In my opinion, test races always give me the feeling of being a bit wild and probably get me as close to mother nature as possible (being a city kid). This feeling is very satisfying and gives me the same joy every time. It’s probably the biggest reason I love trail running.
Here are some other ideas on why trail running is THE way to run:
1. You get dirty! Trail running makes you feel alive and really tests your gear. 2. Trail running works your whole body, gives you balance training, and softer, more varied surfaces make it comfortable to run longer and more often. 3. There are always new trails to find and try. Every race can be different. 4. You don’t need iPods, GPS devices or heart rate monitors for running exercise.
Trail running is about running in the woods, not setting a personal best. You don’t even need a watch to keep track of time. Just run! Just so you know, there are mainly two different types of trail running. Geeks like me distinguish between what we call technical and non-technical trails. Technical trails are often narrow, dirty, or on rocky paths that offer a bit of a challenge for the runner. Non-technical trails are paved, gravel, or dirt paths that are generally easy to run on.
What you need to start:
– Shoes: Road shoes work well for the first short runs in the woods. But soon you will need a pair of trail running shoes. Shoes that have a stronger, more protective sole and stability than ordinary road shoes.
– Clothes: You should choose clothes that fit you snugly and that you don’t mind getting dirty or snagging.
– Bottle of water: if you plan a race of more than an hour, you must bring something to drink. A favorite among trail runners is the carry-on water bottle, which clips onto your hand and has extra pockets for things like keys, ID, and energy bars. But you can also use the camel-back or bottle belt. It’s important to have both hands free when you’re trail running in case you trip and fall.
– Other things (advanced): Headlamp or flashlight, towel, change of clothes and insect repellent.
6 steps for your start in trail running
1. Just start: You don’t need to complicate your trail running, just find a trail and start running. Of course, there are different local groups of trail junkies that you can talk to and maybe even go for a run together. They also probably know the best trails in your area and help you get started.
2. Slow and easy: At first you may feel frustrated because you feel like you are running slower than you used to on the asphalt. Keep in mind that when you run on trails, you run 20% slower than normal.
3. A little different Slow down and take short, quick steps. If you find nice trails with hills, jumps, obstacles, and side-to-side movement, you should shorten your strides so your weight is on your feet, this allows you to react faster and keep your balance during the run. .
4. Running step by step through the woods is more fun when you forget about the rhythm and do what makes you feel good. So if you feel like going up a hill or a trail, that’s fine.
5. Look up The first few times you run, you may have to remember to look up a little more than you usually do when running on asphalt. This may seem strange, but if you’re running on trails and looking down all the time, you’ll miss the point of running in the woods.
6. Cell Phone You should always carry a cell phone when running just in case of an emergency. Also, keep track of when hunting season starts and where you shouldn’t run during this time.