How to Do Trail Running
You can get a lot out of doing trail running. For one thing, you will get in shape and you’ll be exposed to all kinds of new sights. You may also start to enjoy the scenery and it will help keep you motivated. But you can’t do it alone. So, how to do trail running properly?
The first thing that you need to do is to find a trail that you’re interested in joining. If you want to go running on a trail that is off the beaten path then you will have to join up with a group that does trail running often. Or perhaps one of your friends knows other people who do trail running so you could join up with them. This way you will be getting the support of someone that is an expert on the subject. It’s much better to end up doing it with an expert than without one.
Once you find a group that you like then you should make a list of questions that you would like to ask them. One important question to ask is what kind of training they receive. Be sure to find out what their course record is and how long they’ve been running. When you know this you can feel more confident that you are going to be safe and enjoy yourself.
Next, you will need to let them know about any safety gear that they have. Know the rules for wearing safety gear so you don’t get in trouble. Find out what the policy is if someone has to leave the group and is injured. Have them give you their contact information if that’s necessary.
You will need to know the rules for the area that you are running in. Know the restrictions about not being able to be off the trail for certain things such as dogs or joggers. You don’t want to get in trouble with the authorities. This can result in a trail being closed. If you have a GPS device, it can help you navigate your way through the area.
Some people who know how to do trail running like to go off on their own. That’s OK too. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you have a partner you can share the expenses of travel and make it easier on you if something does happen to you. Always have a first aid kit with you and a phone with you just in case.
Before you leave always check to see that the trail is clear and safe. There are several reasons why this should be done before getting out on the trail. First of all, if there are potholes or other types of the uneven ground then you could damage your tires. This wouldn’t be good if you are out on a trail to get somewhere. Another reason is that you don’t want to get lost so if you know that part of the trail is forested then it’s a good idea to wear a pair of trail running shoes.
You should also know that if you have hiking equipment bring some food and water with you. I also suggest bringing a cell phone with an earpiece. Some people who know how to do trail running like to carry a map but it’s not necessary. You are not going to be in a rush so don’t expect to be able to tell exactly where you’re going. Have a plan in place just in case!
As with any type of physical activity you should always wear appropriate safety gear. It’s very important to wear a helmet that fits and is snug. Also, wear ankle-length boots rather than long men’s shoes. This helps to prevent blisters from forming and makes walking on uneven trails much easier.
Other safety gear that you might want to consider taking with you would be sunglasses, sunscreen, and possibly a first aid kit. If you don’t already know how to use them, always read the instructions before attempting to use them. Also, wear your favorite sports attire and be sure that you and your companions are comfortable.
The most important thing that you need to know about trail running is that you should treat it as a workout. Don’t treat it as a leisurely stroll when you can’t be sure that you will reach your destination. It is supposed to be a physical activity and a fun one at that. So go out there and have a blast!
Is Trail Running Better Than Road Running?
Many people wonder whether hiking and trail running is better than road running. Both are excellent cardio activities, and each can be an excellent way to lose weight and improve your fitness. So, what’s the difference between trail running and road running? There isn’t one huge difference – just some small nuances that may make trail running a better choice for some individuals than road running. So, what are some of those small nuances? Keep reading to learn about a few.
One big difference is that you’re moving at a faster pace on the trail, allowing you to spend more time doing physical activities such as running, jogging, and biking. This is great for those who enjoy long-distance running, but who find that road running is too easy. You get a completely different type of workout by running on trails – you need to work both your aerobic and anaerobic muscles, which can be tough to do when running on pavement or streets. Trail running is an excellent way to really exercise the muscles you need to keep in shape during the rest of your day.
Another big difference is that you’re not always running against the clock. When you’re running on pavements or roads, you’re usually running at a slow pace. This can be frustrating for many runners, especially those who like to run fast and feel like they’re working hard. By running on a trail, however, you can run at your own pace. It’s not always necessary to try and beat your personal time, either – it’s okay to try to finish a race in the fastest time possible if that’s your personal goal. Again, this is a great option for those who don’t want to worry about finishing a race that they might feel like they’re not up to.
Another thing you’ll find is that trail running tends to be much easier on the joints than running on pavement. When you run on pavement, your body absorbs the impact of your feet hitting the ground, but when you’re running on a trail, your feet absorb the impact of everything in the immediate area. Because of this, you may find that you end up with a sore ankle or a pulled knee from the impact. Trail running will allow your joints to recover much faster. In fact, many people who run on trails report being able to run for miles with no pain at all!
So what are some of the other benefits of trail running? One of the most popular reasons that people choose to trail running is the fact that it allows them to get outside and get a great workout without having to go to the gym. While it may seem like an obvious benefit, you’d be surprised how many people simply can’t go out and get a full-body run.
