I sprained my ankle the first time I tried trail running. The week prior I had signed up for a 22-kilometre Ultra Trail Australia race in the Blue Mountains. Entering was part bucket list item, part quarter-life crisis , and a way to break free of my road-running burnout.
Trail running can boost your mood and test your problem-solving, says coach Samantha Gash. Credit: Getty Images Eager to start my training, I set off on an ambitious 10-kilometre route. But three kilometres in, running too quickly downhill, I tripped on a rock.
I collapsed into a heap, my ego crushed and right ankle throbbing in pain. It took me 12 weeks before I was comfortable running again. During that time, I became determined to better understand the art of trail running.
For those unfamiliar, trail running is a type of running that is done on unpaved paths outdoors. Often, it involves plenty of hills. Taking up running – on road or trail – is intimidating.
There’s a lot of lingo to learn and (expensive) gear to buy. The sport has seen a massive popularity increase since the pandemic, so if your local run club is looking too crowded, it might be time to take the trail less travelled. When trying anything new it can be challenging to know what to know and where to start.
So, I spoke to experts to break down three major components of trail running. Preparing the body to run up and down those hills Running can easily take a toll on the body. Injury can be common, especially if you aren’t careful.
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