Through my two years of running, I have been to quite a few courses. Here are some things I think the worst kinds of courses have:

No hills/too many hills: I’ve gone to two courses that I remember specifically because of the crazy hills. A hill that is too large can wear you out if you’re not careful. But the opposite can also be true. A lot of people slow down on hills which is why a few smaller ones are the best. As my coach, Mrs. Decker would say, “You want to fly right by them and crush their spirit.” No hills prevent you from doing this. 

Roots/stumps: This one is obvious. Nobody wants a twisted ankle! And jumping over roots can really break your pacing.

Closed trails: Trails can be a bit cooler than open fields which is nice, but passing people is so much harder when you’re confined into a small space. Trails will also be the place where slippery leaves, rocks, and stumps live. 

Open fields: As mentioned earlier, fields are generally much warmer than closed off trails. But fields can easily become repetitive and people are easily able to pass you.

The majority of courses will have one or more of these features. It’s a great lesson each time that you have to be persistent despite the odds.