When you run in the outdoors, you get the benefits of fresh air and scenery every time you run. It’s impossible to deny that the scenery surrounding any trail is going to be incredibly beautiful. It’s also impossible to ignore how important good hydration is, especially if you’re running on a trail that is sandy or off-road.
So, is trail running better than road running? The answer to this question depends on what you want to achieve. If you just want to get in shape, and you don’t have a whole lot of extra money, it’s possible that trail running is a perfectly acceptable way to accomplish your goals. But if you want to run marathons or even half-marathons, it’s a very wise idea to invest in a good pair of shoes and to get some training under a professional’s watchful eye. Road running is certainly faster than anything that you could do on a trail, but it’s not completely safe. Also, if you plan to do a marathon or a half-marathon in wet weather, you’re going to need a lot more energy than you would if you were training on a road.
So, is trail running better than road running? There is a reasonable chance that trail running is a better workout for every runner. But that is largely dependent on whether or not you have the resources to make it work. If you have enough money to buy some decent shoes and to get some serious training in, there’s no reason that you can’t achieve excellent fitness results with running outdoors.
Finding the Perfect Running Shoe: Features to Look Out For
With many styles of running sneakers in the market, it is very important to know which features set apart the common pair of shoes from the perfect athletic shoes that are to be perfect for you. Running puts stress on the joints during the entire body, making the perfect running footwear necessary to prevent injury as well as minimizing any wear and tear you may incur.
The most important feature from the runners that’s great for you is size. When you run, your feet will often swell from heat. There must also be sufficient room for movement within the shoe. A thumb’s width at the end of the shoe is recommended to ensure that there exists enough room to support your foot comfortably throughout a run. There should be more than enough room to wiggle your toes.
Most runners need thick outer soles since this provides increased traction. The outer sole also absorbs shock, which lessens the potential for any injuries during your runs. Different forms of jogging shoes, for example, trail shoes or court shoes, provide different traction to best suit the soil that you are on most often. Different models may also be meant to better assist feet along with your natural design of running.
Pronation is one of the specifications that a lot of effects what features you may need in athletic shoes. Pronation could be the normal motion with the foot because it rolls during the average foot strike. This affects how you move ahead and just how shock is absorbed with the body. Your arch type and style of running affect this, as well as your shoe, should reflect your very own gait and magnificence.
To know what type of arch you’ve, there is a simple test. Wet the bottom of the foot and step onto any surface that may show paper. A flat foot shows a minimal arch, with nearly your entire sole from the foot visible. If there’s a narrow band of dry space relating to the forefoot as well as the heel, this suggests a high arch. Looking at the outsoles of old athletic shoes can also provide a signal of one’s particular arch and pronation type. A flat arch is a bit more prone to cause more wear on the inside from the shoe, while a high arch is a bit more likely to have overabundance wear on the outside.
Trail shoes are particularly for off-road running, providing extra traction. Similar in function to trail shoes, Court shoes are built to hold the ideal traction for basketball and tennis courts. Lightweight shoes are for racing, instead of recommended for distance running. These shoes below the knob on protection and typically are simply obtainable in the neutral or supportive functions.
A normal arch typically does not have any pronation issues. There is a lot more flexibility in shoe choices for an average arch. Cushion shoes are recommended since they encourage natural pronation while cushioning your foot and absorbing shock. Stability shoes are an alternative choice because they secure the foot while preventing mild issues with over-pronation.
Shoes with extra support and motion control are perfect for runners who over-pronate. Over-pronating signifies that your foot rolls too far inward when you facilitate and is also common with people who have a set arch. In general, the greater flat your arch is, the greater support and motion control you’ll need. Firm midsoles and flatter soles assistance to provide stability, while too much cushion can lessen stability.
Runners with a top arch will be more likely to under-pronate or roll their feet outward during the run. Cushion shoes are recommended, while they encourage proper pronation, without preventing the foot from rolling inward. Cushion shoes have extra cushioning for impact moderation.
The perfect runners differ from one individual to another, varying depending on how they run, where they run, and lots of other specifications. Knowing what you may need is essential to get the best shoe for your run.
Crossing The Chartreuse Massif
It had been some time since the idea circulated in the corridors of raid light, what better to celebrate the arrival in a massif than to cross it running? But not easy to find a shooting window between the great races of each. TOE early July for Cyril, Tour Fiz Timothée end of July, and TDS for me in August. Finally, September seems ideal. Moreover, since the beginning of the month, we enjoy in Chartreuse a beautiful end of summer. The date is 17 September. We try to gather some ultra trailers around the project but we will be only three at the beginning.
