Trail Running Races

JamesWest

Hi,

Has anyone had any experience of trail running? How does the training differ compared to road running?

Thanks!

topolino

It's a lot harder on your body per mile than road running. A mile on the road might take you 8 minutes, but could take you 20 off road depending on the terrain. You need to start gradually the forces you'll encounter on your body are really different to road running. Your core needs to be stronger and things like ankles need to toughen up. Downhill running can be intimidating initially, but learning to relax and developing good technique is very rewarding. Try to train to effort and leave your watch at home, pace becomes meaningless, heart rate is abetter indicator of effort. It's very addictive and for me far more rewarding than road running. Irunfar.com is an excellent resource for techniques and advice.

HA77

People sometimes talk about trail running like it's a completely different sport from road running but it's all just running, don't overthink it. Start on easy trails and build up to rougher/steeper stuff if you enjoy it. If you go in summer when it's dry you probably don't even need a different pair of shoes. If you start with hardpacked trails it won't be much different to running on the road. Just get out and do it.

Guarddog

Have to agree with HA77, there's not a great deal of difference. You just have to be a bit more careful when trail running, watching where you're putting your feet. Ankles can come in for a bit of a battering as the surface is often uneven and the balls of your feet tend to get bruised if you're running on loose stones. 

I do a lot of races that are trail runs and thoroughly enjoy them. The difference in terrain always makes it interesting, whether you're running up a hill on a chalk track that's just about wide enough to get through, haring down a steep incline trying to keep your feet or enjoying the softness of running through a wooded area.