Trail running comes with a number of physical and mental benefits. As Steven Rindner mentions, the varied terrain of the trail enhances stability and strength while minimizing the risk of repetitive strain injuries that are common in road running. Trail running provides a softer, more forgiving running surface that is gentler on the joints of the runner in comparison to hard tarmac. Moreover, running in natural environments can help manage stress and provide a boost to one’s mood, making trail runs a highly enjoyable practice.
Steven Rindner discusses various benefits of trail running
Running on trails can be better for one’s fitness than on the pavement. It can help runners to build strength, agility, and balance. While running on uneven ground can improve ankle strength, flexibility and balance, the resistance of running uphill is good for building leg strength. Running down steep hills, on the other hand, improves leg speed and conditions muscles against impact. Having to vary stride length to deal with rocks and roots improves overall coordination and agility of the runner. As a runner consistently hits the trails, their performance on the road or track will also significantly benefit.
Twisty tracks, rocks, and roots demand more stability in comparison to running on smooth roads. In order to maintain balance, the body of the runner engages the core naturally and wakes up a stack of smaller, stabilizing muscles that rarely gets used when one is running on a flat surface. This results in improved body awareness, strong abs, and a fine-tuned sense of balance.
In the opinion of Steven Rindner, running on mud and grass is much kinder to the body of a runner than running on tarmac. Regular runners should consider giving their joints a break by swapping concrete for the countryside once in a while. For people just getting started with a running routine, soft surfaces can be a gentle way to ease the body in. Moreover, running up and down the same streets every day can become very dull. Trail running allows runners to experience varied sights, smells, and terrain with every mile. Even if one runs on the same trail, its surroundings are likely to look different depending on the season, time of day and weather conditions. Any person desiring to see beautiful places, find hidden spots in nature or go on a mini adventure, should consider giving trail running a try.
Nothing beats a stretch of trail for a long base or endurance run. The lack of traffic lights and intersections helps create a continuous aerobic session. When one is away from the distractions that often come with road running, they would be able to easily get into a groove, and pay necessary attention to the body, breathing, and running efficiency. Running on trails requires concentration and focus, particularly on single-track or uneven terrain. Paying attention to the manner in which one’s body moves and works can help make a person a stronger runner. A hilly trail run would also create much greater variations in heart rate than a flat run. This natural fartlek helps build endurance threshold and mental strength.
