Trail Running Tips

Trail running can be an enlightening, invigorating experience, but there are marked differences from regular running, so prepare yourself before setting foot on the trail.

Tailor your running form.

Tailor your running form and stride to the type of surface you're running on.

A trail surface is never entirely smooth.

A trail surface is never entirely smooth, thus making it harder to find a running rhythm. Buy a good pair of trail shoes and gain some experience running off-road before expecting to be a trail-running expert.

If embarking on trail running for the first time, be prepared.

There's much more lateral movement (as opposed to linear) involved with trail running, which requires greater use of peripheral muscles around the ankles and hips and in the quadriceps and glutes. So if embarking on trail running for the first time, be prepared to take time to practice and condition your body.

Are there other runners among your family and friends?

Are there other runners among your family and friends? Run together to stretch and strengthen the boundaries of your relationships!