Take it to the Trails!

To Trail Run or Not To Trail Run?

Are these questions you have been asking yourself?  What am I missing? Why trails, not roads?  What do I need? Is is better or worse for my body?  Where are the trails?  Will bugs fly in my mouth?  What if it gets DARK OUT!?

OK, calm down.  All these questions and more will be answered if you read on. 

Trail Running has really established itself over the last ten years or so as a sport with a widespread array of benefits.  The first and most important of those benefits being, another reason to get outside and play.  Talking with people in the shop, we often encounter those who are a little daunted or intimidated by trail running, because one of the most popular forms it has taken, certainly the form that gets the most press, is ultra-running.  I consider ultra running to be any race or outing over the fifty kilometre distance, and I can safely say, you don't need to huff it that far to be "trail running."  Trail running is simply getting off the side walks and paved roads most travelled and into the woods and wide open spaces. We are lucky here in New Brunswick because eighty five percent of our 73,000 square kilometres we call home is wooded.  Trails are every where and the sport itself is just as accessible as the trails.

The good news is that if you are already a runner looking to get into the woods, you already have the most of the gear you will need.  If you are starting from scratch and have no running gear, don't fret, there are only a few key pieces most runners consider essential.  Let's start at the bottom of everything - your feet.  

The most important piece of gear you need to garner is a solid pair of trail runners.   

Saucony Progrid Peregrin: An excellent trail runner!

SIDE NOTE: We are not going to dive into bare foot running in this article.  We DO have an earlier post you can check out below all about ditching the "wearing shoes blues."

What makes a trail runner a trail runner is typically: lightweight materials, lower heel positioning and aggressively lugged out-soles.  They keep them light weight so you can be more manoeuvrable on the trail and go longer without fatigue.  The idea behind the drop heel positioning is to put your foot as close to the terrain as possible.   This increases responsiveness and a tactuile sense of the ground beneath your feet.  The big difference on the trail as opposed to the road is the amount of obstacles in front of you.  Rocks roots, loose dirt, deep puddles; these all become part of your path.  Hopping over, under between and around these obstacles, or trail features, is what makes the sport so much fun.  A good trail runner will properly prepare you to be able to handle what the trail throws at you. 

This brings us to what I consider the biggest benefit of the sport: A more dynamic run.  Road running is great, and I am not writing this to take away from that, but just like anything else road running is  not without its disadvantages.  The biggest pain for road runners, is the repetitive motion aches and pains.  Constantly striking hard concrete with little or no change to your stride does some damage to even the strongest of runners body.  On the trail you are running on top of dirt, loose gravel and a wider variety of terrains.  A forest floor is much kinder on the joints.  And because no trail is the same, the sport is much more dynamic.  You are constantly shifting your weight around, striking in different places of your feet, hopping over obstacles and adjusting your speed.  This fluidity of motion and variance of stride releives you from the constant pounding of concrete and eventual repetitive motion injuries road runners often face.  On top of all the physical benefits a constantly shifting trail provides, it also engages you mentally on a whole new level.  

With road running a tactic is shutting off your brain so your body can just go through the motions and get you to that target pace or distance.  In a lot of cases runners often struggle with their brain while running, Boredom can settle in or a hang up on a certain hot spot or pain can be zeroed in on and potentially ruin your run.  On the trail, you have to be focused on what lies ahead.  You have to plot your next ten steps, while making sure your current ten are keeping you on your feet as planned.  

But the biggest advantage to Trail Running is the simplest of all things: It gets you outside, in the woods, away from the hustle and bustle that all too often fills up our lives.  Chirping birds instead of honking horns.  Running streams instead of running red lights.  Crossing deer instead of cross walks.  Nothing beats being outside, that's all there is to it.  

A couple of things to consider while out there, to keep you safe: know your trail and let someone know where you have gone, bring a headlamp if you are running in the evening, even our most frequented spots can look completely different in the dark. Start slow.  If you are new to the sport, don't get anxious or carried away out of the gates, plan under five runs to see how it differs from the road, or your couch.  Try to run with your cell phone if you can.  Sprained ankles are part of running and hiking, twisting an ankle while alone can lead to a very long night, or painful walk out of the woods, try to be prepared.  

That's it for now.  But keep checking the blog and in store for details on a trail running club the shop is hoping to throw together for this Summer.  More details will unfold as we get closer to July.  Until then, throw a good grippy, trail ready shoe on your foot, and get outside.