The reason we all love running is its simplicity: we can squeeze in our workout in wherever we are. Has your running routine become a bit monotonous? Give trail running a try — it will energize you and make your workouts much more fun!
What is trail running?
A trail is any unpaved surface; it can be rocky, muddy, icy, hilly, uphill or downhill. Trail running is often done on hiking or walking paths and is categorized as such when the runner goes “off road” into unfamiliar terrain. Trail running is an effective full-body workout. More muscles are used than when we run on flat surfaces. It also improves your balance.
Ready to give trail running a try? adidas TERREX Pro Athlete Benni Bublak has got the best trail running tips to get you started in off-road running.
3 Trail Running Tips for Beginners
1. Don’t overdo it
The most important thing for beginner trail runners is to pace themselves. Don’t go from zero to 100 right away. Start slowly, get a feeling for trail running to adjust your body to running on uneven surfaces.
Pro tip:
Instead of tackling a mountain right away, start out on an uneven path or field. Or take the chair lift or gondola up to the top and run a few loops without exhausting yourself.
2. Be Patient
Many people tend to start a new sport bursting with excitement and motivation, expecting to see changes overnight. But change takes time. When you start trail running, it will take some time before you start to see success. Be patient with yourself.
3. Have Fun on your Runs
Fun should be your number one priority as a beginner in trail running. Listen to the birds chirping, the wind rustling the leaves, and put the noise of traffic and the concrete jungle behind you for a while. What makes this sport so special is the natural environment in which you do it.
More trail running tips on the right trail running shoes and bodyweight exercises to get your body ready for it can be found on the adidas Runtastic blog.
FKT – Fastest Known Time
Trail running pros compete regularly in races around the world. Many races are cancelled right now, but there are still ways to challenge yourself and compete with others, such as Fastest Known Time (FKT). An FKT is a successful attempt to run a predefined route as fast as possible.
Even if you are a beginner in trail running, you can choose certain (short) routes to challenge yourself on a regular basis. This is a great way to keep track of your progress and see how you improve. It will keep you motivated to continue training and it’s loads of fun.
Curious which trail runners are trying to set new FKT records? We’d like to present four adidas TERREX Pro athletes.
This 26-year-old German trail runner has participated in countless races and FKTs. He believes that FKTs are especially important for the trail running community right now. He loves having the chance to be independent and do something unrelated to commercial races.
Less stress! For Janosch, this is the biggest difference between a race and an FKT. You don’t have the pressure of trying to keep up with the people ahead of you. “You learn to focus only on yourself. If you run out of motivation, you have to figure it out on your own. There is no one to push you,” explains the trail running pro.
This American trail runner loves racing, and she gets a lot out of FKTs, too. The biggest challenge for the 29-year-old is the lack of emotional support when she’s out there on her own. The risks are also pretty high when you’re by yourself and have to make sure you can get home again. The consequences can be very serious.
For Benni, FKTs are not just about performance or beating someone else. The focus is on the experience and the message that you want to get across. He feels free when he runs and hikes in the mountains.
We hope these tips for trail running will motivate you to get out there and experience nature and running in a new way. Are you already an experienced trail runner? Then maybe it’s time for you to push yourself with an FKT route!
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Originally posted 2020-08-15 01:07:22.