3:44 I wake up before the ringtone of the laptop is a good sign. A coffee, rice, bacon, and an egg to make sure you get plenty of carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
I take a look out the window, the summit of Chamechaude is clear we will avoid the rain for the departure although I remain quite pessimistic for the day, France weather forecast of heavy thunderstorms in the afternoon. So I choose to equip myself accordingly. Long shorts, R-dry short sleeves with cuffs and shelter jacket XP in the bag. Although off anything is obligatory, I took the reflex to always slip a small pochette with a survival blanket and elastane tape at the bottom of the olmo bag. I also embark on a winter trail jersey story to return to dry on the train between Chambery and Grenoble.
4h35: I take Tim in front of his house, 5mn later we are in front of Cyril who is already ready.
After 35 minutes the car is parked in the parking lot of the boulevard de l’Esplanade. it is quite mild in Grenoble and we meet some partygoers returning from evenings very alcoholic in view of their approach. Same time, two different worlds.
Final settings, I realize that I left the front home, I also forgot the compotes, it’s more annoying. The TDS has taught me a lesson in food, I try a new way of feeding. Rather than being passive and waiting to be hungry or a refueling to feed me, I will try to take a gel per hour and a compote. For the compote will have to do without!
Go 5:20 it’s time to leave. I hold between Cyril and Tim to enjoy their light beam and go for the rise of the Bastille. Between parks, paths and stairs, we navigate in a setting conducive to an Urban Trail and little by little we discover the lights of the city below within the center what should be the largest avenue in France if Napoleon had not cut the Jean Jaures class in two so as not to overshadow Paris (Thank you Tim for this morning course Urbanism).
First for Cyril, after only 20 minutes of racing, he discovers two light bulbs on the back of the feet. He uses the same shoes as on the tour of Oisans, but a simple passage to the washing machine seems to have a little distorted. He tries somehow to patch with my tape, but it will change the eraser quickly. It falls well the course passes 300m from home.
We leave the Bastille still asleep behind us and go right on Mount Rachais then after a small descent, we resume the ascent to Fort Saint Eynard. These two climbs are part of the Gresivaudan Xpress Challenge. With this morning recognition, we were able to find all the useful cuts !!!
We arrive at Fort Saint Eynard with the sunrise. The sky is a little overcast but the view below is very pretty. The fort seems to come out of another age with its ramparts, grilles, and partially buried in the side of the mountain. A long tunnel takes us to the crests and it is 3km of the single track while recovery with right the cliff that falls right. I have fishing and have a lot of fun in this part. A little after 8am we cross the Sappey also still asleep. We continue then to the pass of Porte on roads broken down by the machines of loggers. Cyril is only trotting even in the steepest climbs, it hurts him less than to put the heel, it’s still weird to walk at the same speed as a guy who runs and who seems not even s’ steam.
The suite brings us closer to our training grounds with the climb to the Charmant Som by the ridges and the descent on Saint Pierre by the slippery slabs especially as the rain has joined our adventure. I have followed my nutrition plan to a gel per hour, but the absence of compotes begins to be felt and my stomach requires solid.
Just before the little detour to change his shoes, Cyril picks up a huge drop and is already ecstatic for his meal the next day.
Around 11 am we arrive at Saint Pierre for a lunch break. Noon sounds at the bell tower when we leave for the rest of the program: 1100D + to join the Col de Bellefond. The first meters of the climb is difficult but once the digestion started I find good legs and lead the pace to the hut Bellefond where I am stopped by a huge Patou. First meeting with these shepherd dogs with such a bad reputation. He barks a shot without approaching but lies down in the middle of the path. Fortunately, Cyril is an expert on free-range dogs since they are around the world in a tramp style. He shows him a big rock as he walks, the dog departs but we look oddly pass. I’m not very reassured especially when he starts to run to catch us but the pebbles again raised the stop net. It will be again once or twice while we are already far history not to lose the face without a doubt.
Once rocked on the other side of the pass we start crossing the high plateaus of Chartreuse. Even in the rain is a beautiful landscape with these many herds of cows and green meadows. But do not be fooled the way is traitor lapiaz, slippery stones, flooded paths, mud … everything is there to slow us down.
Little by little, in spite of our good rhythm, we realize that the path remains long and that time flies at full speed. As we are not great strategists we have not studied precisely the course and even less evaluated the time between stages. After all, it’s an Off there is no stopwatch. Except that the last train between Chambéry and Grenoble is at 20:21 and the prospect of spending the night in the station does not pack us too much. If we had thought a little about the question we could have done the opposite take the train in the morning is run to the car but hey it’s not our kind to plan.
