If you gave up road running because of sore knees or because you?re feeling too old, than trail running may be for you. Trail running can be anything off road from old railway lines, gravel roads or grass fields to trails forged through the woods and up ski hills. Trail running is lower key than road running for the following reasons:
1. You tend to run slower to watch for hazards.
2. You see lots of nature.
3. You run with at least 1 other person for safety reasons, the more the merrier.
4. Difficult routes can beat you up, so you should walk up hills and take it easy or walk the downs.
5. Repetitive stress injuries are a thing of the past as each footfall is different.
6. You see places you otherwise wouldn?t have.
Racing the trails is even more fun. Traditional distances for trail races are longer than on the road, ranging from 25k to 100 miles. The hurry up and go forward mentality of road racing is virtually non-existent in trail races. The longer you go, the slower, more methodical your running should be. Stopping and chatting with volunteers is encouraged as is taking longer at the food stations to ensure you are eating and drinking enough to keep you going. It is also worth your while. Chips, pretzels, cookies, M & M?s, water, Gatorade and coke for shorter distances while the longer you go the more substantial the fare becomes. Hamburgers, sandwiches, lasagne, soup and salty potatoes. Yum.
The crowds are not big, with participants ranging from 15 to 400, with a handful of spectators and volunteers to watch. The awards are different with belt buckles and tree rings replacing medals, while sports bags and knapsacks replace race t-shirts. Bruises, sprained ankles, thorny scrapes and poison ivy replace Achilles tendonitis and runners knee.
You can wear your road shoes on softer trails, but trail shoes are a must for rougher terrain. A fluid system that holds a lot is required for those longer routes or for large loop racing. Layering is also a good idea.
The hurry up and finish feeling is softened by the warm, encouragement of fellow runners who have been there, done that, like where they are now and are glad you dropped in to join them.
For a list of shorter trail races check out
www.5peaks.com. For longer races look up the Ontario Ultra Series at
www.ous.kw.net. Good references are The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running, Trail Runner Magazine and for an in-depth look into the ultra endurance race, To The Edge: A man, Death Valley, and the Mystery of Endurance.
