PUBLISHED 01/25/2008
Prediction Run
Write down the time you think it'll take you to run a familiar route and leave that piece of paper, along with your watch, behind. When you finish, see how close you came to your prediction. This can be fun with a group: The winner earns breakfast, a sports drink, or the privilege of choosing the next workout.
Leap Frog Run
This one's for a group. After a warmup, run single file at an easy pace. Every one or two minutes, the person in the back picks up the pace and runs to the front (no sprinting). You can do this for 10 minutes at a time or for the whole run.
I Spy
The game that entertains your kids on long drives can help the miles fly by. Pick an item you're likely to see frequently en route: the color red, a traffic light or stop sign, a dog. When you see it, pick up your pace for 10 to 60 seconds, walk for one minute, then start spying again.
Beat the Clock
Plan an out-and-back route. At the turnaround, note the time and increase your pace on the way back with the mission of beating your time by 30 seconds to two minutes, depending on the length of your run.