In short, strategic decisions are needed. The first is not to go down on Saint Pierre d’Entremont by the GRP but to continue on the crossing of the highlands by the GR9. It seems shorter. but with uneven to pass the pass of the Alpette. The choice was perhaps not wise but the landscapes are sublime and the rays of suns that finally clear up the sky give back to pastures, leaves and other streams of beautiful colors. A last glance at the map shows us another 25 / 30km and only 2h30 before the departure of the train, while we turn at 6km / h since the departure. But the worst is that we did not see that the GRP bypassed the Granier pass by a small rise of 600d + before descending on Chambery. In other words, it is an impossible mission. Once Epernay joins we will take the road.5km for 300d +, it reminds me oddly the TDS …
At 18h past, we are at the Granier pass and fill up with coca and water at the local bar. At worst it’s 15km downhill it should do it, the pressure falls. The bartender, an athlete also, tells us that it is possible to join the path after 5km of road. That’s what we will do. But the closer we get to Chambéry and the more we are gardening, the GRP crosses other paths and small roads, not easy to navigate while our advance on the schedule decreases at a brisk pace. Suddenly we see a car at the end of a road with an open door, Cyril proposes to ask the shortest way to Chambéry, but when I arrive at the level of the driver it is a naked couple in a full emotional fusion that I see and I can only throw a brief bow before moving on.
Finally, I spot the last stretch of road that leads to the doors of Chambery (past a house once inhabited by Jean Jacques Rousseau!). To finish, we cross the center of Chambery by the pedestrian streets in front of the intrigues of the terraced Savoyards .
20h00 the station is in front of us just enough time to take an express pizza and our tickets and here we are warm on the train to Grenoble.
It’s simply the most beautiful OFF of my short trailer career. Even though the weather was not great we avoided the storms and even had the right to nice clearings. But it is especially the combination of a small group welded and the great diversity of the Chartreuse massif that has delighted me the most. On paper the 4000D + for 80km did not seem so difficult yet this massif is full of surprises, no path is alike you must constantly stay on guard and there are few times when it is possible to unroll.
New Balance Shoes for Long Distance Runners
Leave everything behind you as you head out for your upcoming run. It’s just you along with the pavement, feet sliding into so simple rhythm, spurred on by your new pair of New Balance Shoes.
Men’s New Balance MR759TR
Go the length inside a pair of athletic shoes that is up to the task, similar to this model from New Balance. The rubber compound outsole gives a strong grip in addition to surprising durability, as the water-resistant mesh upper promotes air circulation to help keep feet dry. Great to the runner with a neutral gait, the strobel board runs during the entire shoe to the incredible shock absorption you will need to your high-impact workout. And using a striking color combination, this running sneaker is stylish as well as practical.
Women’s New Balance WR993KM
Hit the street in jogging shoes that work well just as hard as you do. With this bold high-mileage shoe from New Balance, you are able to train for that next marathon or simply go out for any fun run. The pigskin and mesh upper is light, yet supportive while the polyurethane midsole has cushioning which is resistant to compression set. Due to the blown rubber material, the outsole is extremely lightweight and flexible to obtain the best from each step. Tight stitching along with a pleasing color scheme brings the noticeable style for this athletic shoe.
Men’s New Balance MT573GB
You’ll experience trail running at its finest when you wear this set of sneakers produced by New Balance. The rubber compound out sole will seem like you’re floating on air with its lightweight construction, while deep grooves provide much-needed traction. The heel features 2 types of foam, with the top layer being softer for nice cushioning and the bottom consisting of dense and resistant foam that may put a spring with your step. As the mesh upper has synthetic accents arranged in an interesting layout, you know feet will be good because you lace up.
Women’s New Balance W992GL
Get to understand the lasting comfort of this women’s shoe by New Balance while correcting your step at the same time. Designed for people that have an over pronation issue, this sneaker has a unique mixture of the steadiness and cushioning required to promote proper foot placement during a run. Pigskin and mesh upper, in addition to the blown rubber out sole, is light and airy to aid prevent overheating. A versatile color scheme, dense padding and textured out sole combine to produce this shoe successful.
Men’s New Balance MT876OR
For superior ground contact and cushioning, give this design from New Balance a try. Ideal for that off-road runner, this responsive shoe has rock stop in the forefoot to safeguard against sharp rocks and also other hazards. A dual-density collar provides the best of both worlds-soft foams that are certainly facing the foot along with firm foam that serves as the building blocks for support. Mesh upper will help cool your feet as the rubber compound with the out sole ensures ultimate durability. See how this set of two shoes can transform your run today.
New Balance designs constantly make an effort to attain the ideal balance between support and comfort for runners coming from all types. Find your perfect fit today.
