! And I actually found myself being rather decisive – a hilly chilly race, new shoes, middle of the pack (I’ve come last and didn’t mind at all but it’s tough out there on your own!), without music (I could never run without my Garmin) and… the controversial one is I love my friends and running with them, but desperate for a PR so I’m going PR right now
I do not love coming in last, or close to it. It’s one of my biggest running fears.
These are great questions to ponder, Jenn! I’m with you on all of them except for the PR. When I was racing I gave it my all in almost every race (there were a few that I intentionally entered to support a friend and stayed with them the whole race). Normally, though, my fiends and I may have met for a picture before the race, but once the gun fired we were on our own. We’d catch up after the race.
I do think communication is important: I have some races where I tell my friends that I want to see if I can hit the PR so I go off, but if we are just having fun, I”m happy to stay with my group. It’s great for morale!
Such good questions! I ageee with you on most of these – 45 degrees and hills for sure! I do get caught up in race day. Most of my friends would gladly have me leave them to chase a PR (and vice versa!), so I have to go with PR. But not having music or a Garmin… too hard either way! I need something to drown out my panting and what if it’s not on Strava??
Welcome Jenny and thank you Zenaida! I don’t always comment but I enjoy reading Tuesday Topics.
Lisa @ TechChick Adventures recently posted…Garmin Half Marathon 2025 – race recap
So glad to have you as a reader, even if you don’t always comment!
My friends would totally encourage me to go off on my own (and vice versa) but sometimes I don’t see my running friends often, so it’s a chance for us to catch up!
These are tough… not sure I have a preference in most.
I would run without music, new shoes, PR(because I don’t have a friend that runs my pace), road (same reasons as you), middle of the pack (that’s me).
I love that middle of the pack feeling. I just don’t want to be the last person. There was one race where I was close (running with an injured friend) and it was really hard.
I have a strong preference for most of these! New shoes… 45 degrees (I mean- the hills would kill me but anything to get out of the heat…) no Garmin (I’ve done this accidentally a couple times lately and I kind of liked it)… 5 am… middle of the pack. Do I sound like a jerk if I say I want the PR rather than the best friend, ha ha?
I’m excited to join you next week!!!
Not a jerk at all! If you’re out there running, you should be able to reap the rewards of your hard work! Funny that you would pass on the Garmin! How do you know what you’ve done!
So excited for next week!