Out/back, big loop, small loop, lolipop, figure 8, random....

Never been a fan of going out and back, especially for a ride over 20-30 miles. I will do the out and back on the bike if there's a trail/path that will let me go without slowing down or stopping.  Not much of that around the suburbs, unfortunately.

Lately I've been running a .55 mile loop around my block because I've been trying to run decreasing splits and because my 6 year old likes to join me for part of the run (she's surprisingly able to go about 2 miles).

Runs in order of preference

1) One big loop or square.

2) Out and back

3) One big long straight line.

4) Laps, 2 is tolerable barely.  Anything more, forget it.

For biking I'm ok with out and backs, but that's usually limited to the local bike trails and not enough of the miles are paved to do any long rides that way.  The roads where I live aren't really safe for bikes.  My other option is laps at the local Metropark.  Not ideal, but I gotta get the miles in some way.

running, loops, definitely.  I don't want to know how much longer.

biking, out and backs.  I always want to hit the return downhill of all of the hills I climb.

One big loop for running, I try to avoid repeating of anything.  Sometimes I'll just head out for a long run and just keep going.  When I get close to being done I call my husband to come pick me up and we'll stop for coffee.

Biking would be one big loop, lollipop, or out and back.  Again, I don't like repeating anything if I don't have to.