What Are The Benefits Of Trail Running?
Trail running is starting to become my favourite form of running. Having run for many years over different surface types, it is hard not to forget just how convenient road running is, and it is a form of running that isn't easy to give up.
For me, running not only gives me the chance to get some exercise. It also provides opportunities to enjoy some fresh air and, of course, unwind. As a result, relaxing in an attractive natural environment is so often more appealing than the convenient pavements close to my home.
The attraction of Trail running, therefore, becomes such a valuable overall experience and one such adventure that it is starting to give my road running exploits a run for their money.
The Roaches in the Peak District provide my ideal playground, when I am at home in England.
The National Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug offers a great place to Trail run, with some fabulous routes all around.
There Are Many Benefits to Running Off-Road
My recent interest and enjoyment of running along a woodland trail, through the fields or over more technical rocky terrain, in the Peak District have led me to believe there are many great benefits to trail running and perhaps more than I first thought.
As I get older, the desire to stay fit and healthy seems to become more significant. Pounding the pavement regularly often leads to an increase in potential injury and, in some cases, even means that some runners are falling out of love with running altogether and even deciding to hang up their shoes for good.
It is not my intention to do such a thing, as I would love to continue running for as long as possible. So, alternating the type of terrain I am running on seems to be working for me. In turn, adopting this sensible approach is helping me run more confidently; I'm using a better technique and I am starting to cover longer distances in the process.
In addition, many running experts seem to suggest that trail running on even the most technical of terrain has proved to be less demanding on the body overall, making it an ideal sport for those wanting to run right the way into their old age.
So with that in mind, and after completing a few trail runs while back home in the Peak District, I have decided to highlight one or two key benefits that might inspire you to reach for your off-road running shoes and begin tackling the trails close to your home.
Read on to find out more about the benefits of trail running close to your home.
Trail Running Causes Fewer Injuries Than Road Running
It is common to hear that too much road running is synonymous with different long-term injuries – knee, back, and glutes are all common complaints among regular road runners. These niggly injuries can be due to poor style and adopting a bad running technique. Poor quality running shoe choice is also related to the impact of running on hard surfaces. In addition to this, your body continually undergoes repetitive strain from running too much, as road running can become a very repetitive movement.
Alternatively, running on softer terrain like a dirt or gravel track, forest trail, or grassy fields begins to lower the impact on the whole body, reducing the number of overall injuries and the frequency at which they occur. Furthermore, trail running can help significantly with injury prevention – running along varying surfaces forces the body to twist and turn, which begins to strengthen the stabilising muscles in your legs and helps to absorb the overall impact of running on your body.
Regular Trail Running Improves Your Running Technique
Your running journey is often a difficult one, with many peaks and troughs. A good running technique can either help or hinder your overall progress as a runner. When you start on a trail run, you will notice that you are forced to take shorter running strides by landing more on your forefoot as opposed to your heel, which is commonplace in road running. Adapting this habit and working at it is beneficial for your overall running technique and style. Developing an improved style that uses longer strides, for example, can stop the cause of repetitive glute injuries and other lower back problems in regular road runners.
The Great Ridge in the Peak District offers a long and undulating run. One of my favourite trails for scenery and challenge.
Trail Running Works A Wider Range Of Muscles
When outside trail running, your body needs to become more agile, and it should begin to establish increased flexibility in order to help navigate and negotiate any given route. In some cases, you will be required to jump over small obstacles twist and turn freely to avoid tree roots and small rocks in your path. As a result, this becomes a more difficult and complex movement, so balance becomes imperative as you begin to manoeuvre and teeter through a range of uneven surfaces and terrain.
This dynamic movement, combined with the introduction of softer surfaces requiring more lift from your leg on each step as it compresses more than the road, means that your body begins to get a much more varied and well-rounded workout, as you begin to activate the smaller, less used muscles in your legs.
Therefore, it is imperative to say that strengthening these smaller muscles helps stabilise the more significant larger muscles in your legs, making injury less likely.
Fresh Air Is Good For The Soul And The Lungs
Generally speaking, road running in the city is not always the best option, especially over a long period of time. Roadrunners, running in the city will have to breathe in a certain amount of traffic-induced pollution, which can over time cause lung damage, or other breathing difficulties.
Running on the beautiful surroundings of a natural trail will not only allow you to obtain a good and varied workout. It will positively stimulate your senses, whilst feeding your body with nothing but clean, fresh air. Together with views of a wide range of picturesque scenery.
Trail Running Allows You To Explore New Places
Once again, pounding the pavement is fine, but the limited appearance of the terrain often becomes less appealing. Alternatively, heading out on a trail run always feels like a real adventure.
It allows you to discover pastures new and encourages you to leave behind the everyday stresses of life by shifting your focus and freeing your mind as you head into the forest, wide-open spaces and the wilderness.
So much so, the number of running routes become increasingly more extensive, and the opportunities to explore new places are endless. In some cases, and in some areas of the globe, it even allows you to see places and experience a new location in a way that few others get to do so.
Running Routes Close To My Home
Although the trails close to my home are still predominantly paved routes, I have discovered a few runs that use softer surfaces. These routes take you through a variety of different terrains like woodland trails and paths close to the river or lake.
Further afield and in the forests of the Netherlands, you will find an abundance of great running routes that incorporate a mixture of soft surfaces underfoot and a relatively flat terrain type. There are many great routes to be found and the websites below highlight some of the most popular ones out there.
Some of these are a little further away from where I live so, in order to tackle them I need to look at the route as part of a long day outdoors, a weekend adventure or a multi-day trip during a holiday.
Of course, these trails in the Netherlands don’t always offer altitude and the undulating and challenging terrain of the Belgium Ardennes, Germany and the Alps. Still, they are a great starting point for you to practice the key skills, build up your confidence levels and, of course endurance levels.
Hardlopen en trailrunning | Natuurmonumenten
Trail Running in the Netherlands: the best trails | Outdooractive
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Running amongst the heather in the Veluwezoom National Park, The Netherlands.