THE ADVANTAGES OF TRAIL RUNNING

 

Many of us take our daily running routine outside and it's easy to understand why so many people run on the street: it's comfortable. But there are a number of reasons why it's worth taking a little extra time from time to time and walking off the paved roads instead.

 

Advantages for the body

 

Trails are often uneven and littered with obstacles such as stones, tree roots or mud. To avoid stepping errors or even falls, a much higher level of body awareness is required than is usually required when running on paved roads . The better body awareness in combination with the constant shifting of body weight help to improve balance and stability while running.

To maintain this balance during the run, all the smaller stabilizing muscles in the legs, ankles, feet and even the middle of the body are activated. While the nature of each trail may vary, the surface is often much softer than concrete or asphalt. This causes you to sink in a little more with each step, forcing you to raise your feet a little higher and thus activate more muscles.

Trail running can also reduce the risk of injury. Many runners injure themselves due to the monotonously repetitive motion on a treadmill or when running on the road. The small changes you need to make when running on uneven paths are enough to counteract the effects of an otherwise repetitive movement.

 

Advantages for endurance

 

Trail running requires intensive concentration. Even if you always take the same route for years, it will always be necessary to see where you need to be careful. This kind of focus can be exhilarating and stimulating. Even more so, if you don't have to pay attention to roads, brake lights and cars on the way, it is easier to stay in your own zone of consciousness and thus run more efficiently.

In addition, most of the routes offer a fairly constant changing gradient. Running uphill and downhill increases muscle mass and strength, which results in higher speeds on straight tracks. For this reason, many marathon runners include occasional trail running in their training routine.

 

Advantages for the psyche

 

Trail running takes us up mountains, across rivers and through forests, and often offers much better views than running through the city. If the beautiful landscape is not reason enough to switch to the side of trail runners, you may be convinced by the fact that nature has a significant positive influence on emotional and mental well-being.

Exercise produces natural endorphins that make you feel happier and calmer. However, the peace of a run can easily be disturbed by the stress of busy streets or traffic noise. Trail running therefore offers an unrivalled break from these noises of everyday life and a great way to simply block out the rest of the world and all the everyday chaos.

Researchers have found that trail running in particular leads to an improved feeling of revitalization and increased energy, while at the same time reducing tension and anger, and can therefore be particularly beneficial in the treatment of psychological problems and depression.

So the next time you're off the streets, make it a run.