NatNews

Some runners can become rather comfortable with their routines and might even run the same routes on repeat. While there are many positive aspects of familiarity, there are also benefits—including mental resilience and the ability to adapt, strength built from running on different surfaces, and the potential to avoid mental burnout—to adding variety to where you opt to run.

Dallas resident and White Rock Running Co-op admin Jacky Bonilla said that, while one of the biggest risks of trying out new routes is getting lost, she enjoys being able to see different parts of the city she calls home.

“I actively make it a point to get out of my comfort zone to explore new routes,” she said. “It allows me to tour a new area of Dallas I have not yet seen and offers variety in my training. I know that if I run Flagpole, it will most certainly be hilly. Starting from BSC will give me a flatter course with beautiful lake views.”

Similarly, Dallas resident Roberto Cowan said he prefers to change his training courses so that he doesn’t necessarily know what’s coming next and can allow his mindset regarding his whereabouts to remain intact .

“I like to mix it up because if I know where I’m going, I think about it too much, so a new route makes me focus on where I’m going, and my mind wanders less,” Cowan said.

But sometimes well-known streets and turns known by heart are the better option. For Dallas-area resident Cindy Hallo, it’s more practical to know exactly where she is going to run most mornings.

“When I’m running from home, I’d much rather run a planned route that I know,” she said. “I tend to run really early in the morning, and I don’t have the brain power to figure out a new route in the dark alone. And I’m always worried I’m going to miscalculate and end up somewhere far enough that I’ll be late for work—even though I know, rationally, that’s not going to happen.”

But that doesn’t mean that Hallo also doesn’t like to explore new scenery when she can

“I love going for brand-new routes when I travel,” she said. “You get to see more of the city or town you’re staying in. The drawbacks are that if you don’t know the area very well, it’s easy to turn into some sketchy parts or streets. It’s not as bad if you’re with people, but if I’m running alone, I have to watch out for that kind of stuff a little more.”

Dallas-area resident Jeremy Crum, who mostly runs on the treadmill but recently started running outside more, said that, while he tends to get into a routine with the few routes that he does run and has benchmarks along the way that help him gauge the rest of his runs, he likes to be able to run paths on which he doesn’t typically venture out on a regular basis.

“New routes always give you something to look forward to,” he said. “They keep things interesting and exciting the whole time, which helps keep your mind off of how you are feeling while running.”

Crum began running with the WRRC at the end of 2022 and completed his first race last month when he ran the Cowtown Half Marathon. Much of his training took place at what has now become one of his favorite places to run.

“I love running around White Rock Lake,” he said. “Pretty much all of my outdoor runs have been based around the lake, but there is such a large running community there, and everyone greets each other as they pass. It’s great scenery and great people to run with.”

And he’s not alone in his affinity for one of Dallas’ most beloved locations for outdoor recreation.

“My favorite place to run is White Rock Lake,” Bonilla said. “I love everything about it—beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the view of the lake from behind the Filter Building, the animals (including the ducks and random flocks of parrots), and saying ‘hi’ to all of my fellow runners.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, children grow faster during the spring and summer than in the fall and winter.

If Jack Johnson has taught people anything, it’s that when they hear the word “maybe,” they should assume it really means “no.” He might reiterate that no one actually enjoys being let down, but perhaps people also have difficulty letting others down, so they resort to saying “maybe” to avoid causing disappointment.

Dallas resident Pete Stack said when an individual says “maybe” to an invitation or commitment of some sort, he or she is not actually that likely to show up.

“I would say that a ‘maybe’ is typically a soft ‘no,’” he said. “When someone is trying to make future plans, and I’m not overly thrilled with the plan, I might say ‘maybe I can go, but I do have tentative plans already. Let me confirm and get back to you.’ And then I just hope that a better plan comes along, and I don’t have to feel too bad canceling.”

Stack said there are legit "maybes" in certain situations, but they should generally not result in a significant amount of optimism.

“Rarely does a ‘maybe’ turn into a ‘yes,’” he said. “If it’s something really appealing, you’ll definitely give a hard ‘yes,’ even if you had less-appealing tentative plans.”

For Dallas resident Laura Hays, remaining true to her word is highly important, so a response of “maybe” could be the result of uncertainty of what circumstances might pop up in her life.

“My schedule sometimes gets crazy, and as much as I want to do something, I might have a conflict pop up with work, family, etc., so I can’t make it,” she said. “When I tell someone I’ll be there, it means that I will (even if I’m 15 minutes late), so I usually won’t say ‘yes’ if I’m unsure.”

Dallas resident Alexis Derrow said a “maybe” reply doesn’t usually produce much of a positive outlook, but she often uses the term with hope in mind.

“Like Jack Johnson, I think ‘maybe’ pretty much always means ‘no,’” she said. “I say ‘maybe’ because I’m an optimist, and I think I can do it all, or I want to do it all, and I can’t, and I haven’t come to terms with it. Do I want to hit up three parties? Yes. Will I? Unless they start at 1, 5, and 8, I will not.”

But Derrow has come to realize that whether someone else is saying “maybe,” or she is saying it herself, she knows what it really means.

“When I say ‘maybe,’ I’m delusional,” she said. “I think the circumstances will somehow materially change to allow me to come. They will not.”

Regardless of the reason or situation, though, Hays thinks the best option is simply to be honest.

“Saying ‘maybe’ instead of ‘no’ sometimes feels nicer, like you’ll at least consider it,” she said. “But if you know for sure you won’t, it’s better to let the other person know so that they aren’t counting on you and can find someone else.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

This may look like an awkward family photo, but it’s really your friendly WRRC Wednesday night crew wishing you’d join them for their weekly run

Monday, March 20: First day of spring
Tuesday, March 21: NatNews turns 1
Thursday, March 23: Dallas Stars vs. Pittsburgh Penguins at the American Airlines Center
Saturday, March 25: WRRC Saturday run at Taco Joint