Out and Back or Loops...

What's wrong with being far from home?  If you are prepared for the distance/time, and set up plans in case of trouble (someone to call for a ride).  And why can't you go further than 2 hours out?

It's may be mentally tough, but what I do for really long workouts is an out/back in one direction, refuel at car, out/back in a different direction.  All new terrain, don't get as far from car as with single out/back, but that whole stopping at the car but not stopping the work-out can be tough.

On an out-and-back, don't you see the same things twice?

I always try not to duplicate any roads on my runs and rides.  It's not always possible, but it forces me to explore more.

scott

Seems like you need to work on this aspect most.

Out and back for both.

Run - Fuel Belt should enable a 2 hour plus run

Ride - Two full bottles to start - couple of $$ to refuel and cell phone to call out the calvary in case of emergency.

Nope. I see different things headed one way versus the other.  Just perspective, I guess.  At any rate, if it's really long, there's a good chance I may not remember the scenery from hours before!  :-)

It's amazing what you see going in the opposite direction that you didn't see the first time.

The route I go is in the desert, so I lose cell phone coverage.  Also, the reason I can't go more than two hours is geographical.  The road I take ends onto a highway frequented by massive trucks with little to no shoulder.  Once I get there, I'm compelled to turn around.  It takes about 1:45 to get there.  I can add a scenic loop with lots of climbing in the middle of that, which will add another hour, so 2:45 to get there, but still 1:30 to get back (the scenic loop is one way).  So I'm good for just over four hours.  My other thought was to do the scenic loop 3 to 4 times.  Hence to the question in the original post.

Agreed, the hill look very different going down than up!

I tend to stick with loops - might not be super exciting, but it's better to be close to home sometimes if something goes wrong.

That lesson was reinforced when I bonked on a run on an out & back route - right at the turnaround point.  Getting back home was sheer hell.

Why do you say that?  I have never quit on a workout yet in over 2 years....

But there could be a time where pain or injury or a mechanical issues could make someone quit, no?

X2 - except for the name, i'm Chris

I did that MTN biking in Slickrock at Moab.  Got to the half way point and I was DONE.  No more water, cramping...  That was the longest and roughest trip back to the car EVER.  I also realized how people could die out there under certain conditions.

I usually do more different and long loops...I think they are more fun...but I do out and backs sometimes...

I like to explore new routes...

Why do you say that. I never quit on a workout yet over 2 years....

But there could be a time where pain or injury or a mechanical issues could make someone quit, no?

I like loops. For my 100 mile rides, I have a 20 mile loop that is 25-35 miles away, so I ride out to the loop, do the loop twice, and then back home. I have different routes to take to get there and back home. To the loop is 35 miles, back home from the loop is 25 miles...

For my long runs over 12 miles I do loops of 5 miles. I need to refuel at the car. And a fuel belt in August heat only carries about 1:30 worth of water.... So I take a smaller fuel belt and refuel more often.

a few Big loops are ok, a lot of small loops are not....

I do both, but specifically add some loops, as you said, for the mental effort, because IMAZ is a loop course.  Yesterday's run was a lopsided fgure 8, 7 miles one loop, 4 miles the next.   and yeah, I wanted to quit.....

Out and backs also present a mental challenge as well.  When you are at your furthest point and feel bad, ain't nothing to do but to suck it up and get home.  Red Bull stops help for this   Most of my really long out and backs are with a group, so I don't get that loneseome feeling.

Some of the best rides, though are point to points if you can get a ride home 

My runs are almost always our and backs from the neighborhood, and will be loops if within the neighborhood.

I try to always make my rides one big loop and never repeat the same road the same direction during the ride.

Most of my runs and rides are Out 'n Backs, but I prefer loops.  Make sense?

The group I ride with usually does Out 'n Backs for our weekly rides.  There is something to be said about knowing that a big obstacle is coming and being able to prepare for it - both mentally and physically.  Our Saturday rides are usually loops of various lengths.

My run training is still pretty much in the beginning stages, so I tend to do Out 'n Backs.  I'm hoping to get to the point where a loop will be a possibility.

-Joel

The problem I've found with out-and-backs in Florida is the wind.  Knowing that you are in a headwind for 35 miles is simply demoralizing.  Then have it flip on you just as you are reaching your turn-around and it is downright insanity-inducing.

With a loop you know that your headwind will, at least, become a crosswind soon.

My out and back is almost ALWAYS against a nasty headwind going out as it whips through a valley.  So at least I know on the way back, I can get a little help if I'm tired!  Something to look forward to at least!