Many of us lead busy, stressful lives and running, sports or any athletic activites offer us a release, both mentally and physically. Out of convenience we take to the roads, running on a hard unrelenting surface in a mentally abrasive, noisy environment. Running for many people is an activity that they do as a means to stay fit rather than out of enjoyment. There is an alternative; trail running is actually FUN! In a soothing, natural environment with incredibly varied terrain and scenery, trail running is both relaxing and invigorating.

Given the choice of trail or road, I would choose running on the trails any day. As an aspiring competitive athlete, the number of hours I have logged on the road and track over the past year have left me injured and mentally fatigued more often than not. Trail running offers a very uniqe experience that is much more conducive to a long term, injury free, running career.

Physically, trail running is easier on your body. Running on the road subjects you to continuous jarring that often results in constant re-occuring injuries. The trail is a much softer, more dynamic surface that will actually do a better job of strengthen your core muscle groups and making you a stronger runner in the long term.

Mentally, trail running takes you into a completely different setting from every-day life and offers an unlimited range of terrain and scenery. This eliminates the monotony of running the same road routes all the time and makes it easier to motivate yourself to get out. In such a soothing environment your mind can wander; contemplate the meaning of life or just enjoy the solitude. Running should be fun and enjoyable rather than an obligation.

For competitive runners there are plenty of opportunities. Trail racing is a very popular sport with opportunities for runners of all abilities. In a fun, supportive environment anyone can tackle any challenge they take upon themselves. My first race was a 5 Peaks trail race on Mt Seymour. With limited training and no experience, I had a blast!

You die hard road runners should try trails to mix things up a bit. Use the trails for your longer runs and some hill workouts. If you need some ideas of where to go and what to do, talk to Eric at the store.

The more you enjoy yourself running, the more likely you are to keep it up long term. Trail running offers a fun alternative to athletes of all abilities. Watch this website over the next month as our trail running resource section grows. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us or ask someone at the store; suggestions for webiste content are always welcome.

Happy trails!