Business analyst Angelique Tostee dedicates time away from her profession to enhancing her physical stamina for competitive races. Having placed in international endurance events, such as the Atacama Desert Crossing, Angelique Tostee enjoys mountain biking and trail running.
While road running takes place on treadmills and on pavement, trail running requires developing a variety of skills to tackle uneven terrain. The following are tips for beginners interested in improving their trail running abilities.
1. Find opportunities to break up your stride. While trails may not always be available during training, a runner can compensate for this lack by seeking out different types of pavements and new roads. Additionally, jumping minor obstacles, like curbs and small fences, simulates trail hazards and helps runners land on different areas of their feet.
2. Rotate through different types of running shoes. Alternating your shoe style prevents you from striking the same place on your foot on every run. Switching between racing flats and burly trail runners, for example, may reduce the likelihood of developing injuries from repetitive impact and mitigates "fussy feet".
3. Develop your confidence. Trail runners must tackle many challenges during races, including running downhill and managing their pace over long distances. While self-assurance takes time to cultivate, professional runner Michael Wardian recommends focusing on the 10 feet immediately ahead. That distance takes approximately three strides to cover and is a more manageable challenge that lessens the stress of a long trail run.
While road running takes place on treadmills and on pavement, trail running requires developing a variety of skills to tackle uneven terrain. The following are tips for beginners interested in improving their trail running abilities.
1. Find opportunities to break up your stride. While trails may not always be available during training, a runner can compensate for this lack by seeking out different types of pavements and new roads. Additionally, jumping minor obstacles, like curbs and small fences, simulates trail hazards and helps runners land on different areas of their feet.
2. Rotate through different types of running shoes. Alternating your shoe style prevents you from striking the same place on your foot on every run. Switching between racing flats and burly trail runners, for example, may reduce the likelihood of developing injuries from repetitive impact and mitigates "fussy feet".
3. Develop your confidence. Trail runners must tackle many challenges during races, including running downhill and managing their pace over long distances. While self-assurance takes time to cultivate, professional runner Michael Wardian recommends focusing on the 10 feet immediately ahead. That distance takes approximately three strides to cover and is a more manageable challenge that lessens the stress of a long trail run.