Want to transition to trail running but not sure how? We share tips and the gear you need to ensure your trail running experiences are fun and safe.
Running is an incredible way to get exercise and work off the stress of your day. Logging miles on a fitness app is a feat that makes every runner feel accomplished.
Some people prefer the ease of a paved road or sidewalk, where you only have to be alert for traffic and the occasional pothole. Others love the relaxation and beauty of running on trails.
If you’ve always hit the roads during your running career and now you’re interested in moving to trails, it’s not an immediate transition. You must do a few things differently to switch from pavement to nature safely.
This guide is full of quick tips to help you decide if trail running will be your next favorite exercise.
Get the Right Trail Gear
Trail running is a run in nature. It requires a little more attention and concentration than blazing through paved roads.
As long as you’re outside and off the beaten path, you’re trail running. But the gear you need depends on the elevation of the geography where you’re running.
Not having the right gear can be dangerous and painful. For instance, you can’t use asphalt athletic sneakers on a bumpy trail.
Some of the best gear to have when you start trail running include:
- Trail running shoes
- Shorts or running pants with pockets
- A hydration pack
- Trekking poles in elevated areas
- Lightweight clothes
- A windbreaker
- Healthy snacks
- A compass
Once you have gathered this gear, it’s time to learn the basics of what to do when you’re on the trail.
Learn Trail Etiquette
Chances are, you’re not going to be the only person traversing the local trails. Many will have other runners, hikers, bikers, and possibly even horse riders.
You need to know the rules to follow when you come across other trail users.
Trail etiquette rules are pretty much common sense, but if you don’t know them, you could get hurt or injure someone else.
When you’re running on a trail, follow these guidelines:
Be Alert
A lot of runners use Bluetooth headphones to stay pumped up with music or listen to podcasts. In theory, this is a good idea. But in reality, it keeps you from hearing that warning shout from someone out of control on a bike or a horse behind you.
You don’t notice the little snaps and cracks of an animal sneaking around nearby. It’s not safe to drown out the sounds around you. You need to be alert at all times.
Don’t Go Off the Trail
There’s a trail for a reason. It’s a path that you can travel and feel reasonably safe. If something happens, help can find you easier on the trail. But if you veer off, you’re on your own.
Staying on the trail also helps preserve the nature around you. Leaving the pathway destroys habitats. You probably don’t know the endangered flora and fauna in the area well enough to carefully avoid them. The best way to keep nature the way it should be is to stay on the trail.
Do Not Litter or Damage the Environment
There’s a saying in a lot of natural preserves that goes,
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