Trail Running
Trail running typically done on hiking trails consisting of hills, narrow lanes and mountain areas. Trails through woody areas are common for a trail runner to encounter. Trial running usually takes a runner down steep inclines into rough terrain. Trail running is popular in states where mountains are in abundance.
Specially designed shoes made especially for trail running and needed when performing such a different type of running is important for protecting the foot and ankle from injury. A proper trail shoe cushion the foot, protect from shock and act as a stabilizer to minimize pronation. Typically, these shoes are waterproof as the trails sometimes may be damp and wet. Slid free soles with grip of some sort allows for safety when trail running over any type of terrain.
Whether for recreation or trail races, this type of running also has marathon races of fifty miles or the ultra marathon of more than the fifty miles of trail running. Training for this type of running requires a good sense of direction and the ability to overcome obstacles that arise along the way.
Training for trail running involves many of the same ideas as training for a marathon run. The difference is in a marathon you run on a smooth ground usually in streets; trail running done on unleveled ground in rough terrain. Pace, speed and patience all comes to play in trail running as in a marathon training routine.
Inner thoughts play a bigger part in trail running then it does in marathon running. The hours of the race are long and intense leaving one feeling exhausted and without a doubt completely unable to endure any more movement. Mind over body comes into play with your inner thoughts controlling your desire to give up and concede.
To train for trail running you need speed on the flat ground and uphill power to endure the exhausting uphill climb. With trail running your schedule for training is base building, mental training along with hill, strength and speed training. Without the mental training, you may encounter problems with your inner thoughts that help guide you to succeed.
Base training starts with flat road running to build mileage, after a few months you start adding some off road running trying to keep your mileage a little lower until your body has the feel for the difference in ground formation. Later into the base training, you start adding uphill and downhill running into your routine. Training for trail running takes on a completely new wave of running for any accomplished marathon runner.
Downhill running follows with more speed and allows you to use the ball of your feet instead of the heels, the control you have at this point is greater. Streams undoubtedly mean getting wet feet, up using the high step method of running accounts for your feet touching water for a fraction of the time. Corners provide for a faster speed and helps gain a little more mileage. Uphill running means time to put your chest forward, shorten up your running stride and run relaxed.
When you decide to run on trails, you may want to have a compass and no how to use it, as well as a pedometer. A heart rate monitor to check your heart rate when running trails, helps monitor your speed and keep records of areas that raise the heart rate as well as when the heart rate is lowered. This helps with speed adjustment.
Because trail running uses different muscles in the body than road running, you need a properly strengthen body in order to perform trail running comfortably. The lower body tends to be affected more so than the upper body in this type of running. A base training requires lower body strengthening with weight training.
Foot and eye coordination when trail running becomes an important part of training. Your senses play a big role in trail running. Alertness becomes the trail runner as a way to prevent injury. You run with your head high, looking to the path in front of you so you may deviate to avoid oncoming surface changes.
Because most trail races are done in higher elevations, one who trains for trail running should train in an environment similar to what you will run the race. High elevations tend to make breathing a little difficult for the average person, but training in the type of situation alleviates potential problems. Since trail running performs at a slower pace than a road race, you can adjust your speed accordingly.
Running a marathon road race uses the road and surrounding area as the garbage can when running, trail racing allows for know debris of any kind, water cups, snack wrappers or discarded clothes to be left anywhere, you are responsible to carry your waste with you until you find a garbage area. The practice of littering can disqualify a trail runner.
Overall trail running provides a total body workout with emphasis on the lower body. Training for the run consist of a base training similar to flat road running with some variations in pace, speed and mental awareness. Uphill and downhill strides take a completely different form then it would on a flat ground area. Remembering the guidelines for trail running helps prevent injury and possible health conditions. Ironically, trail runners run single file, due to the width of the trails usually ran on during training and racing.
