Is Trail Running for You?
The ascent in the notoriety of trail running in the course of the most recent 10 years or so is promptly noticeable and it’s not hard to figure out why. The hiking trails tend to be visually stunning – or at least a change of pace from wandering along a seemingly endless stretch of road.
The path-running group has also gained an esteemed status for being very open. It doesn’t matter how fast or slow your last 5K time was, if you are willing to put in the effort and are present, you are qualified. Rather than putting emphasis on achieving a certain pace, the idea of trail running tends to be concentrated on finishing a certain route, lessening the fear of running a long distance.
Trail running and road running do not have to be exclusive of each other, though there are significant distinctions between them. Want to know more? Read on.
Differences Between Trail Running and Road Running
There are lots of differences between trail and road running so hopefully in a minute here you’ll have a much better idea of what to expect:
Road Running Takes Less Planning
Making the decision to do your laces up and then going for an outing jaunt around the neighbourhood is a pretty simple thing to do. It is much more effortless and convenient to plan a trail run than to search for and go to a certain place for one.
Most people have a destination in mind when it comes to running trails. Even if you don’t decide ahead of time which supplies to bring on a long trail run, you will still have to allow more time for either getting up earlier or staying awake later to get to and from the spot of your run.
It is generally effortless to locate a road to run on since roads are located where people are living. Therefore, road running is a lot more common.
Road Running is a Higher Impact
All dirt, leaves, gravel, and snow are less hard-hitting than running on concrete or asphalt surfaces.
If you are not advanced in years, you may not take the issue seriously, but if you have years of experience doing a regular job, then running on a hard surface can hurt your joints and spine and may lead to discomfort.
Jogging of any variety, including on a track, is considered a high-intensity exercise. However, there is a notable distinction in the sensation of the path beneath your feet while running on the path compared to a highway.
Trail running is less tough on your knees, hips, and spine than road running.
Road Running Is Easier to Track Performance
When roads are paved, they are often graded. Especially if you live in a city. This means that the roadway is even and the main difference (more or less) is in its inclination. Contrast running in a streambed to running on a footpath.
In addition, road builders typically put in mile markers, which assist in gauging how far one has travelled.
Finally, running on the road presents the biggest difficulty of dealing with traffic and crosswalks–however, if you are running for a long distance there will be virtually no hindrances.
The fundamental idea of trail running is being able to cope with consistent shifts. If you run the same trail regularly, you will notice that the terrain changes constantly, so no two moments will ever be the same. Paths are on natural surfaces such as grass, dirt, stones, and mud. The trails can be completely different from one day to the next – from dry and hardened to damp and boggy. Running on trails takes place at a slower pace and involves a great deal of focus as there are numerous hindrances to overcome.
Consequently, it is somewhat more difficult to measure one’s progress when it comes to trail running. For timing yourself to the nearest fraction of a second, it is easier to do so while travelling on a road than while hiking in the countryside.
Body Type and Target Muscle Groups
Runners of all types have toned legs. It’s not shocking that all devoted runners have the same attributes of being slim, given that running on a roadway or treadmill does not require a lot of arm strength, apart from if you’re running fast.
In contrast, trail running can be enjoyed on a much wider variety of terrain. You could be climbing very steep slopes and carefully navigating down paths filled with gravel. Path runners may experience more intense fatigue in their quadriceps and hamstrings.
Moreover, since running along the path necessitates more active motion, more components of the upper body are employed, therefore yielding a more balanced physique.
Road Runners Have to Deal with Air Pollution
Running is hard. At least it is for me. It is hard for me to jog along the side of the road when I get a huge gulp of automobile exhaust fumes in my lungs.
Exercising in parks or alongside sidewalks that are not next to a road is much better, but depending on where you live you might not have that option without driving to get there.
Path runners do not confront the same air contamination issues that those running on paved surfaces experience.
Pros and Cons of Trail Running and Road Running
Road Running
Pros
Roads are easily accessible- they are pretty much everywhere. The roads are even and have a smooth surface, which makes running simpler. Road running makes for good training. It is easier to monitor your cardio effect.
Cons
The hard surface of roads raises the likelihood of developing cumulative injuries due to their high-impact nature. The surfaces of roads tend to be uniform, which can impede progress. Running on the roads is perilous because of the presence of vehicles, cyclists, and other joggers.
Trail Running
Pros
Trails are natural, offering beautiful scenery for runners. Trails usually have softer surfaces in comparison to roads. These surfaces reduce impact-related injuries. Trail runs always differ because of weather changes. Trails have different types of terrain and elevations, which provide an opportunity to exercise different parts of the body. Varied surfaces increase your body’s strength and balance.
Cons
Trails can become extremely difficult when the weather is bad such as when it is raining or snowing. |Uneven surfaces increase the risk of ankle injuries. The inclines and rises can be a challenge for people who experience hip or knee discomfort. It’s not as easy for city dwellers to use paths as opposed to roads. Running on an uneven surface can be tough on your shoes.
Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
A frequent error made by novice trail runners is neglecting to pay attention to where they are headed. We can look ahead while jogging on the street. We may glance downwards when going off the pavement, however, for the majority of the time, you’re going in a straight line.
While participating in trail running, athletes need to carefully and continually watch where their feet are landing, always being wary of any alterations in the environment. It is important to have a quick response time, so a good idea to practice is to remember to stop and step away from the route if you want to take in the landscape and take some photographs. When you’re walking on the path, focus your gaze on the ground. Looking approximately 20 degrees ahead of you will assist you in forecasting what is to come on the trail in front of you.
Many novices also struggle with appropriate energy expenditure. Beginning joggers too often attempt to keep up the speed they’re accustomed to while trail running on uneven terrain, leading to a lack of energy to complete their run.
Figuring out how to understand the geography of the trail and plan for both the physical and emotional energy needed for each part of the path will take some time to learn.
At times when trail running, you might need to expend your emotional power inconsistently. For instance, if you have to exert a lot of effort on a long and tough incline, you can do this more effectively if you accept that your vitality will be restored and you’ll be feeling much better on another stretch of the path.
You’ll experience good times and times that are not so great, and it’s a talent that is perfected from experience to not be dependent on unfavourable patches, as they will not persist indefinitely. Downhill running also requires a certain amount of skill. It’s challenging because it can make you really sore.
Your body is more equipped to tackle the impact of your descent, so your quads can become strained, and some people experience soreness in their hamstrings from stretching forward. It can be a bit hazardous because you’re racing over rocks and tree roots at a quicker pace. Resist the need to decrease your speed and stop your movement—not only does it slow you down, but it also puts a strain on your body.
Move your upper body forward so the majority of your weight is centred over your hips. Running downhill has a tendency to make you feel like you are going to trip and fall flat on your face. You must lean forward and proceed without restraint, conditioning your trust in your brain to guide your journey in reaction to your surroundings. This is required to take advantage of all the force of gravity. Examine where your chin is when you glance downwards to check if you are in the appropriate posture (it should be in front of the knees).
Beginner trail runners are also prone to fueling mistakes. It’s possible to cover more ground on a hike than you anticipate with increased effort. You may not be accustomed to carrying a water bottle on a 6-mile run, however, it could take two hours to complete 6 miles on a hiking trail. This can be a big learning curve.
Before heading out onto the trails, make sure you factor in the weather and the land surface. In a very dry and hot climate, or when located at high elevations, it is advisable to use a hydration pack instead of just a water bottle, even if you are only taking a short hike.
Be mindful that you may be more prone to becoming disorientated or harmed when travelling off the beaten track, so it is worth having your cell phone and a thin coat with you at all times.
It would be advantageous if you have to make a gradual trek out or have to wait for assistance to show up.
Tips for Training Off the Trails
The ideal way to condition your physical and mental state so that you can cover further distances while running on a trail is to consistently do trail running. Not all runners who desire to race in a difficult, wooded 25K have access to trail running consistently. Fortunately, Smith is aware of various techniques urbanites and flatlanders can use to get ready for a successful trail run.
- Trail running is going to test the aerobic engine, so make sure you’re building duration on your regular runs, even if they’re flat and paved. Go long!
- Incorporate barefoot balancing exercises and make your whole foot interact with the ground. The foot, the toes, the arch—every part of your foot is constantly working when you’re running trails, so anything you can do to strengthen the foot will help. Lose the shoe and stand on one leg, do barefoot lunges, you name it—a force that foot to work.
- If you have a hill or a bridge, try adding in workouts where you go hard for two minutes, easy for one, repeating over and over as you run up and down to get your body used to hold different efforts in different circumstances.
- Do a flat run outside, then add in some treadmill hills by putting the incline up to 10 or 15 per cent, and run that 12 times (30 seconds each time) with a one-minute rest in between.
- You can also set the treadmill to a moderate grade, like 6 or 8 per cent, and work on a steady buildup to a 20-minute climb. Start with just 10 minutes, then next time do 12 minutes, then 14, throughout a couple of weeks until you’re climbing for the full 20 minutes.
These changes don’t need to occur daily; however, adding them sporadically during the week should assist you with readying yourself for running on more rugged surfaces, even if your ordinary route is flat and easy-going without any elevation changes. With the proper preparation and a positive attitude, your next experience on the trail will be an enjoyable one, even if it is the first time.
Conclusion
There are both benefits and drawbacks to both trail and road running. Despite the distinctions between them, both trail running and road running are still forms of running. It does not matter which style you select; there is no such thing as a correct or incorrect decision. Do not consider it as something where you only have two options; rather, use a combination of approaches that will be beneficial to you.
The pleasure and peace of trail running could be so captivating that you lose track of the fact that you are running, however, it is definitely more challenging than running on a street! Hiking trails are filled with challenging hindrances that necessitate intense focus. When running on trails, you may move at a slower speed, but your body utilizes more energy and calories, as it takes extra effort to cover the same amount of ground.
