Forums >General Running>Trail Running - who does it?
You'll ruin your knees!
It would be nice to have the tongue connected to the shoe to ward off debris and possibly a waterproof layer, but eh.
""...the truth that someday, you will go for your last run. But not today—today you got to run." - Matt Crownover (after Western States)
Well, I do a little...
Runners run
Something that would help and allow you to keep the shoes you are comfortable with is gaiters! Check this out...http://www.dirtygirlgaiters.com/ These cover the laces and ankle and really help keep stuff from getting in your shoes. Lynn B
Professional Noob
Ha! And by a little you mean rarely more than 50 miles at once?
Roads were made for journeys...
I felt like a little kid out in the puddles after a rain storm.
Michelle
Trail running will also help you keep in touch with your local hunting seasons. I didn't know the local town forest permitted hunting until I ran by the seated man with a shotgun across his lap. I now know in my neck of the woods that after Thanksgiving & before Xmas is muzzle loading season for deer. At the right time of the year hunter orange is a beautiful color.
1) trail running puts me closer to nature, something that is quite appealing to me 2) trail running is easier on the joints...yes, ankles and feet take more abuse, but I have as many issues with knees and hips as I do when I run on harder surfaces...and ankles get stronger 3) races on trails are much more fun, more community, kindof like getting together with some of your very best friends for a great time (even the best friends you have never met!) 4) the aid stations are waaaaaaay better at trail races 5) there tends to be as many people hanging around cheering for the last person to finish as there are for the first person to finish (often, the crowd includes the first person cheering for the last person...just don't see that in road races) 6) not uncommon in trail races to have the fast frontrunners shouting encouragement to those further back in the pack on an out-and-back section of the course...that's way cool! 7) how many times have you ever been out running roads and come around a corner and be stopped dead in your tracks because the amazing view has just sucked your breath away! 8) in trail races, I tend to look more at where I finish in the field rather than what my pace was! 9) I have YET to find a trail runner that wants to argue the merit of 400 meter repeats versus 800 meter repeats for speed work... Don't worry too much about shoes/gear (oh, yeah, we got gear!) yet...just keep in mind you socks will never be the same! Lynn B
Your toughness is made up of equal parts persistence and experience. You don't so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them, and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your head." - Joe Henderson
Imminent Catastrophe
"Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"
"To obtain the air that angels breathe you must come to Tahoe"--Mark Twain
"The most common question from potential entrants is 'I do not know if I can do this' to which I usually answer, 'that's the whole point'.--Paul Charteris, Tarawera Ultramarathon RD.
√ Javelina Jundred Jalloween 2015
Cruel Jewel 50 mile May 2016
Western States 100 June 2016
Well, I do a little... The first rule about trail running is that we don't talk about trail running! Just kidding! Most of my races are on trails...as much of my training as possible is done on trails. The appeal for me comes on many different fronts. 1) trail running puts me closer to nature, something that is quite appealing to me 2) trail running is easier on the joints...yes, ankles and feet take more abuse, but I have as many issues with knees and hips as I do when I run on harder surfaces...and ankles get stronger 3) races on trails are much more fun, more community, kindof like getting together with some of your very best friends for a great time (even the best friends you have never met!) 4) the aid stations are waaaaaaay better at trail races 5) there tends to be as many people hanging around cheering for the last person to finish as there are for the first person to finish (often, the crowd includes the first person cheering for the last person...just don't see that in road races) 6) not uncommon in trail races to have the fast frontrunners shouting encouragement to those further back in the pack on an out-and-back section of the course...that's way cool! 7) how many times have you ever been out running roads and come around a corner and be stopped dead in your tracks because the amazing view has just sucked your breath away! 8) in trail races, I tend to look more at where I finish in the field rather than what my pace was! 9) I have YET to find a trail runner that wants to argue the merit of 400 meter repeats versus 800 meter repeats for speed work... I started out on the roads, stumbled into a trail race and have never seriously considered going back...IF I run a road race, it is mainly just an excuse to see how much I have slowed down (slown down?)...I tend to think that trail running makes me slower, but I don't think my marathon time has suffered all that much in the last 6 years! Don't worry too much about shoes/gear (oh, yeah, we got gear!) yet...just keep in mind you socks will never be the same! Lynn B